Time Limitations and Academic Deadlines

Students are responsible for knowing the following time limits and academic deadlines.

•  Maximum Time Span Between Admission and Initial Registration Initial registration in classes must occur within one (1) year from the first day of classes of the term for the applicant initially applied. Applicants who surpass the one (1) year maximum must reapply if admission is desired.
•  Maximum Time Span Between Initial Enrollment and Master's Degree Completion All requirements for a master's degree must be completed within six (6) calendar years after initial enrollment in course work.
•  Maximum Time Span Between Initial Registration and Completion of All Courses and the Qualifying Examination A student registered in a doctoral program must satisfactorily complete all course work and the qualifying examination within five (5) years after the date of initial registration.
•  Maximum Time Span Between Passing the Qualifying the Examination and Dissertation Submission The time limit for completion of the doctoral dissertation (including the dissertation defense and submission of the dissertation) is seven (7) years from the date of passing the qualifying examination. Requalifying for candidacy is required if the dissertation is not completed within the seven-year period. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the termination of candidacy and of the student's enrollment in the degree program. Any student whose candidacy lapses will be required to apply for reinstatement before further work toward the degree may be formally done.
•  Minimum Time Span Between Passing the Qualifying Exam and Degree Conferral The date on which a student's Ph.D. degree is awarded must be at least eight (8) months after the passing date of the qualifying examination.
• Minimum Time Span Between Research Committee Approval and Dissertation Defense A Ph.D. candidate may not defend the dissertation until at least six (6) months have passed following Graduate School of IU Bloomington approval of the membership of the student's research committee. Items which must be submitted together to request approval include: a completed form entitled, Nomination of Research Committee for the Ph.D.; a research project abstract; and a signed IRB form indicating approval for any use of human or animal subjects.
•  Minimum Time Span Between Applying for Degree Completion and Degree Conferral At least six months before the expected date of degree completion, candidates for master's degrees and graduate certificates must file an Application for Graduation at the following link: publichealth.indiana.edu/student-portal/graduation/index.html .

Ph.D. Conferral/Degree Completion

For doctoral students, submission to the University Graduate School of the copies of the completed dissertation and abstract as described under Submission of the Dissertation constitutes an application for conferral of the Ph.D. degree.

Doctoral students are reminded:

•  The 30-day announcement deadline prior to the defense of the dissertation and the 30-day deadline prior to degree conferral are non-overlapping time periods.
•  Research committees frequently require revisions and corrections after the defense of the dissertation. These revisions must be made before the dissertation is ready for submission to the University Graduate School.
•  Failure to file this application by the proper time may result in failure to graduate at the expected time. The responsibility for checking degree requirements rests with the student.
•  Doctoral Dissertation Progress-Level Required to Apply for Graduation

Doctoral students, who wish to participate in the May or December Commencement exercises, must submit their initial dissertation (and any formatting edits requested by the University Graduate School) by the appointed deadlines on the Graduate School of IU Bloomington Site

To have their name listed in the Commencement Ceremony program, they must also submit a PhD Commencement Participation Application with the University Graduate School by the appointed due date, announced annually for each commencement ceremony.