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Graduation and commencement
Master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate students must complete all program and Graduate School requirements by established deadlines in their final semester to graduate (earn your degree). There are additional actions to complete to participate in the commencement ceremony.
High-level deadlines and dates
Summer 2025Graduation deadline |
Fall 2025Graduation deadline Commencement |
Spring 2026Graduation deadline Commencement |
Need a degree progress check?Connect with your Graduate School Degree Analyst to verify unfulfilled degree requirements. |
Requirements and deadlines checklists
SUMMER 2025
August 19, 2025 - Deadline to complete all requirements for to graduate
Masters and doctoral students
Use a printable checklist (pdf) to keep track of your progress. We also recommend you refer to the web-based checklists below to access additional instructions, forms, and surveys.
Complete requirements listed below to be a Summer 2025 graduate and to receive your graduate degree.
Submit program of study |
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Submit your Program of Study to the Graduate School by the time you have complete 9 hours of graduate credit. |
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Enrollment requirement |
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Must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour in the semester you plan to graduate. Enrollment exception If you are on a F-1/J-1 visa, please check with International Student and Scholars Services for enrollment requirements to maintain your non-immigrant status. |
|
Thesis, dissertation, or report writing and preparation |
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When you begin writing - Review requirements for formatting your ETDR Beginning of Spring semester - Determine with major professor if ETDR should have a delayed publication. If so, follow procedures to embargo ETDR. |
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KSIS graduation application |
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Complete the KSIS graduation application and update your degree/diploma mailing address before submitting the Approval to Schedule Final Exam Form. Helpful tips
|
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Complete dissertation defense support survey |
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Doctoral students only - at least one month before your dissertation defense Complete the Survey of Support for a Successful Dissertation Defense. Your responses to this survey will inform the Graduate School about your readiness for your defense and will guide us in providing you support to eliminate any potential obstacles and facilitate a successful defense. |
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Submit approval to schedule final examination form |
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The Approval to Schedule Final Examination form with ALL signatures from the supervisory committee, must be received by the Graduate School at least 10 business days before the scheduled exam. The student submits the form, and then it routes to the committee members for their signature. Therefore, the student needs to submit the form more than 10 business days before the final exam to allow time for the form to route to committee members. |
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August 19 - Deadline for ballots, surveys, and ETDR |
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K-State does not hold commencement ceremonies at the end of the Summer semester. Summer graduates are welcome to participate in a future Fall or Spring commencement ceremony. Information about Fall commencement will be distributed to your KSU email address in the Fall semester.
Regalia
If you do plan to participate in a future commencement ceremony, please be sure to check regalia ordering information and deadlines for the commencement ceremony you plan to attend. Information it typically updated by the middle of each fall and spring semester.
Receiving your diploma |
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Ordering final transcript with Spring grades |
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Certificate students
First step: Admission to the certificate program
To receive a graduate certificate, you must first complete the application for admission and be admitted to the graduate certificate program.
After admission and completion of certificate requirements
In order to ensure prompt posting and digital distribution of graduate certificates, the following actions must be completed in the order listed.
- Complete the KSIS graduation application in the semester that you are completing requirements for the graduate certificate.
Helpful tips
- Please be sure to click "accept" at the end of each page before clicking "next" at the top.
- The "accept" button can seem hidden depending on your screen size (particularly on step 4 of the grad app). You may have to scroll down to see/access it.
- The Graduation Application will allow you to continue through the app, even if the "accept" button has not been clicked at the bottom of the page. Clicking this "accept" button is crucial to the submission of the application.
How to confirm your KSIS graduation application was submitted correctly:
Go back into your application for graduation. Under the Academic Plans, look for the "Current App Status/Status." See the FAQs section at the bottom of this page on the Registrar's website. - Submit the electronic graduate certificate completion form. To be submitted by the student completing the certificate program (or staff proxy) on or before August 19, 2025.
FALL 2025
November 18 - Deadline to complete all requirements to graduate
December 12 - Commencement ceremony
Masters and doctoral students
Use a printable checklist (pdf) to keep track of your progress. We also recommend you refer to the web-based checklists below to access additional instructions, forms, and surveys.
Complete requirements listed below to be a Fall 2025 graduate and to receive your graduate degree. It is the student’s responsibility to complete these requirements unless otherwise stated.
