Domestic Applicants
While programs may have specific deadlines or timelines they adhere to, the typical lifecycle for a Plan I student — i.e. a student completing a thesis or dissertation as part of their program — is as follows:
- At the start of their academic career, students take core coursework and work with their faculty to determine a relevant research topic. Once a research focus has been identified, the student will establish their Graduate Study Committee. Be sure to confirm all members of your committee have graduate faculty status so there are no delays in setting up your committee.
- Plan I students need to complete RCR training and/or GRD 717, or an approved substitute if applicable for their program.
- Before progressing to candidacy, Plan I students must apply for and receive IRB or IACUC approval if their research includes human or animal subjects.
- Once a student completes RCR training and secures IRB or IACUC approval, the student will apply for admission to candidacy. This allows students to enroll in 699/799, Thesis/Dissertation hours.
- Prior to defending their thesis or dissertation, the student can request their Approval Form from the Graduate School, which will be generated on the day of the student’s defense and sent to their committee for approval.
- Upon completing their public defense, the student will then submit their thesis or dissertation to ProQuest for review and make any necessary edits.
- Finally, doctoral students must complete the Graduate Exit Survey and the Survey of Earned Doctorates. Upon completion, the student graduates.
This site contains information related to degree completion at UAB. For specific degree requirements, access the Graduate Catalog. Otherwise, click one of the buttons below to navigate to the relevant Earning Your Degree section.
Graduation Planning System (GPS)
You can access your degree requirements through UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS). Your personalized audit will list all of the courses required to earn your degree/certificate and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessed through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of your home page. You should also be aware of the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, which can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Your GPS audit should be reviewed every semester to track your progress and help determine your registration plans. GPS is not intended to replace your relationship with your academic advisor/graduate department but should be used in conjunction with their consultation.
If you see a discrepancy on your audit, contact your department immediately to address the concern. The Graduate School uses your GPS audit to award your degree/certificate so it must be accurate and complete.
Application for Degree
As you are approaching your final term, you must notify your program and the Graduate School of your intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree/Certificate by the appropriate deadline. This must be completed even if you do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony.
Upon submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application. In addition, a fee will be assessed to your account. This fee covers the verification of your curriculum requirements and your diploma and will only be assessed the first time you apply to graduate for that specific degree/certificate. The fee for graduate degrees is $60 and the fee for graduate certificates is $20.
If a student misses the application for degree deadline, their degree will not be awarded for that term. The student should apply to graduate the next open term.
- Upon request, a letter of pending degree can be generated confirming the term the degree will be awarded upon successful submission of an application for degree and completion of all degree requirements.
Know Your Deadlines!
The Graduate School has the deadlines listed below for application for degrees and/or graduate-level certificates. Degree requirements can be found in the Graduate Catalog. The Application for Degree/Certificate is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking on Links/Forms and selecting Apply for Graduate Degree/Certificate.
Plan I Deadlines (students completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline |
Final Defense Deadline |
Commencement |
Deadline for Document Submission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | June 9, 2025 | July 11, 2025 | August 16, 2025 | No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
| Fall 2025 | September 2, 2025 | November 14, 2025 | December 12, 2025 | No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Spring 2026 |
January 20, 2026 |
April 3, 2026 |
May 1, 2026 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Summer 2026 |
June 8, 2026 |
July 10, 2026 |
August 14, 2026 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Fall 2026 |
September 1, 2026 |
November 13, 2026 |
TBD |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
Plan II Deadlines (students NOT completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline* |
Diploma |
|---|---|---|
|
Spring 2025 |
January 21, 2025 |
May 2, 2025 |
|
Summer 2025 |
June 9, 2025 |
August 16, 2025 |
|
Fall 2025 |
September 2, 2025 |
December 12, 2025 |
*IMPORTANT: Please check the application deadline with your department as some programs have earlier deadline dates (e.g. School of Education and Human Sciences).
Degree Awarding
Degrees are awarded after final grades are posted (check the UAB Academic Calendar for the date grades are posted online). When your degree is awarded, you can access an official transcript that includes the degree through UAB One Stop.
