Reminders
- Forms are available on the Departmental Forms webpage.
- Please check this calendar and the department web calendar on a regular basis for changes/updates.
- Please also check the Graduate College Academic Calendar regularly.
Questions?
Contact our graduate program coordinator.
Fall 2026 Academic Deadlines
| Date | Deadline/ Event |
|---|---|
| August 21 | New student orientation, location 307GH, 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| August 24 | Instruction begins |
| September 7 | Labor Day (all campus holiday) |
| September 8 – December 17 | Fall Written Prelims (scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
| September 15 | PhD Portfolio due for fall consideration to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| September 16 | “A Book in Common”, Pine Lounge at the Illini Union, 4:00PM-6:00PM |
| September 18 | Sign up form for Foreign Language Exam due to Graduate Program Coordinator |
| October 2 | Foreign Language Exam, 300C Gregory Hall Faculty PhD Portfolio Appraisal forms due |
| October 22 | Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grants due to Graduate Program Coordinator |
| October 27 | Financial Aid Workshop 2:00PM, 207 Gregory Hall |
| October 29 | Financial Aid Workshop 10:00AM, 331 Gregory Hall |
| November 1 | Last Day for students to add themselves to December degree list via Student Self-Service and for departments to add students who are unable to add themselves |
| November 2 | Priority registration for spring semester begins. Start times vary. See your time ticket for your exact enrollment time at UI Integrate Self-Service |
| November 4 | Graduate College Conference Presentation Award applications due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| November 9 | History Reference forms due to Graduate Program Coordinator |
| November 12 | Graduate College Dissertation Travel Grants due to Grad College (must have been submitted to Graduate Program Coordinator by October 22) |
| November 13 | Last day to take final exam for December doctoral degree Self-evaluations (APR) due to advisor, Director of Graduate Studies, and Graduate Program Coordinator |
| November 19 | Open registration begins for all students |
| November 21 – 29 | Thanksgiving Break (all campus holiday) |
| November 25 | Graduate College Conference Presentation Award Applications due to Graduate College (must have been submitted to Graduate Program Coordinator by November 2) |
| November 30 | Instruction Resumes Financial Appointment Request Forms and Recommendation Letters due to Graduate Program Coordinator by 12:00PM (Noon) |
| December 4 | Humanities Research Institute (HRI) – Graduate Student Fellowships Last day to complete deposit for December doctoral degree |
| December 9 | Instruction ends |
| December 10 | Reading day Spring Preliminary Exam Schedule due to Graduate Program Coordinator |
| December 11-17 | Final examination period |
| December 17 | Last day to submit a Request for Degree Certification letter (DCL) |
| December 21 | December degree conferral (no commencement) |
Spring 2027 Academic Deadlines
| Date | Deadline/Event |
|---|---|
| January 7 | Illinois Distinguished Fellowship due to the Grad College (Round 1) Dean's Doctoral Fellowship due to the Grad College (Round 1) |
| January 19 | Instruction Resumes |
| January 26-April 15 | Spring Written Prelims (scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
| January 29 | Sign up form for Foreign Language Exam due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| February 15 | PhD Portfolio and letters of recommendation due to the Graduate Program Coordinator for spring consideration |
| February 18 | Illinois Distinguished Fellowship due to the Grad College (Round 2) Dean's Doctoral Fellowship due to the Grad College (Round 2) |
| February 19 | History Summer Pre-Dissertation Travel Grant due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| February 20 | Foreign Language Exam, 3:00PM-4:15PM, 300C Gregory Hall |
| March 1 | Faculty Portfolio Appraisals due |
| March 4 | GC Dissertation Travel Grant due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| March 13-21 | Spring Break |
| March 16 | GC Conference Presentation Award application due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| March 22 | Instruction resumes |
| March 25 | GC Dissertation Completion Fellowship due to the Graduate Program Coordinator GC Dissertation Travel Grant due to the Grad College (must have been submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator by March 4) |
| March-April TBD | 1st and 2nd year student evaluations by faculty due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| April 2 | Last day to take final exam for May doctoral degree |
| April 4 | Last day for Grads to add themselves to May degree list via Student Self-service |
| April 5 | Priority registration for summer and fall begin. Start time vary. See your time ticket for your exact enrollment time at UI Integrate Self-service |
| April 6 | GC Conference Presentation Award application due to the Grad College (must have been submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator on March 6) |
| April 15 | GC Dissertation Completion Fellowship due to the Grad College (must have been submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator on March 25) |
| April 22 | Open registration begins for all students |
| April 30 | Last day to deposit May doctoral dissertations |
| May 5 | Instruction ends 2027-28 Preliminary Exam Schedule due to the Graduate Program Coordinator |
| May 6 | Reading Day |
| May 7 | Last day to submit DCL requests to the Grad College for students on the May degree list |
| May 7-13 | Final examination period |
| May 15 | Commencement |