Submit program of study |
|
---|---|
Submit your Program of Study to the Graduate School by the time you have complete 9 hours of graduate credit. |
|
Enrollment requirement |
|
Must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour in the semester you plan to graduate. If you are on a F-1/J-1 visa, please check with International Student and Scholars Services for enrollment requirements to maintain your non-immigrant status. |
|
Thesis, dissertation, or report submission |
|
When you begin writing - Review requirements for formatting your ETDR Beginning of Spring semester - Determine with major professor if ETDR should have a delayed publication. If so, follow procedures to embargo ETDR. |
|
KSIS graduation application |
|
Complete the KSIS graduation application and update your degree/diploma mailing address before submitting the Approval to Schedule Final Exam Form and by October 1 to have your name in the spring commencement program. Helpful tips
|
|
Survey of Support for a Successful Dissertation Defense |
|
Doctoral students only - at least one month before your dissertation defense Complete the Survey of Support for a Successful Dissertation Defense. Your responses to this survey will inform the Graduate School about your readiness for your defense and will guide us in providing you support to eliminate any potential obstacles and facilitate a successful defense. |
|
Approval to schedule final examination form |
|
The Approval to Schedule Final Examination form with ALL signatures from the supervisory committee, must be received by the Graduate School at least 10 business days before the scheduled exam. The student submits the form, and then it routes to the committee members for their signature. Therefore, the student needs to submit the form more than 10 business days before the final exam to allow time for the form to route to committee members. |
|
November 18 - Deadline for ballots, surveys, and ETDR |
|
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Graduate in Spring without having to enroll in the Spring semester
If you miss the deadlines to graduate in the Fall but you complete all degree requirements by December 9, 2025, you will graduate in Spring 2026 without having to enroll in Spring 2026.
Note: If you are on a F-1/J-1 visa, please check with International Student and Scholars Services for possible enrollment requirements to maintain your non-immigrant status.
Complete requirements listed below to participate in the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony. If you are unable to participate in the ceremony, you may participate in a future ceremony.
Name in commencement program |
|
---|---|
Complete KSIS graduation application by October 1 for your name to appear in the commencement program. If you miss this deadline but fulfill other requirements, you can still participate in commencement. |
|
PhD, EdD, and Master of Fine Art graduates ONLY |
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PhD, EdD, and Master of Fine Art graduates must complete all graduation requirements by November 18 to participate in commencement. |
|
Order regalia |
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Order regalia through K-State Campus Store. All regalia must be purchased. There is not an option to rent. |
|
Prepare for commencement - December 12 |
|
Graduate School commencement will be held December 12, 2025 at Bramlage Coliseum. Visit K-State’s Commencement Ceremonies website for information to help you prepare for the ceremony. |
Receiving your diploma |
|
---|---|
|
Ordering final transcript with Spring grades |
|
---|---|
|
Certificate students
Step 1: Admission to the certificate program
To receive a graduate certificate, you must first complete the application for admission and be admitted to the graduate certificate program.
Step 2: Complete program curriculum and requirements
Work with the certificate program director to make a plan for courses to complete each semester and to ensure you understand expectations of the program.
Step 3: File completion forms in your final semester
Complete the following in the order listed to ensure prompt posting and digital distribution of your graduate certificate.
- Complete the KSIS graduation application in the semester that you are completing requirements for the graduate certificate.
Helpful tips
- Please be sure to click "accept" at the end of each page before clicking "next" at the top.
- The "accept" button can seem hidden depending on your screen size (particularly on step 4 of the grad app). You may have to scroll down to see/access it.
- The Graduation Application will allow you to continue through the app, even if the "accept" button has not been clicked at the bottom of the page. Clicking this "accept" button is crucial to the submission of the application.
How to confirm your KSIS graduation application was submitted correctly
Go back into your application for graduation. Under the Academic Plans, look for the "Current App Status/Status." See the FAQs section at the bottom of this page on the Registrar's website. - Submit the electronic graduate certificate completion form. To be submitted by the student completing the certificate program (or staff proxy) on or before November 18, 2025.
SPRING 2026
April 14 - Deadline to complete all requirements to graduate
May 15 - Commencement ceremony
Use the checklists below to make sure all requirements are completed on time, or download a printable checklist (pdf).