Prior to awarding degrees, the Graduate School will send an email verifying your degree, diploma name, and diploma mailing address. You can update information by replying to that email. Diplomas will ship 4-6 weeks after graduation.
Enrollment Verification
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Letter of Good Standing
To request a Letter of Good Standing, email Lily Leath (lleath@uab.edu).
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Transient Letter Request
To take a course at another institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at UAB, first confer with your program director to determine whether the course is transferrable and will be applicable toward a degree at UAB. Further, you must be in good academic standing (i.e., a minimum 3.0 GPA at UAB). Once approved, email Lily Leath (lleath@uab.edu) to request the letter. Include the following information in your email:
- Name of the Institution
- Term the course will be taken
- Subject code/Course Number/Title of the course
You have the responsibility to submit an official transcript to UAB as soon as the final grade(s) for your course(s) are available. Transcripts must be sent to UAB directly from the college or university. Transcripts submitted directly from the student are not considered official.
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Pending Degree Verification Letter
To request a letter verifying your pending degree you must have an application for degree on file with the Graduate School. If your audit is complete in GPS, email Lily Leath (lleath@uab.edu) to request a letter verifying your pending degree. If your audit is incomplete, review the audit with your program director. The program may apply exceptions to complete your audit, if applicable.
Plan I students must complete the following Clearance to Graduate items prior to request:
- PDF of your committee approved dissertation/thesis
- Signed approval form
- Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate (doctoral students only)
- UAB Exit Survey (doctoral students only)
Please contact the Graduate School (gradschool@uab.edu) for questions about Clearance to Graduate.
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Official UAB Transcript
You may request an official transcript that includes your degree through UAB One Stop.
Commencement & Diploma
Commencement Information
The commencement ceremony for Masters, Education Specialists, and Doctoral graduates will be held on the Friday evening following final exams.
If you are interested in participating in the university commencement ceremony, you can find all relevant information on the UAB Commencement website. Participation requires that you sign up on the commencement website and order the appropriate regalia by the specified deadlines.
Diploma Information
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Certified Electronic Diploma
You may request a Certified Electronic Diploma through UAB One Stop. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
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Replacement/Additional Diploma
You may request a replacement or additional diploma through UAB One Stop.
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Receiving your Diploma
- The Graduate School places the diploma order within one week after all graduate degrees have been awarded for the term. Once the degree has been officially awarded, degree verification can be obtained through Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts can be requested through the One Stop Student Services website or by calling (205) 934-4300.
- Graduates will receive an email confirming that their degree was awarded along with the diploma name and mailing address that was provided during the Application for Degree/Certificate process. Updates can be made to the name and/or address by the provided deadline.
- Diplomas are typically shipped within two weeks of order submission. Graduates will receive a confirmation email when it is shipped.
- UAB offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
- Graduates who have outstanding fees will not receive their diploma directly; it will be sent to the Graduate School for pickup or delivery after their account has been cleared.
We understand that completing your final research project is both an exciting and a demanding process. In order to make this process as smooth as possible, please review this 
Plan I Student Checklist of logistical items that must be completed along the way.
The typical lifecycle of a Plan I Student (anyone writing a thesis or dissertation) can be found here (accessible version available). Individual programs may have additional requirements or processes, so be sure to communicate your plans with your program early!
Committee
Establishing your committee is the first step in formalizing your research. This process should be started early in your academic career! The below checklist will ensure your committee can be formally established with the Graduate School.
Step 1
Identify faculty members who will serve on your committee. While additional committee members may be beneficial, UAB requires a minimum of three committee members for masters students and five for doctoral students.
Step 2
Verify all committee members have Graduate Faculty Status.
If they don't, or if you will have any Ad Hoc faculty serving on your committee, your program will need to request Graduate Faculty Status on their behalf.
Step 3
Submit your Committee Form to the Graduate School.
Step 4
Need to make changes to your committee? Complete a Change of Graduate Study Committee form.
