Dates & Deadlines
DATES
DATES
AND DEADLINES
Mark Your Calendars
Review the dates below for key academic dates, including dissertation and commencement deadlines, exam schedules and more. Dates may be subject to change.
For other important dates during the semester, not included in the calendars below, refer to the:
- Schedule of Classes to see when classes are offered
- Course Registration Deadlines
- GW Events Calendar and GSEHD Event Calendar to learn about upcoming events and activities
- University-Wide Academic Calendar for a comprehensive list of dates
Jump To Section:
GSEHD Academic Calendar
- Summer 2026
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Summer Course Registration Opens March 16 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* April 27-June 21 First Day of Classes: Session I (6-week courses) and Full-Term May 18 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) May 18 Memorial Day (No Classes) May 25 Juneteenth (No Classes) June 19 SU '26 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '26 Graduate Eligibility June 24 Last day to drop a course on GWeb Session 1: June 14
Session 2: July 26Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* June 22 Last Day of Session I (6-week courses) June 27 First Day of Classes: Session II (6-week courses) June 29 Independence Day (No Classes) July 4 SU '26 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due July 15 SU '26 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations July 24 Last Day of Session II (6-week courses) August 8 SU '26 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) August 14, 5 pm FA '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '26 Defense while Enrolled in CE August 15 PRAXIS Deadline for SU '26 Grads August 15 Last Day of Classes: Full-Term August 15 Summer Degree Conferral August 31 EdD in Higher Education Administration Students: See Detailed Cohort Weekend Calendar >
*For more information, please contact delrep
gwu [dot] edu (delrep[at]gwu[dot]edu).- Fall 2026
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Fall Course Registration March 26-August 23 In-Person New Student Orientation August 21 First Day of Classes August 24 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) TBD Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* August 24-October 17 Labor Day (No Classes) September 7 Last day to drop a course on GWeb September 20 Fall Break (No Classes) October 12-13 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* October 19- December 12 FA '26 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '26 Graduate Eligibility TBD FA '26 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due November 15 FA '26 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) November 23-28 PRAXIS Deadline for FA '26 Grads TBD Last Day of Classes December 8 Make-Up Day** December 10 FA '26 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) TBD, 5 pm SP '27 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester TBD Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '27 Defense while Enrolled in CE TBD Fall Degree Conferral January 8, 2027 EdD in Human and Organizational Learning Students: See Detailed Residency/Synchronous Saturday Calendar >
EdD in Higher Education Administration Students: See Detailed Cohort Weekend Calendar >
*ELA Students: For more information, please contact delrep
gwu [dot] edu (delrep[at]gwu[dot]edu).**Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to Thanksgiving break.
- Spring 2027
*Please note: Additional dates/deadlines will be added as the calendar is finalized.
Spring Course Registration Nov 6 - Jan 11 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1* January 4 -February 28 First Day of Classes January 11 Dissertation Defenses (First Day) January 11 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Classes) January 18 Last day to drop a course on GWeb February 8 SP '27 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '27 Graduate Eligibility TBD President's Day (No Classes) February 15 Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2* March 1 - April 25 Spring Break (No Classes) March 8-13 SP '27 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due TBD (March) SP '27 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD SP '27 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library) TBD, 5 pm PRAXIS Deadline for SP '27 Grads TBD Last Day of Classes April 26 Make-Up Day** April 27 SU '27 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester TBD Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '27 Defense while Enrolled in CE TBD GSEHD Commencement Celebration May 15 Spring Degree Conferral + Commencement May 16 *For more information, please contact delrep
gwu [dot] edu (delrep[at]gwu[dot]edu).**Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to March 30.
Appeals Committee Meetings
- Master's Appeals Committee (MAC)
- All meetings will be held Tuesdays, 12-2pm – ONLINE
- September 2
- September 30
- October 28
- December 2
- January 20
- February 17
- March 17
- April 14
- May 5
(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by MAC, it must be submitted to your Student Success Representative two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.)
- All meetings will be held Tuesdays, 12-2pm – ONLINE
- Post-Master's Appeals Committee (PMAC)
- September 10, 10am-12pm
- November 12, 10am-12pm
- February 11, 10am-12pm
- April 29, 10am-12pm
(Note: in order for your appeal to be heard by PMAC, it must be submitted to docgsehd
gwu [dot] edu (docgsehd[at]gwu[dot]edu) two weeks prior to the Committee meeting. For instructions on formulating an appeal, please review the Doctoral Student Handbook.)
Key Dissertation Dates
- Summer 2026
May 18 First Day to Defend Dissertation June 24 SU '26 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office July 24 SU '26 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations August 14, 5 pm SU '26 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) August 15 FA '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the summer semester August 15 Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in FA '26 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Fall 2026
August 24 First Day to Defend Dissertation TBD (October) FA '26 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office TBD (November) FA '26 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD (December), 5 pm FA '26 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) TBD (December) SP '27 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester TBD (December) Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '27 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option) - Spring 2027
January 11 First Day to Defend Dissertation TBD (February) SP '27 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office TBD (March) SP '27 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations TBD (April), 5 pm SP '27 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library) TBD SU '27 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester TBD Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SU '27 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)
Graduation Dates & Deadlines
- Summer 2026 Graduates
April 1 Applications for SU '26 Graduation Due - To Participate in Spring Commencement July 15 Applications for SU '26 Graduation Due August 31 Summer Degree Conferral - Fall 2026 Graduates
November 15 Applications for FA '26 Graduation Due January 8, 2027 Fall Degree Conferral - Spring 2027 Graduates
TBD (March) Applications for SP '27 Graduation Due May 15 GSEHD School Celebration May 16 GW Commencement on the National Mall