Masters and doctoral students
Complete requirements listed below to be a Spring 2026 graduate and to receive your graduate degree.
Submit program of study |
|
---|---|
Submit your Program of Study to the Graduate School by the time you have complete 9 hours of graduate credit. |
|
Enrollment requirement |
|
Must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour in the semester you plan to graduate. Enrollment exception If you are on a F-1/J-1 visa, please check with International Student and Scholars Services for enrollment requirements to maintain your non-immigrant status. |
|
Thesis, dissertation, or report writing and preparation |
|
When you begin writing - Review requirements for formatting your ETDR Beginning of Spring semester - Determine with major professor if ETDR should have a delayed publication. If so, follow procedures to embargo ETDR. |
|
KSIS graduation application |
|
Complete the KSIS graduation application and update your degree/diploma mailing address before submitting the Approval to Schedule Final Exam Form and by March 3 to have your name in the spring commencement program. Helpful tips
|
|
Complete dissertation defense support survey |
|
Doctoral students only - at least one month before your dissertation defense Complete the Survey of Support for a Successful Dissertation Defense. Your responses to this survey will inform the Graduate School about your readiness for your defense and will guide us in providing you support to eliminate any potential obstacles and facilitate a successful defense. |
|
Submit approval to schedule final examination form |
|
The Approval to Schedule Final Examination form with ALL signatures from the supervisory committee, must be received by the Graduate School at least 10 business days before the scheduled exam. The student submits the form, and then it routes to the committee members for their signature. Therefore, the student needs to submit the form more than 10 business days before the final exam to allow time for the form to route to committee members. |
|
April 14 - Deadline for ballots, surveys, and ETDR |
|
|
Graduate in Summer without having to enroll in the Summer semester
If you miss the deadlines to graduate in the Spring but you complete all degree requirements by May 5, 2026, you will graduate in Summer 2026 without having to enroll in Summer 2026.
Note: If you are on a F-1/J-1 visa, please check with International Student and Scholars Services for possible enrollment requirements to maintain your non-immigrant status.
Complete requirements listed below to participate in the Spring 2026 commencement ceremony. If you are unable to participate in the ceremony, you may participate in a future ceremony.
Name in commencement program |
|
---|---|
Complete KSIS graduation application by March 3 for your name to appear in the commencement program. If you miss this deadline but fulfill other requirements, you can still participate in commencement. |
|
PhD, EdD, and Master of Fine Art graduates ONLY |
|
PhD, EdD, and Master of Fine Art graduates must complete all graduation requirements by April 14 to participate in commencement. |
|
Order regalia |
|
Order regalia through K-State Campus Store. All regalia must be purchased. There is not an option to rent. |
|
Prepare for commencement - May 15 |
|
Graduate School commencement will be held May 15, 2026 at Bramlage Coliseum. Visit K-State’s Commencement Ceremonies website for information to help you prepare for the ceremony. |
Receiving your diploma |
|
---|---|
|
Ordering final transcript with Spring grades |
|
---|---|
|
Certificate students
Step 1: Admission to the certificate program
To receive a graduate certificate, you must first complete the application for admission and be admitted to the graduate certificate program.
Step 2: Complete program curriculum and requirements
Work with the certificate program director to make a plan for courses to complete each semester and to ensure you understand expectations of the program.
Step 3: File completion forms in your final semester
Complete the following in the order listed to ensure prompt posting and digital distribution of your graduate certificate.
- Complete the KSIS graduation application in the semester that you are completing requirements for the graduate certificate.
Helpful tips
- Please be sure to click "accept" at the end of each page before clicking "next" at the top.
- The "accept" button can seem hidden depending on your screen size (particularly on step 4 of the grad app). You may have to scroll down to see/access it.
- The Graduation Application will allow you to continue through the app, even if the "accept" button has not been clicked at the bottom of the page. Clicking this "accept" button is crucial to the submission of the application.
How to confirm your KSIS graduation application was submitted correctly
Go back into your application for graduation. Under the Academic Plans, look for the "Current App Status/Status." See the FAQs section at the bottom of this page on the Registrar's website. - Submit the electronic graduate certificate completion form. To be submitted by the student completing the certificate program (or staff proxy) on or before April 14, 2026.