Key Academic Dates & Deadlines | Student Success | GSEHD

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

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Comprehensive Calendar

Appeals Committees

Dissertations

Graduation

GSEHD Academic Calendar

Spring 2026

*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 5 - March 1
First Day of Classes	January 12
Dissertation Defenses (First Day)	January 12
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Classes)	January 19
Last day to drop a course on GWeb	February 8
SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SP '26 Graduate Eligibility	February 18
President's Day (No Classes)	February 16
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2*	March 2 - April 26
Spring Break (No Classes)	March 9-14
SP '26 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due	March 14
SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations	March 18
SP '26 Doctoral Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (Final Dissertation Submitted to GW Library)	April 8, 5 pm
PRAXIS Deadline for SP '26 Grads	April 27
Last Day of Classes	April 27
Make-Up Day**	April 28
SU '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester	May 1
Dissertation Defense Materials Due for SU '26 Defense while Enrolled in CE	May 1
GSEHD Commencement Celebration	May 16
Spring Degree Conferral + Commencement	May 17

*For more information, please contact delrepgwu [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.

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*	TBD
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 26
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2*	TBD
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 delrepgwu [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	TBD: March-August
In-Person New Student Orientation	TBD
First Day of Classes	August 24
Dissertation Defenses (First Day)	TBD
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 1*	TBD: August-October
Labor Day (No Classes)	September 7
Last day to drop a course on GWeb	TBD
Fall Break (No Classes)	October 12-13
Ed Leadership & Admin Session 2*	TBD: October- December
FA '26 Doctoral Graduates: Dissertation Defense Materials Due for FA '26 Graduate Eligibility	TBD
FA '26 Graduates: Graduation Applications Due	TBD
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 delrepgwu [dot] edu (delrep[at]gwu[dot]edu).

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.)

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 docgsehdgwu [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

Fall 2025

August 25	First Day to Defend Dissertation
October 22	FA '25 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
November 21	FA '25 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
December 12, 5 pm	FA '25 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
December 15	SP '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the fall semester
December 15	Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SP '26 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

Spring 2026

January 12	First Day to Defend Dissertation
February 18	SP '26 Graduates: Last day to turn in Dissertation Defense Materials to Dean's Office
March 18	SP '26 Graduates: Last Day to Defend Dissertations
April 8, 5 pm	SP '26 Graduates: ProQuest Deadline (submission of final dissertation to GW library)
May 1	SU '26 Graduates: Last day to hold a defense during the spring semester
May 1	Last day to submit dissertation materials to defend in SU '26 while enrolled in CE (free, zero credit option)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

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)

View Full Deadlines/Instructions for Dissertation

Graduation Dates & Deadlines

Fall 2025 Graduates

November 15	Applications for FA '25 Graduation Due
January 9, 2026	Fall Degree Conferral

Spring 2026 Graduates

March 14	Applications for SP '26 Graduation Due
May 16	GSEHD School Celebration
May 17	GW Commencement on the National Mall

Summer 2026 Graduates

TBD	Applications for SU '26 Graduation Due
August 31	Summer Degree Conferral