Review all important academic dates from the Office of the Registrar.
September 2 – Labour day (University closed)
September 3 - Deadline for public posting of final oral defences for Phase I and Fall 2024 graduation:
Last date for departments to post the public notice of the final oral defence of students who are defending on September 10th (Phase I and Fall graduation defence deadline). Refer to the “Fall 2024 and Phase I timeline” posted on this webpage.
The defence notice must be posted in the AAU (e.g. on the AAU website), and a copy of the defence notice emailed by the department to Graduate Studies at least 8 days in advance of the defence date. Review the defence guidelines.
September 5 - First day of Fall term 2024 classes (excluding Law)
September 10th – Final Oral Defence Deadline for Phase I and Fall 2024 graduation:
Last day for the final oral defence of dissertations, theses, major papers, and internship papers for Phase I and Fall Graduation 2024. Review the defence guidelines.
Students whose final oral defence is held no later than September 10th must not register for Fall term 2024 in the dissertation/thesis/major paper/internship, provided they have applied to graduate for Fall 2024 convocation and that they meet the Phase I eligibility criteria for Fall term 2024.
Students defending on or after September 11th must be registered in Fall term 2024 and will remain registered for Fall term, as outlined in the Phase I policy.
September 10th to 25th - Deposit deadline for Phase I and Fall 2024 graduation:
- September 10th- deadline to start the Deposit (Step #1), for Phase I and Fall 2024 graduation: Last day for students to submit their document to the Graduate Studies office for format checking (deposit step #1 of 3). Review the deposit instructions;
- September 25th- deadline to complete the Deposit (remaining deposit Steps #2 and #3), for Phase I and Fall 2024 graduation: Last day for completion of remaining Steps #2 and #3 of the Deposit of dissertations, theses, and major papers to Graduate Studies, for Fall 2024 graduation. To complete deposit Steps #2 and #3, students must have completed the oral defence by September 10th as well as submitted for format checking no later than September 10, 2024.
September 15 – Last day to apply to graduate for Fall 2024 with fee charged (for students who missed the August 18th no-fee application deadline). For information about Fall 2024 Convocation refer to the Graduation & Convocation website.
September 18 - Academic Add/Drop for Fall 2024
October 3: Financial drop date for Fall 2024
October 4 - Grade appeal deadline for Summer term 2024
October 7 – Phase II deadline to start the Deposit (step #1 of 3):
Last day to submit for format checking to Graduate Studies (Deposit step #1 of 3) dissertations, theses and major papers, for students who are aiming to meet Phase II (50% base tuition refund) for Fall term 2024. Refer to the deposit instructions. Refer to the Phase II tuition fee refund policy for eligibility and details.
October 12 - 20 - Reading week
October 14 - Thanksgiving Day (University closed)
October 17 - Phase II deadline to complete the Deposit (remaining steps #2 and #3):
For students who completed Step #1 by Oct. 7: last day to complete Steps #2 and #3 of the Deposit of dissertations, theses and major papers under Phase II (50% base tuition refund) under the tuition fee refund policy for the Fall term 2024. Review the deposit instructions.
October 17 and 18th: Fall 2024 convocation.
November 13: Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Fall 2024 courses
November 25: Last day to send a doctoral dissertation to the PhD External Examiner for a January 2025 defence.
December 4 - Last Day of Fall 2024 Classes (except Law and Education)
December 7-18 - Final Exam Period for Fall 2025 (excluding Education & Law)
December 15 - Winter 2025 term fees are due and payable. Refer to Student Accounts / Cashier's website for details.
December 23rd, 2024 to January 1st , 2025 - University Offices closed for December Holiday recess.
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 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 16, 2025 - Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Winter 2025 courses.
April 4, 2025 - Last Day of Winter 2025 Classes
April 18, 2025 - Good Friday - University closed
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. 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.
May 20, 2025 – post-defence Deposit deadline for both Phase I and Spring 2024 graduation:
- Last day to complete the final post-defence submission (“Deposit”) of dissertations, theses, and major papers to Graduate Studies, for 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 (by Registrar's graduation deadline), and 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 May 12th, 2025 or the post-defence Deposit after May 20th, 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, 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.
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 dissertations, theses, and major papers to Graduate Studies under Phase II (50% base tuition refund) of the tuition fee refund policy for Summer 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.
- 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.