Electronic Thesis & Dissertation

Current ETD Dates and Deadlines

Please see below for current ETD deadlines for the upcoming semesters. Be sure to check here at the beginning of each semester to confirm your ETD deadline. To ensure that your submissions are properly received by the ETD Staff, please submit your document to ProQuest by 5 P.M. on the day of your designated deadline.

ETD Review

Initial review of the ETD generally takes 5-10 business days (and begins only once all submission requirements [ETD Registration, COA Packet, and ProQuest Submission] have been completed by the student). Note that ETDs submitted close to or on the deadline may require longer review times.  Keep an eye on your email inbox so you don't miss any updates to your submission.

Double-check your inbox and spam folder for emails from ProQuest before reaching out to the ETD Administrative Specialists during the review process.

Late ETD Submission

ETDs submitted after the deadline without an extension request form from the Office of Graduate Studies may not be processed for that semester's graduation. Students may be required to register again in the following semester.

About Extensions

While it is important to meet the necessary deadlines, we do understand that emergencies arise, and we do try to be as accommodating as possible.

If you have a specific reason for needing an extension, the Major Professor will need to email the ETD Submission Extension Request Form to the ETD Office at grad-etdmail@usf.edu. Important: Students cannot submit this form. Only the Major Professor may submit. Students should be cc'd so they receive the determination.

The Office of Graduate studies will review and decide on a possible extension. We review these on a case-by-case basis, and we do not guarantee that your request will be approved – so be sure to send as early in the semester as possible. Note that extensions cannot usually be granted for more than two weeks past the deadline due to the volume of manuscripts we process. 

ETD Submission Extension Form

Fall

Fall 2026 Deadlines

🗓️ August 24
Semester Begins (Office of the Registrar)

🗓️ September 9 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 
ETD Workshop - This workshop helps students understand the requirements, responsibilities, and deadlines of the ETD process.

Use ETD Formatting Guidelines to prepare for submission.

🗓️ October 23
THESIS DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

🗓️ November 6
DISSERTATION DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

🗓️ December 11
Final Clearance of ETDs³
Last day to receive final ETD Approval by Office of Graduate Studies before graduation

🗓️ December 11-13
Commencement (Commencement Office)

Spring

Spring 2027 Deadlines

🗓️ January 11
Semester Begins (Office of the Registrar)

🗓️ January 27 (Tentative)
ETD Workshop - This workshop helps students understand the requirements, responsibilities, and deadlines of the ETD process.
Use ETD Formatting Guidelines to prepare for submission.

THESIS DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

🗓️ March 12

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

DISSERTATION DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

🗓️ March 26

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

🗓️ May 6
Final Clearance of ETDs³
Last day to receive final ETD Approval by Office of Graduate Studies before graduation

🗓️ May 6-9
Commencement (Commencement Office)

Summer

Summer 2027 Deadlines

🗓️ May 17
Semester Begins (Office of the Registrar)

🗓️ June 2, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Tentative)
ETD Workshop - This workshop helps students understand the requirements, responsibilities, and deadlines of the ETD process.
Use ETD Formatting Guidelines to prepare for submission.

🗓️ June 18
THESIS DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

🗓️ June 25
DISSERTATION DEADLINE | Submit for Review¹,²

  1. Complete ETD Registrations (if not completed by 5PM on the deadline, you may not be included in the Commencement Program)
  2. Submit the Certificate of Approval Packet via this Microsoft Form.
    Packet Contents:
  3. Submit Final Committee-Approved Thesis as PDF to ProQuest

🗓️ August 7
Final Clearance of ETDs³
Last day to receive final ETD Approval by Office of Graduate Studies before graduation

🗓️ August 7-8
Commencement (Commencement Office)

¹ The final approved thesis/dissertation and all required forms and surveys must be submitted by the listed deadline. Students that miss the deadline will not be approved to graduate and will need to defer to the next semester.
² Students that meet the final submission deadline but do not receive approval of the ETD must complete the required revisions specified by the Office of Graduate Studies, resubmit the ETD and receive approval by the final clearance deadline.
³ The final clearance deadline is not the last day to submit, but the last date by which the revised ETD must be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.