Candidacy
Before you can register for thesis or dissertation hours (699 or 799) you will need to be formally admitted to candidacy. For most students, this will occur after passing your comprehensive exams, but be sure to discuss expectations and timing with your program. There are some steps you'll need to take early on to ensure your progression to candidacy is smooth!
Step 1: Know Your Deadlines!
Step 2: Determine if Your Research will Involve Human or Animal Subjects
NOTE: The review period for IRB/IACUC approval can be significant. Begin this process early, as lack of approval will delay your admission to candidacy.
Human Subjects
Research involving human subjects requires approval from the IRB office. Discuss with your program whether you will be listed as the Principle Investigator or covered under an existing protocol. Either way, your name will need to be listed on the approval letter generated by the IRB office.
Animal Subjects
Research involving animal subjects requires approval from the IACUC office. Discuss with your program whether you will be listed as the Principle Investigator or covered under an existing protocol. An IRAP Personnel Form for the relevant IACUC protocol number can be downloaded from IRAP and attached with your candidacy application.
Step 3: Verify the Research Compliance Requirements of Your Program
Masters Students (excluding Master of Arts):
Your must complete RCR training, including a 2-hour in-person component. Visit the RCR Training page for more information and to coordinate your in-person training.
Doctoral Students:
Successfully complete GRD 717 (or approved substitute) prior to progressing to candidacy.
Step 4: Apply for Admission to Candidacy
Application for Admission to Candidacy
Step 5: Register for Thesis/Dissertation Hours (699/799)
Doctoral students are required to have a minimum of 12 semester hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student's program. Master’s students are required to have a minimum of 6 semester hours of thesis research (i.e. 699) over a minimum of one semester in candidacy.
Approval Forms and Your Public Defense
The public defense represents the culmination of your research. Once you are ready to defend your thesis or dissertation, you'll need to request your defense approval form. The Graduate School will also list your defense information on the Presentation Calendar using the information provided on the request.
Step 1
Ensure you have submitted your Application for Degree in BlazerNET.
Step 2
Schedule your defense before the final defense deadline. Find your application and defense deadline.
Step 3
Submit your Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form Request. NOTE: This must be done a minimum of two weeks prior to your public defense, but should be done as early as possible once you know your defense date.
You will receive a confirmation email from the Graduate School when your request has been processed. Your approval form will be generated electronically the morning of your defense and sent to your committee. When the form has been completed by all committee members and returned to the Graduate School you will receive an email with the final copy.
Theses/Dissertations
The publication of your thesis or dissertation is an exciting time for any graduate student. The below checklist will make the process of writing and submitting your document as smooth as possible.
Step 1
Decide which style guide (APA, CBE, etc) will be used and arrangements for having your work edited by your committee.
Step 2
Familiarize yourself with UAB's format manual. While some exceptions to this formatting may be appropriate based on program standards, the end result should be a consistently formatted and clean submission of publishable quality.
You can find a list of templates that may help you with formatting by visiting our Templates resource page and reviewing our editing and publishing guidance.
Learn about 
common formatting errors.
Step 3
Submit your thesis/dissertation as a single PDF to ProQuest within 10 business days of your final defense. You will be notified via email (usually within 5-7 business days) when your submission has been reviewed. Monitor your email closely so you can make any necessary changes.
Step 4
Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (applies to doctoral students only).
Step 5
Complete the Graduate School Exit Survey (required for Doctoral students). The link will be sent to you with your final approval form.
Step 6
See the Resources section below for information on copyrighting your work, ordering bound copies, and browsing previously published theses/dissertations.
Resources & Links
- Formatting
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Bound Copies
If you would like to have bound copies of your thesis or dissertation, you may order copies of your document through ProQuest when you submit your pdf.
OR
After final approval by the Graduate School, you may make printed copies of your document. Please contact Tuscaloosa Bindery at (205) 758-2204 or tusbindery@aol.com for information on binding.
