PhD Submission Deadlines
Note: These dates do not apply to students completing an LLM degree.
The deadlines below are based on the very last day you can submit, attend a specific convocation deadline, and not pay the next term's fees. Submission deadlines are established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and cannot be extended. Timelines allow for very little leeway for unexpected delays. You may also contact the graduate program coordinator to create personalized deadlines so that you can make use of the Completion Postponement Fee Adjustment (CPFA) or for any other reason.
Please select the term in which you intend to submit your dissertation.
To complete during the SUMMER term 2024 (for November 2024 convocation):
Please note, it is recommended that the oral examination occur between June 12 and June 26. Please confirm the availability of your supervisory committee members as soon as possible.
An earlier oral examination date is encouraged but all other deadlines below are based on the examination date and must be re-calculated accordingly (see the graduate program coordinator for assistance).
(discuss these dates with your supervisory committee): submit draft copy of entire dissertation to supervisory committee for feedback and review. Note that often supervisory committees like to see the entire draft twice and will need time to do a thorough review.
Friday, March 29th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing four weeks before ROE submission): following the external examiner guidelines submit a list of three external examiner nominees using the PhD external examiner nomination form to the graduate program coordinator. The external examiner nominations should only be submitted after the entire supervisory committee has reviewed the entire dissertation and considers it near exam ready.
(during this time): (allowing two weeks before ROE submission): supervisory committee's revisions to student to incorporate, and student to then provide all members of supervisory committee with exam-ready or final draft version of dissertation.
Friday, April 26th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing 32 business days before exam). Submit to the graduate program coordinator:
- a PDF of your exam-ready dissertation
- copies of any Human Research Ethics waiver certificate(s)
- Dissertation withholding form, if applicable, as provided by the graduate program coordinator
- Request for oral examination (ROE) form, as provided by the graduate program coordinator
- Confirmation of arm's length status form, as provided by the graduate program coordinator
Wednesday, June 12th to Wednesday June 26th 2024 (allowing eight-plus weeks before final submission): arrange for oral examination during these weeks based on availability of supervisory committee and external examiner. Earlier dates are encouraged but all other deadlines above are based on the examination date and must be re-calculated accordingly (see the graduate program coordinator for assistance).
Saturday, June 15th 2024 Submit an application to graduate. (Applications submitted after this date will be subject to a late fee). Also, register for a UVicSpace account.
Monday, August 26th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing three business days to final submission): once you have received final sign off from all supervisory committee members, forward approval email to graduate program coordinator. The graduate program coordinator will then coordinate with the Graduate Admissions and Records Office, your supervisors, the Graduate Program Director, and the Dean of Law. Your UVicSpace account will then be activated so that you may submit your entire dissertation to UVicSpace for confirmation of your formatting by Graduate Admissions and Records. Use the Faculty of Graduate Studies thesis format checklist and sample pages to ensure your final version complies with their requirements. You can no longer make content edits to the dissertation at this point.
Friday, August 30th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time: The graduate program coordinator will submit the signed Thesis/dissertation approval form and Letter of Recommendation to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office.
To complete during the FALL term 2024 (for June 2025 convocation):
Please note, it is recommended that the oral examination occur between October 4 and 18. Please confirm the availability of your supervisory committee members as soon as possible.
An earlier oral examination date is encouraged but all other deadlines below are based on the examination date and must be re-calculated accordingly (see the graduate program coordinator for assistance).
(discuss these dates with your supervisory committee): submit draft copy of entire dissertation to supervisory committee for feedback and review. Note that often supervisory committees like to see the entire draft twice and will need time to do a thorough review.
Thursday, July 18th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing four weeks before ROE submission): following the external examiner guidelines submit a list of three external examiner nominees using the PhD external examiner nomination form to the graduate program coordinator. The external examiner nominations should only be submitted after the entire supervisory committee has reviewed the dissertation and considers it near exam ready.
(during this time): (allowing two weeks before ROE submission): supervisory committee's revisions to student to incorporate, and student to then provide all members of supervisory committee with exam-ready or final draft version of dissertation.
Friday, August 16th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing 32 business days before exam). Submit to the graduate program coordinator:
- a PDF of your exam-ready dissertation
- copies of any Human Research Ethics waiver certificate(s)
- Thesis/dissertation withholding form, if applicable, as provided by the graduate assistant
- Request for oral examination (ROE) form, as provided by the graduate assistant
- Confirmation of arm's length status form, as provided by the graduate assistant
Friday, October 4th to Friday, October 18th 2024 (allowing eight-plus weeks before final submission): arrange for oral examination during these weeks based on availability of supervisory committee and external examiner. Earlier dates are encouraged but all other deadlines above are based on the examination date and must be re-calculated accordingly (see the graduate program coordinator for assistance).
Friday, November 15th 2024 Submit an application to graduate. (Applications submitted after this date will be subject to a late fee). Also, register for a UVicSpace account.
Monday, December 16th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time (allowing three business days to final submission): once you have received final sign off from all supervisory committee members, forward approval email to graduate program coordinator. The graduate program coordinator will then coordinate with the Graduate Admissions and Records Office, your supervisors, the Graduate Program Director, and the Dean of Law. Your UVicSpace account will then be activated so that you may submit your entire dissertation to UVicSpace for confirmation of your formatting by Graduate Admissions and Records. Use the Faculty of Graduate Studies thesis format checklist and sample pages to ensure your final version complies with their requirements. You can no longer make content edits to the dissertation at this point.
Friday, December 20th 2024 noon Pacific Standard Time: The graduate program coordinator will submit the signed Thesis/dissertation approval form and Letter of Recommendation to the Graduate Admissions and Records Office.