Doctoral Graduation

Required steps for the semester in which you expect to complete degree requirements:

Checklist for Degree Completion:

  • Enroll for graduate credit.
  • Apply for graduation in PAWS.
  • Follow deadlines for format review, defense, and dissertation submission.
  • Submit Thesis & Dissertation Approval and Publishing Options form.
  • Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates.
  1. You must be enrolled for graduate credit. Dissertators must follow the Continuous Enrollment requirement.
  2. Apply for graduation in PAWS by the posted deadline for the semester in which you intend to graduate.
    The graduation application is required for us to process your defense warrant, degree completion and order your diploma; it is not for the graduation (commencement) ceremony.
    Degrees are conferred in May (Spring), August (Summer) or December (Fall). All requirements must be completed by the last day of the term to be eligible to graduate in that term.
    Applications do not carry forward; you must re-apply if you did not graduate in the semester you anticipated. You may be eligible to graduate in the next semester without enrolling, if you complete all requirements by the Window deadlines. Contact gs-doctoralservices@uwm.edu to determine eligibility or if you plan to use this deadline. The Bursar’s Office bills the $40 graduation application fee during the term you expect to receive your degree. The billing cycle runs monthly in your term of graduation. The charge will appear in the next monthly cycle of your graduation term.
  3. Students submitting a PhD Dissertation should review and follow instructions on the formatting and submission websites:

Professional Doctorate Students (DNP, DPT)

Required steps for the semester in which you expect to complete degree requirements:

  1. You must be enrolled for graduate credit.
  2. Apply for graduation in PAWS by the posted deadline for the semester in which you intend to graduate. The graduation application is required for us to process your degree completion and order your diploma; it is not for the graduation (commencement) ceremony. Degrees are conferred in May (Spring), August (Summer) or December (Fall). All requirements must be completed by the last day of the term to be eligible to graduate in that term.
    Applications do not carry forward; you must re-apply if you did not graduate in the semester you anticipated. You may be eligible to graduate in the next semester without enrolling, if you complete all requirements by the Window deadlines.Contact gs-doctoralservices@uwm.edu to determine eligibility or if you plan to use this deadline. The Bursar’s Office bills the $40 graduation application fee during the term you expect to receive your degree. The billing cycle runs monthly in your term of graduation. The charge will appear in the next monthly cycle of your graduation term.

Commencement Ceremony

Visit the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony page.

Diploma

Visit the Graduate School Diplomas page.

Holds

If you have a hold on your record, you must clear it before your transcript and diploma will be released. Once your hold is removed, you must contact GS-GraduationProcessing@uwm.edu, or call (414) 229-6569 to arrange mailing or pick-up of your diploma.