These pages will not be checked for accuracy before they are bound, so check your own copies carefully to be sure they have printed and copied correctly throughout. If you want a copy of your signed approval form to be included in your personal copies, you must make copies and place them there.
Paper
Because these copies will not be placed on the shelf in the library, there is no special paper requirement; however, your bound copies will have a more professional appearance and have a longer shelf life if you use high quality paper. White 20-24 lb., acid-free, 8 ½ x 11, watermarked paper (available in most office supply stores and professional copy centers) is the usual choice for bound dissertations.
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Copyright
Copyright law affects you in two ways: It governs the way in which you are allowed to use another person’s published works to support your own writing, and it determines how another person may use yours.
Use of Previously Published Material
In academia it is generally accepted that “fair use” allows writers to use small portions of copyrighted material if the original meaning or intent is not distorted in any way and if credit is given to the source from which material was taken. Writers may not, however, use substantial portions of text (e.g., several pages) or tables, figures, photographs, or other illustrative material without the written permission of the copyright holder, who is usually the publisher of a journal or book.
Copyright law as it applies to the Internet is uncertain at best. To be safe, assume that, unless the work has a specific statement indicating that the item is in public domain, it is under copyright protection and that you may not use it without written permission.
If you include material for which you have received written permission to use, (even if it is your own previously published article [i.e., a reprint]), that permission must be submitted to the Graduate School along with your finished document; in addition, a statement that the material is “used by permission” must appear in your thesis or dissertation (see the UAB Format Manual for specific wording).
Copyrighting Your Own Work
U.S. copyright law provides automatic copyright protection for written work from the time at which it is fixed in a tangible form for the first time. The advantage of officially registering (and paying for) your copyright is that registration establishes a public record of your copyright claim. A copyright page may be included in your thesis or dissertation whether or not you register for copyright protection. However, in the event that you later wish to initiate a copyright infringement suit, this official registration is required. You may initiate copyright procedures at the time of submission to the Graduate School, or you may copyright your dissertation at any time in the future. If you copyright your dissertation, a copyright page should be added to your dissertation.
ProQuest/UMI, the company that publishes the online database Dissertation Abstracts will also handle the copyright procedure if you wish. The cost is $75 and is paid at the time that you pay your submission fee (or you may file your own copyright application through the U.S. Copyright Office). The $75 fee to ProQuest/UMI includes copyright registration plus completion of requisite forms and applications and the creation of the deposit copy of your dissertation. UAB Master’s theses are not submitted to ProQuest/UMI. Therefore, if you would like to copyright your thesis you should do so directly through the U.S. Copyright Office.
If you are reprinting articles which have previously been published or that you wish to publish later, the publishing company owns (or will own) the copyright. Therefore, preprint/reprint theses and dissertations should not be copyrighted.
Resources
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Thesis and Dissertation Lookup
All theses and dissertations beginning in the spring of 2007 are submitted electronically and are published through the UAB libraries’ digital collections. Browse/Search UAB Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Electronic Submission and Publication
An Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) is the same as its paper counterpart in content and organization and meets the formatting requirements described in the Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations (pdf).
It is important to recognize the distinction between electronic submission and electronic publication.
- Electronic submission indicates that rather than printing your document and submitting paper copies to the Graduate School, you submit your final document as a PDF file. No paper copies are accepted by the Graduate School or the UAB libraries. Committee members may still, if they choose, require a paper copy for their part of the review process.
- Electronic publication is a separate issue and refers to the ways in which your document will be made available to others. This issue may require further consideration. Learn more about publication and copyright issues.
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Helpful Links
- Application for Graduate Degree/Certificate: Students planning to graduate in the upcoming term can access the Application for Graduate Degree/Certificate online through BlazerNET by clicking Links/Forms and selecting Apply for Graduate Degree/Certificate. The application must be submitted by the deadline date listed above; however, check with your department as some programs have earlier deadline dates (e.g. School of Education and Human Sciences).
- Approval Form Request
- Change of Diploma Mailing Address
- Change of Graduate Study Committee
- ProQuest Submission Site
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (doctoral students only)
- AI Guidelines