Graduation Requirements

Smiling doctoral student in regalia being hooded on stage at Commencement

Overview 

Below are program completion and graduation deadlines for graduate students enrolled in quarter programs ONLY. Please note that individual programs, colleges or schools may have EARLIER deadlines than those listed below. Please consult with your program officials. Semester program students should consult their individual program, college or school for graduation requirements and deadlines.

Graduation Dates & Deadlines

Fall Quarter 2024

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, October 21, 2024.
  • Fall term degree conferral date is Saturday, December 14, 2024.
  • For PhD, professional doctoral degree, and master's thesis option students ONLY: Complete the ProQuest and E-Forms submission process with all approvals by 4 p.m. EST Friday, January 3, 2025.

Winter Quarter 2025

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, February 3, 2025.
  • Winter term degree conferral date is Saturday, March 22, 2025.
  • For PhD, professional doctoral degree, and master's thesis option students ONLY: Complete the ProQuest and E-Forms submission process with all approvals by 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

Spring Quarter 2025

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Friday, May 2, 2025.*
  • Spring term degree conferral date is Saturday, June 14, 2025.
  • For PhD, professional doctoral degree, and master's thesis option students ONLY: Complete the ProQuest and E-Forms submission process with all approvals by 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

*You MUST submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Friday, May 2, 2025 in order to be listed in the official 2025 Commencement program. No exceptions. For summer graduates who wish to participate in the June 2025 Commencement ceremonies and be listed in the official program as a walkthrough, please refer to the Walkthrough Information.

Summer Quarter 2025

  • Complete and submit an Application for Degree via DrexelOne by Monday, July 21, 2025.*
  • Summer term degree conferral date is Saturday, September 6, 2025.
  • For PhD, professional doctoral degree, and master's thesis option students ONLY: Complete the ProQuest and E-Forms submission process with all approvals  by 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

*If you wish to participate in the June 2025 Commencement ceremonies and be listed in the official program, you MUST submit an Application for Degree for summer term by Friday, May 2, 2025. You must also meet the eligibility criteria and follow all instructions outlined in the Walkthrough Information.

Graduation Requirements Checklist

The following graduation checklist is for graduate students enrolled in quarter programs. Graduate students should also contact their program officials for additional graduation requirements and deadlines. Semester program students should consult their individual program, college or school for graduation requirements and deadlines.

Step 1: Satisfy the Degree Requirements

In order to be considered a degree candidate, you must satisfy all academic degree and other requirements established by your program. Please consult your supervising professor(s) and assigned faculty and/or professional staff graduate academic advisor(s) about your degree requirements and progress to degree. Please also refer to the Graduate Degree Requirements on the Office of Graduate Studies website.

Step 2: Submit an Application for Degree in DrexelOne

Submit an Application for Degree in your DrexelOne portal by the posted deadline. You MUST submit an Application for Degree by the posted deadline in order to be cleared for graduation, request official transcripts or degree verification, and receive your diploma by mail regardless of whether you plan to participate in a Commencement ceremony or not.

Step 3: Resolve any Institutional Holds

Check your DrexelOne account for any institutional holds on your record. If so, please contact the appropriate office or your academic advisor to resolve any institutional holds.

Step 4: Resolve any Financial Holds

Check your DrexelOne account for any financial holds on your record. You will not receive your diploma or be able to request an official transcript with proof of degree until all holds are resolved. Please contact Drexel Central or the appropriate office to resolve any financial holds.

Step 5: RSVP for Commencement

Commencement occurs once per year in June. All graduates from the current academic year (summer through spring, and walkthroughs from the subsequent summer term who are eligible) will receive information about how to RSVP for Commencement in their DrexeOne portal. Students MUST submit an Application for Degree by the posted deadlines in order to receive information about Commencement and be listed in the official program. There are no exceptions.

Students are welcome and encouraged to attend both their individual college or school ceremony and the University-wide Commencement ceremony. Students planning to complete their degree requirements in the subsequent summer term and who wish to participate in June ceremonies must meet the eligibility criteria and follow all instructions outlined in the Walkthrough Information.

Each spring, the Office of Graduate Studies hosts a Doctoral Student Celebration to celebrate and honor our graduating doctoral candidates. Eligible students will receive an email invitation and deadline to RSVP which is separate from the Commencement deadline.

For a list of individual college and school ceremonies and for more information about University-wide Commencement, including dates, times, locations, parking, tickets, regalia, where to report, etc. please visit the Commencement website or email commencement@drexel.edu.

Step 6: Complete the ProQuest & E-Forms Submission Process

This step is for PhD, professional doctoral degree, and master's thesis option student ONLY. Please review the deadlines listed above and requirements outlined below.

Diploma Information & Academic Records

See Diploma Information.

See also Transcripts and Certifications and Certified Electronic Credential Overview.

For Doctoral Degree Candidates

Registration Requirements

All doctoral students must be registered for at least one credit hour, either research or dissertation, in the quarter in which they plans to defend their thesis or dissertation and be cleared for graduation.

Electronic (E) Forms

All PhD and professional doctoral degree students and master's thesis option students must follow the E-Forms process for tracking their program progression and milestones through completion. Please also review the information and deadlines above and on the Theses, Dissertations and Projects page. Students in the College of Medicine and Kline School of Law should consult with their college or school officials.

Please Note: You must be connected to the VPN to access the E-Forms system.

Access E-Forms System

For a copy of the Doctoral (D) Forms, which are no longer is use, please visit the Forms page.

Please refer to the Drexel University Thesis Manual [PDF] for information about formatting your thesis or dissertation, which is ultimately approved by your advisor. You should also consult your program officials for any additional requirements.

Steps to Program Completion

  • Once all committee members and stakeholders have noted their approval of the final thesis or dissertation file in the E-Forms system, use the "Export to PDF" button in the E-Forms system to generate the Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form and Signature Page. This page must be incorporated as the very first page of your final thesis or dissertation file and uploaded to ProQuest via the process outlined by the Drexel University Libraries.
  • Once your final thesis or dissertation file, with the Committee Approvals Page as page one, is successfully uploaded to ProQuest, please save and upload a copy of your ProQuest submission confirmation and your final thesis or dissertation file to the Supporting Documents section in the E-Forms system. This is the final step of the E-Forms process.

If you have any questions about program completion, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at graduatecollege@drexel.edu.

    Required Doctoral Surveys

    PhD and professional doctoral degree candidates MUST complete and submit the following exit surveys:

    • Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
    • Drexel Doctoral Exit Survey - The survey link will be sent when you submit an Application for Degree in DrexelOne. You will receive the link around Week 4 of the spring quarter and Week 6 in the fall, winter and summer quarters.