Steps to Degree

GSAS May Degree Timeline

January 27 – GSAS registration deadline for spring term.  Any student who has not submitted their dissertation to the Registrar’s Office and will be a May degree candidate should register for the spring term. Students who do not register will lose the privileges of being an active student (access to libraries, e-resources, buildings, deferral of student loans, eligibility for student health insurance, etc.)

February 8 – Spring registration will be canceled for students who have approved dissertations at the Registrar’s office by this date.  Any spring term tuition previously paid will be refunded.

February 28 – Waiver application deadline for the Student Health Insurance Plan. All May degree candidates who have comparable health insurance coverage are encouraged to submit a Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application.   Note that waivers only apply to the Student Health Insurance Plan and not the Student Health Fee, which is a mandatory fee for all full-time registered students.

March 29 – Deadline for submission of degree applications for May degree candidates.

May 17 – Deadline for online submission of dissertation for May degrees. Dissertations should be submitted through ProQuest. Read more information about submission on the Registrar's website.

If the dissertation is not submitted on this date, the student becomes a November degree candidate (see gsas.harvard.edu, current students, academic life, steps to degree for a November degree timeline).

For terminal master’s degree candidates: May 17 deadline for submission of degree recommendations for May terminal master’s degree candidates.  If the degree recommendation is not submitted by May 17, the student will be a November degree candidate.