Calendar of Events and Deadlines
Dates for the Autumn 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms. Full academic calendar and registration deadlines.
Autumn 2025
September 2 |
Tuesday. Autumn Term 2025 begins. |
September 4 |
Thursday. Last day to file the application for Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.) for all Autumn term 2025 exams.* |
September 11 |
Thursday. Last day to file notification of Intention to Defend for the Ed.D. and Ph.D. dissertation during the Autumn term 2025 to the Office of Doctoral Studies.* |
September 15 |
Monday. Last day to add and drop courses for the Autumn term 2025. |
October 2 |
Thursday. Last day to submit all required materials for October 15th award date of the Master of Philosophy degree (Ph.D. students). Deadline time: 4 p.m. |
October 9 |
Thursday. Last day to make final deposit and not be required to register for an additional term of Dissertation Advisement for candidates who defended in a prior term and who have not yet made final deposit. |
October 9 |
Thursday. Last day to complete the final deposit for the Ed.D. dissertation which has been corrected in accordance with Office of Doctoral Studies' evaluation for October award of degree. |
October 9 |
Thursday. Last day to deposit Ph.D. dissertation with the Office of Doctoral Studies and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for the October award of degree. Deadline time: 4 P.M. |
October 15 |
Wednesday. Award of October 2025 degrees and certificates. No ceremony. |
October 17 |
Friday. Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.), 9 A.M. to 12 noon and 1:45 to 4:45 P.M. |
December 19 |
Friday. Autumn Term 2025 ends. |
December 19 |
Monday. Last day to hold the dissertation defense (Ed.D./Ph.D.) to be considered an Autumn 2025 term defense. |
* |
Please refer to the Forms section on the Office of Doctoral Studies website to download the appropriate forms and instructions. |
Spring 2026
Please refer to the Forms section on the Office of Doctoral Studies website to download the appropriate forms and instructions.
January 20 |
Tuesday. Spring Term 2026 begins. |
January 22 |
Thursday. Last day to file an application for Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.) for all Spring term 2026 exams.* |
January 29 |
Thursday. Last day to file notification of Intention to Defend for Ed.D. and Ph.D. dissertation during the Spring term 2026 to the Office of Doctoral Studies.* |
January 29 |
Thursday. Last day (4 p.m. deadline) to submit all required materials for February 11th award date of the Master of Philosophy degree (Ph.D. students) |
February 2 |
Monday. Last day to add and drop courses for the Spring term 2026. |
February 5 |
Thursday. Last day to make final deposit and not be required to register for an additional term of Dissertation Advisement for candidates who defended in a prior term and who have not yet made final deposit. |
February 5 |
Thursday. Last day to complete the final deposit of the Ph.D. dissertation with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for the award of the February 2026 degree. Deadline time: 4 p.m. |
February 5 |
Thursday. Last day to make the final deposit of corrected Ed.D. dissertations and abstracts for the award of the February 2026 degree. |
February 11 |
Wednesday. Award of February 2026 degrees and certificates. No ceremony. |
February 20 |
Friday. Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.), 9:00a.m. to 12 noon and 1:45p.m. to 4:45p.m. |
April 20 |
Monday. Last day to hold the dissertation defense (Ed.D./Ph.D.) for the May 2026 award of the degree. |
April 21 |
Tuesday. Last day to submit Intention to Defend for Summer 2026 defense.* |
April 23 |
Thursday. Last day to make the final deposit of corrected Ed.D. dissertations and abstracts for the award of the May 2026 degree. |
April 23 |
Thursday. Last day to complete the final deposit of the Ph.D. dissertation with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for the May 2026 award of the degree. Deadline time: 4:00 p.m. |
May 7 |
Thursday. Last day (4 p.m. deadline) to submit all required materials for May 20th award date of the Master of Philosophy degree (Ph.D. students) |
May 12 |
Tuesday. End of Spring 2026 term. |
May 20 |
Wednesday. Conferring of degrees at Columbia University. Doctoral degree convocation. |
May 20 |
Wednesday. Last day to defend to be considered a Spring 2026 defense. |
* |
Please refer to the Forms section on the Office of Doctoral Studies website to download the appropriate forms and instructions. |
Summer 2026
Please refer to the Forms section on the Office of Doctoral Studies website to download the appropriate forms and instructions.
April 21 |
Tuesday. Last day to file notification in the Office of Doctoral Studies of Intention to Defend Ed.D. and Ph.D. dissertation during the Summer term 2026. Please consult with ODS if moving Spring 2026 defense to Summer 2026.* |
May 21 |
Thursday. Summer A Term begins. |
May 22 |
Friday. Last day to file application for Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.) for all Summer term 2026 exams.* |
May 27 |
Wednesday. Last day to add and drop courses for the Summer A Term 2026. |
June 12 |
Friday. Doctoral Certification Examination (Ed.D./Ph.D.), 9:00a.m. to 12 noon and 1:45p.m. to 4:45p.m. |
July 1 |
Wednesday. Summer A Term ends. |
July 6 |
Monday. Summer B Term begins. |
July 13 |
Monday. Last day to add and drop courses for the Summer B Term 2026. |
August 14 |
Friday. Summer B Term ends. |
August 14 |
Friday. Last day to defend to be considered a Summer 2026 defense. |
* |
Please refer to the Forms section on the Office of Doctoral Studies website to download the appropriate forms and instructions. |