Review all important academic dates from the Office of the Registrar.
January 2, 2025 - University Offices re-open after Holiday Break
January 6, 2025 - First Day of Winter Classes
January 10, 2025 - The earliest date a PhD defence can be scheduled in 2025. Review the oral defence and PhD External Examiner guidelines.
January 19, 2025 - Academic Add/Drop for Winter 2025
January 2nd to Jan. 27th – Phase I grace period for Winter term 2025:
Research students completing within the Phase I period must not register for Winter term 2025 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they meet the Phase I eligibility criteria and deadlines.
- pre-defence format checking: students are to submit for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence, at the same time when they submit a pre-defence copy to their Master's/Doctoral committee. Refer to the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
- final oral defence deadline: the defence can be held at any time within the Phase I grace period, provided the student meets the January 27th Phase I Deposit deadline.
January 27, 2025: Phase I Deposit deadline - last day for completion of the final post-defence submission ('deposit') of dissertations, theses, and major papers to Graduate Studies within the Winter term 2025 Phase I grace period. Refer to the post-defence Deposit instructions.
Students defending or depositing after January 27, 2025 must be registered in Winter term 2025 and will remain registered, as outlined in the Phase I policy.
February 3, 2025 - Financial Drop Date for Winter 2025. Refer to Student Account/Cashiers website for details on Financial Drop Dates.
February 7, 2025 - Last day to file a grade appeal for Fall term 2024.
February 14, 2025 - Phase II Deposit Deadline: last day for completion of the final post-defence submission ('deposit') of dissertations, theses, and major papers to Graduate Studies under Phase II (50% base tuition refund) of the tuition fee refund policy for Winter term 2025. Refer to the deposit steps instructions. Students must have submitted for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence - refer to the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
February 15-23 - Reading Week
February 17, 2025 - Family Day Holiday: University closed.
February 21, 2025 - University Offices Closed.
March 15 - No-fee Deadline to Apply to Graduate at Spring 2025 Convocation.
All students must apply to graduate whether they plan on attending their Convocation Ceremony or not.
Apply to graduate at Spring 2025 Convocation by March 15 at no cost. A late fee will be charged for applications from March 16 to April 27. For details about Spring 2025 Convocation, please refer to the Registrar's office Graduation & Convocation webpage.
March 16, 2025 - Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Winter 2025 courses.
March 31, 2025 - Last date to nominate external examiner for PhD defenses, for doctoral students aiming to graduate at Spring Convocation 2025. Review the PhD external examiner process instructions.
April 4, 2025 - Last Day of Winter 2025 Classes
April 11 , 2025 - Last date to submit a copy of the PhD dissertation to graduate studies for transmission to the PhD external examiner, for doctoral students aiming to graduate at Spring Convocation 2025. Review the PhD external examiner process instructions.
April 7-17, 2025 - Final Exams for Winter 2025 (excluding Law and Education)
April 8-21, 2025 - Final exams for Law.
April 18, 2025 - Good Friday - University closed.
April 27, 2025 - Deadline to Apply to Graduate at Spring 2025 Convocation.
Refer also to March 15th deadline to apply at no cost. If a student applies to graduate between March 16 - April 27, and wishes to attend their Spring 2025 Convocation ceremony, a non-refundable, non-transferable $80 fee will be charged. For details refer to the Graduation & Convocation website.
May 5, 2025
First Day of Classes: Full Summer (12 week) term
May 12, 2025 – Defence deadline for both Phase I and Spring 2025 graduation:
Last day for the final oral defence of dissertations, theses and major papers for Phase I and Spring Graduation 2025:
- Research students whose defence is held no later than May 12th, 2025 and who are aiming to complete the post-defence Deposit no later than May 20th, 2025 must not register for the Summer term 2025 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they have applied to graduate in the Spring convocation (by Registrar's graduation deadline), and provided they meet the Phase I eligibility criteria and deadlines for Summer term 2025 as outlined on the Phase I grace period registration policy.
- Students whose defence is held after May 12, 2025 must register in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship for Summer term 2025 by the academic add/drop and will remain registered for Summer term. Refer to the Phase I grace period registration policy for eligibility and details.
- Students must have submitted for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence, at the same time when they submit a pre-defence copy to their Master's/Doctoral committee, as outlined on the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
- Defence notices are to be posted in the AAU (e.g. on the departmental website) and a copy of the defence notice sent to FGS at least 8 days prior to the defence date. Review defence requirements.
May 20, 2025 – post-defence Deposit deadline for both Phase I and Spring 2025 graduation:
- Last day to complete the post-defence submission (“Deposit”) of the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship to Graduate Studies, for Phase I and Spring 2025 graduation.
- Research students aiming to complete the defence no later than May 12th, 2025 and the post-defence Deposit no later than May 20th, 2025 must not register for the Summer term 2025 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they have applied to graduate in the Spring convocation and provided they meet the Phase I eligibility criteria and deadlines for Summer term 2025 as outlined on the Phase I grace period registration policy.
