Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines | Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs

The submission of your electronic thesis or dissertation (ETD) is the final step in the awarding of your degree. The finished document is a scholarly work, and something to be proud of — the result of a long period of preparation and research.

Allowing enough time for all the required steps, paying attention to deadlines, and adhering to the format guidelines are crucial. Follow these guidelines carefully to ensure the process goes smoothly. The electronic copy of your manuscript, which you submit to the Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Dean’s Office through ProQuest, is deposited in the UCSF Library and eScholarship and becomes an official and permanent record available for use by other scholars and the public. Your committee will guide you in the content of your manuscript, and your graduate program may specify certain elements of style in addition to the prescribed format for all programs.

Deadline Schedules

Please note: Deadline extensions are not granted.

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the listed date. If any dates fall on a Saturday/Sunday, the deadline is the immediate following business day.

Fall Deadlines

ProQuest Degree Date: December + grad year

October
- Attend Dissertation Process Workshop
- Attend Long Document Formatting Workshop
- Specific dates to be announced each quarter via email
First week of Fall Quarter: Students can begin submitting manuscripts
- This is the earliest our system is ready to receive this term’s manuscripts.
Second week of Fall Quarter: GEPA begins reviewing submissions in ProQuest
November 15: Submit final, completed manuscript to ProQuest
- A signed title page is not required for this initial submission.
December 1:
- Initiate title page (if not already done so)
- Embargo Request Due (if applicable)
December 14:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates due
- Doctoral Exit Survey due
- Signed title page due
December 15 @ 5 p.m.: Notice of approved manuscript must be received
- All students must receive an acceptance confirmation of their final, approved manuscript by this date. This version is considered final and ready for publishing. Manuscripts should not be submitted on this day — submissions must be made earlier to allow time for review and approval. Students who do not meet this deadline must register for the following term or apply for Filing Fee status, if eligible. No exceptions are made for late submissions.

Winter Deadlines

ProQuest Degree Date: March + grad year

January
- Attend Dissertation Process Workshop
- Attend Long Document Formatting Workshop
- Specific dates to be announced each quarter via email
First week of Winter Quarter: Students can begin submitting manuscripts
- This is the earliest our system is ready to receive this term’s manuscripts.
Second week of Winter Quarter: GEPA begins reviewing submissions in ProQuest
February 15: Submit final, completed manuscript to ProQuest
- A signed title page is not required for this initial submission.
March 1:
- Initiate title page (if not already done so)
- Embargo Request Due (if applicable)
March 14:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates due
- Doctoral Exit Survey due
- Signed title page due
March 15 @ 5 p.m.: Notice of approved manuscript must be received
- All students must receive an acceptance confirmation of their final, approved manuscript by this date. This version is considered final and ready for publishing. Manuscripts should not be submitted on this day — submissions must be made earlier to allow time for review and approval. Students who do not meet this deadline must register for the following term or apply for Filing Fee status, if eligible. No exceptions are made for late submissions.

Spring Deadlines

ProQuest Degree Date: June + grad year

April
- Attend Dissertation Process Workshop
- Attend Long Document Formatting Workshop
- Specific dates to be announced each quarter via email
First week of Spring Quarter: Students can begin submitting manuscripts
- This is the earliest our system is ready to receive this term’s manuscripts.
Second week of Spring Quarter: GEPA begins reviewing submissions in ProQuest
May 1: Submit final, completed manuscript to ProQuest
- A signed title page is not required for this initial submission.
May 15:
- Initiate title page (if not already done so)
- Embargo Request Due (if applicable)
May 29:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates due
- Doctoral Exit Survey due
- Signed title page due
May 30 @ 5 p.m.: Notice of approved manuscript must be received
- All students must receive an acceptance confirmation of their final, approved manuscript by this date. This version is considered final and ready for publishing. Manuscripts should not be submitted on this day — submissions must be made earlier to allow time for review and approval. Students who do not meet this deadline must register for the following term or apply for Filing Fee status, if eligible. No exceptions are made for late submissions.

Summer Session 1 Deadlines

ProQuest Degree Date: September + grad year

June
- Attend Dissertation Process Workshop
- Attend Long Document Formatting Workshop
- Specific dates to be announced each quarter via email
First week of Summer Session 1: Students can begin submitting manuscripts
- This is the earliest our system is ready to receive this term’s manuscripts.
Second week of Summer Session 1: GEPA begins reviewing submissions in ProQuest
June 25: Submit final, completed manuscript to ProQuest
- A signed title page is not required for this initial submission.
July 15:
- Initiate title page (if not already done so)
- Embargo Request Due (if applicable)
July 20:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates due
- Doctoral Exit Survey due
- Signed title page due
- Notice of approved manuscript must be received
  - All students must receive an acceptance confirmation of their final, approved manuscript by this date. This version is considered final and ready for publishing. Manuscripts should not be submitted on this day — submissions must be made earlier to allow time for review and approval. Students who do not meet this deadline must register for the following term or apply for Filing Fee status, if eligible. No exceptions are made for late submissions.

Summer Session 2 & Summer Term Deadlines

ProQuest Degree Date: September + grad year

July
- Attend Dissertation Process Workshop
- Attend Long Document Formatting Workshop
- Specific dates to be announced each quarter via email
First week of Summer Session 1: Students can begin submitting manuscripts
- This is the earliest our system is ready to receive this term’s manuscripts.
Second week of Summer Session 1: GEPA begins reviewing submissions in ProQuest
August 1: Submit final, completed manuscript to ProQuest
- A signed title page is not required for this initial submission.
August 15:
- Initiate title page (if not already done so)
- Embargo Request Due (if applicable)
August 29:
- Survey of Earned Doctorates due
- Doctoral Exit Survey due
- Signed title page due
August 30 @ 5 p.m.: Notice of approved manuscript must be received
- All students must receive an acceptance confirmation of their final, approved manuscript by this date. This version is considered final and ready for publishing. Manuscripts should not be submitted on this day — submissions must be made earlier to allow time for review and approval. Students who do not meet this deadline must register for the following term or apply for Filing Fee status, if eligible. No exceptions are made for late submissions.