Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

On this page:
→  General Information
→  Deadlines September theses
→  Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission
→  PhD Thesis Contacts

General Information

The term in which you plan to defend, submit your dissertation, and graduate, you must be registered for Thesis (4.THG - 36 units). Your dissertation defense takes place in the presence of your full Dissertation Committee consisting of at least three members including your dissertation supervisor.

Upon satisfactory defense and submission of the dissertation, the supervisor will assign a grade. ("SA" is the final satisfactory grade for PhD.) The grade will not be submitted to the Registrar until the final approved dissertation document is submitted to the department portal by the thesis deadline provided on the departmental thesis deadlines calendar. For help with formatting of your full document, see the Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission page for more information.

You are responsible for working directly with your dissertation committee and area administrators to schedule your defense. The defense must not be scheduled for any later than two weeks prior to the thesis submission deadline. Each area may handle the logistics differently, so it is important to touch base with your group early in the defense planning process. For example, many faculty are not available during winter holidays or summer session, and may wish to schedule the defense early in December for a February degree.

Registration Deadline:

Midterm:

  • Be mindful of the Institute deadline to change your thesis title in WebSIS
  • Register your final thesis title: You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final thesis must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee.

One Week Prior to Institute Thesis Deadline:

  • 8:59am thesis due to Department Thesis Submission Tool (choose "Single Sign On" and log in with your MIT email address) — this is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly via the portal if adjustments are needed and specific instructions on corrections will be provided.
    • Be sure to provide your exact spelling of your name (either legal name or preferred name — whichever you have provided to your degree administrator) when submitting your thesis book to the portal. Using a different name will result in a submission error.
    • Max file size: 10MB or less. If file is too large, a submission error will result.

Institute Thesis Deadline:

  • All final edits and adjustments to the final dissertation book must be submitted to the department on or before this deadline. Final grade submission by your advisor also must be submitted on or before this deadline. 

One Week After Institute Thesis Deadline:

  • Last day to come off the degree list (contact Tessa Haynes)
  • Degree conferral date (see Academic Calendar or Department Thesis Deadlines)

Specific Deadlines & Procedure

May 2024 Theses Deadlines

Friday, February 9, 2024

Friday, April 12, 2024

  • Register your final thesis title: You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final dissertation must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee; but you may still update your thesis title until the actual submission date.

Monday, April 29, 2024

  • Your final dissertation book is due by 9am on Monday, April 29 to the Department Thesis Submission Tool (choose "Single Sign On" and log in with your MIT email address) for formatting review. This is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly if adjustments are needed. Your signed signature page must also be submitted at this time.

Friday, May 3, 2024

 

Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission

Important: Consult the Formatting, Specifications and Thesis Submission information page for advice and templates on how to format your book. Please pay particular attention to the templates for the frontmatter (Title Page, Committee Page, Abstract, and Table of Contents.) Following the templates now means fewer edits to make later!

PhD Thesis Contacts