Updated September 2026
The Dissertation Defense represents the final evaluation of the student’s doctoral research. Successful completion of the defense signifies that the student has satisfied the doctoral research requirements of the program and is eligible to graduate.
Dissertation Defense Procedure
- Dissertation Development
Following successful completion of the dissertation proposal, the student begins collecting and analyzing the data outlined in the approved proposal, typically no later than the spring semester of the fourth year. The student is expected to provide committee members with regular updates on their progress. As a general benchmark, students are encouraged to have analyzed at least a portion of their data by the end of the summer preceding their fifth year in order to have preliminary results available to share while on the academic job market.
- Dissertation Defense
The dissertation defense is scheduled upon completion of all requirements outlined in the approved dissertation proposal and in consultation with the dissertation committee, but no later than the end of the spring semester of the fifth year (see the academic calendar for specific graduation deadlines). A complete draft of the dissertation, prepared in accordance with University formatting requirements, must be distributed to committee members at least two weeks prior to the oral defense. The date of the defense must also be publicly announced in the University Events Calendar at least two weeks in advance. The dissertation defense is an open event.
- Dissertation Feedback and Final Submission
During and following the dissertation defense, the committee provides feedback and specifies any required revisions. The student completes these revisions to the committee’s satisfaction in order to receive final approval. Upon approval, the student will initiate completion of the approval form, to be signed by all members of the committee. They will also upload their final, approved dissertation to the Graduate School through the Thesis and Dissertation Portal.
Additional information and links regarding University dissertation requirements are available on the Graduate School website: https://registrar.uconn.edu/graduation/doctoral-degrees/