Academic Deadlines
There is no august commencement. August graduates are invited to the december commencement ceremony.
For deadlines for dynamic courses, please contact your department.
Spring 2024
| 2024 Spring Graduate Academic Deadlines | Full Semester (16-week): Jan. 16 - May 10 | First Half-semester (8-week): Jan. 16 - March 9 | Second Half-semester (8-week): March 18 - May 10 | 14-week: Jan. 29 - May 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (university closed) | Jan. 15, Monday | Jan. 15, Monday | N/A | N/A |
| Classes Begin | Jan. 16, Tuesday | Jan. 16, Tuesday | March 18, Monday | Jan. 29, Monday |
| Last day to add or drop course(s) via self-service in MyNIU | Jan. 28, Sunday | Jan. 21, Sunday | Jan. 28, Sunday | Jan. 28, Sunday |
| Last day to submit Application for Graduation for Spring 2024 in MyNIU | Feb. 14, Wednesday | Feb. 14, Wednesday | Feb. 14, Wednesday | Feb. 14, Wednesday |
| Last day for Spring 2024 graduates to submit Request for Oral Defense of Thesis or Dissertation | March 8, Friday | March 8, Friday | March 8, Friday | March 8, Friday |
| Last day to change a course grading option (audit/credit) | March 10, Sunday | Feb. 11, Sunday | April 14, Sunday | March 24, Sunday |
| Spring Recess | March 10, Sunday - March 17, Sunday | March 10, Sunday - March 17, Sunday | N/A | March 10, Sunday - March 17, Sunday |
| Classes resume after Spring Recess | March 18, Monday | N/A | March 18, Monday | March 18, Monday |
| Last day to withdraw from current course/term | March 31, Sunday | Feb. 18, Sunday | April 21, Sunday | April 7, Sunday |
| Last possible day for spring 2024 graduates to hold an oral defense | March 29, Friday | March 29, Friday | March 29, Friday | March 29, Friday |
| Last day for Spring 2024 graduates to submit Results of Oral Defense form | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday |
| Last day for Spring 2024 graduates to submit post-defense version of Thesis or Dissertation | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday | April 5, Friday |
| Last day for departments to submit Certificate of Graduate Study forms | April 15, Monday | April 15, Monday | April 15, Monday | April 15, Monday |
| Fall 2023 Incompletes expire | April 17, Wednesday | April 17, Wednesday | April 17, Wednesday | April 17, Wednesday |
| Last day to add a course, change credit hours, or swap a course in special circumstances with Graduate School approval | April 28, Sunday | March 3, Sunday | April 28, Sunday | April 28, Sunday |
| Last day for departments to submit Comprehensive Exam Report forms | May 3, Friday | May 3, Friday | May 3, Friday | May 3, Friday |
| Classes end | May 2, Thursday | March 9, Saturday | May 2, Thursday | May 2, Thursday |
| Final Examinations | May 4, Saturday; May 6, Monday - May 10, Friday | As set by instructor | May 4, Saturday; May 6, Monday - May 10, Friday | May 4, Saturday; May 6, Monday - May 10, Friday |
| Spring Graduate Commencement Ceremony | May 10, Friday | May 10, Friday | May 10, Friday | May 10, Friday |
Summer 2024
| 2024 Summer Graduate Academic Deadlines | Full Semester (8-week): June 17 - Aug. 11 | First Half-semester (4-week): June 17 - July 14 | Second Half-semester (4-week): July 15 - Aug. 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last day to submit Application for Graduation for Summer 2024 in MyNIU | June 5, Wednesday | June 5, Wednesday | June 5, Wednesday |
| Classes Begin | June 17, Monday | June 17, Monday | July 15, Monday |
| Juneteenth (university closed) | June 19, Wednesday | June 19, Wednesday | N/A |
| Last day to add or drop course(s) via self-service in MyNIU | June 23, Sunday | June 19, Wednesday | June 23, Sunday |
| Last day for Summer 2024 graduates to submit Request for Oral Defense of Thesis or Dissertation | June 7, Friday | June 7, Friday | June 7, Friday |
| Independence Day (university closed) | July 4, Thursday | July 4, Thursday | N/A |
| Last day to change a course grading option (audit/credit) | July 14, Sunday | June 30, Sunday | July 28, Sunday |
| Last possible day for Summer 2024 graduates to hold an Oral Defense | June 28, Friday | June 28, Friday | June 28, Friday |
| Last day to withdraw from current course/term | July 21, Sunday | June 30, Sunday | July 28, Sunday |
| Last day for Summer 2024 graduates to submit Results of Oral Defense form | July 5, Friday | July 5, Friday | July 5, Friday |
| Last day for Summer 2024 graduates to submit post-defense version of Thesis or Dissertation | July 5, Friday | July 5, Friday | July 5, Friday |
| Last day for departments to submit Certificate of Graduate Study forms | July 15, Monday | July 15, Monday | July 15, Monday |
| Last day for departments to submit Comprehensive Exam Report forms | Aug. 2, Friday | Aug. 2, Friday | Aug. 2, Friday |
| Last day to add a course, change credit hours, or swap a course in special circumstances with Graduate School approval | Aug. 4, Sunday | July 7, Sunday | Aug. 4, Sunday |
| Classes end | Aug. 11, Sunday | July 14, Sunday | Aug. 11, Sunday |
Contact Us
The Graduate SchoolWilliston Hall 100 Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Hwy
DeKalb, IL 60115
Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.