- Research students whose final oral defence is held after May 12, 2025, or who have defended by May 12th but have not completed the post-defence Deposit by May 20th and do not meet the Phase I eligibility criteria, must register in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship for Summer term 2025 by the academic add/drop date for the term. Such student will remain registered for Summer 2025 and will not be eligible to graduate in Spring 2025 convocation (must apply to graduate in the next convocation in Fall 2025). See also Phase II deadline (June 10th) for 50% base tuition refund for Summer term 2025.
May 15
Fees Due for Summer term 2025. Refer to Student Accounts / Cashier's website for details.
May 18, 2025
Academic Add/Drop for Full Summer 2025 (12 week)
May 19
Victoria Day: University Closed
June 3-6: Spring’2025 convocation
Visit the Graduation & Convocation webpage for details.
Spring Graduation relevant deadlines for graduate research students are posted on this webpage under “Spring 2024 graduation timeline” with a summary of dates and guidelines.
June 10, 2025 – post-defence Deposit deadline for Phase II
- Last day to complete the final post-defence submission (“Deposit”) of the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship to Graduate Studies under the Phase II tuition fee refund policy for 50% base tuition refund for Summer term 2025.
- Students must have submitted for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence, at the same time when they submit a pre-defence copy to their Master's/Doctoral committee, as outlined on the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
- The defence can be held at any time before the Phase II period, provided the student meets the June 10th post-defence Deposit deadline.
June 14-22
Reading Week for Full Summer 2024 (12 week) courses
July 1
Canada Day: University Closed
July 15
Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Full Summer (12 week) courses.
August 4
Civic Holiday: University Closed
August 6
Last Day of Full Summer 2025 (12 week) Classes
August 9-18
Final Exams for Full Summer 2024 (12 week)
August 13
Deadline for recommending a PhD external examiner for doctoral students aiming to complete within the Fall 2025 graduation and Phase I grace period
August 15
Fees Due for Fall 2025. Refer to Student Accounts / Cashier's website for details.
August 26
Deadline for submitting a copy of the PhD dissertation to the a PhD external examiner, for doctoral students aiming to complete within the Fall 2025 graduation and Phase I grace period.
September 1st – Labour day (University closed)
September 4 - First day of Fall term 2025 classes (excluding Law)
September 17 - Academic Add/Drop for Fall 2025
September 24 –Defence Deadline for both Phase I and Fall 2025 graduation:
Last day for the final oral defence of dissertations, theses, major papers, and internship papers for Phase I and Fall 2025 Graduation.
- Research students whose defence is held no later than September 24th, 2025 and who are aiming to complete the post-defence Deposit no later than October 1st, 2025 must not register for the Fall term 2025 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they have applied to graduate in the Fall convocation (by Registrar's graduation deadline), and provided they meet the Phase I grace period eligibility.
- Students whose defence is held after September 24, 2025 must register in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship for Fall term 2025 by the academic add/drop and will remain registered for Fall term 2025. Refer to the Phase I grace period registration policy for eligibility and details.
- Defence notices are to be posted in the AAU (e.g. on the departmental website) and a copy of the defence notice sent to FGS at least 8 days prior to the defence date. Review defence requirements.
- Students must have submitted for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence, at the same time when they submit a pre-defence copy to their Master's/Doctoral committee. Refer to the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
October 1st – post-defence Deposit deadline for both Phase I and Fall 2025 graduation:
Last day to complete the post-defence submission (“Deposit”) of dissertations, theses, major papers, and internship papers to Graduate Studies, for Phase I and Fall 2025 graduation.
- Research students who complete the defence no later than September 24th, 2025 and the post-defence Deposit no later than October 1st, 2025 must not register for the Fall term 2025 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they meet the Phase I eligibility criteria and deadlines. Refer to the Phase I grace period and registration policy for eligibility details.
- .Students who complete the defence after September 24, 2025, or the post-defence Deposit after October 1, 2025, must register in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship for Fall term 2025 by the academic add/drop date for the term. Such student will remain registered for Summer 2025, as outlined in the Phase I policy, and will not be eligible to graduate in Spring 2025 convocation (must apply to graduate in the next convocation in Fall 2025). See also Phase II deadline (June 10th) for 50% base tuition refund for Summer term 2025.
October 11-19 - Reading week (except Law)
October 13 - Thanksgiving Day (University closed)
October 15 - Post-defence Deposit deadline for Phase II
Last day to complete the post-defence submission (“Deposit”) of dissertations, theses, major papers, and internship papers to Graduate Studies, under Phase II (50% base tuition refund) of the tuition fee refund policy for Fall term 2025.
- Students must have submitted for format checking to Graduate Studies BEFORE the defence - refer to the pre-defence Format checking instructions.
- The defence can be held at any time before the Phase II period, provided the student meets the October 15th post-defence Deposit deadline.
October 16th to 17th: Fall 2025 convocation.
November 12: Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Fall 2025 courses
December 3 - Last Day of Fall 2025 Classes (except Law and Education)
December 6-17 - Final Exam Period for Fall 2025 (excluding Education & Law)
December 24th, 2025 to January 2nd, 2026 - University Offices closed for December Holiday recess.