PhD Dissertation/MS Thesis Instructions

Students completing a PhD Dissertation or MS Thesis must follow the deadlines below for final submission to the Graduate School of Engineering for their intended graduation term.

All dissertations and theses must be self-published through the Northeastern University ProQuest/ETD Administrator Site.

Guidelines and Resources:

Committee Signature Page:

Begin the Committee Signature Page process only after successfully defending and making all required revisions.

Once revisions are complete, use the appropriate “Initiate Your Signature Page” link below to start the signature collection process. The Graduate School of Engineering will notify you once all signatures are obtained and when you may submit your final document to ProQuest.

For questions, please contact coe-gradadvising@northeastern.edu, and your advisor will assist.

Initiate your MS Thesis Defense Committee Signature Page

Initiate your PhD Dissertation Defense Committee Signature Page

PhD Dissertation/MS Thesis Deadlines

  • December 8, 2025: Thesis and Dissertations due to the Graduate School by 5pm
    Students submitting after this date will be required to register for Thesis/Dissertation Continuation in the following term. Tuition is billed at 1 semester hour for this course.
  • December 17, 2025: Submission to Proquest due and SED survey (PhD Only)
    The final MS Thesis or PhD Dissertation document should not be uploaded until the student has been notified of final approval by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering. Please do not upload the committee signature page with your document to Proquest. Instructions to complete the SED survey (PhD Only) will be emailed when the PhD Dissertation has been approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering.
  • December 17, 2025: Degree Conferral
  • April 26, 2026: MS Thesis/PhD Dissertation Signature Page is due to the Graduate School by 5pm
    Students submitting after this date will be required to register for an appropriate course in the following semester and are responsible for any tuition incurred.
  • April 29, 2026: Submission to Proquest due and SED survey (PhD Only)
    The final MS Thesis or PhD Dissertation document should not be uploaded until the student has been notified of final approval by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering. Please do not upload the committee signature page with your document to Proquest. Instructions to complete the SED survey (PhD Only) will be emailed when the PhD Dissertation has been approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering.
  • April 29, 2026: Degree Conferral
  • August 16, 2026: MS Thesis/PhD Dissertation Signature Page is due to the Graduate School by 5pm
    Students submitting after this date will be required to register for an appropriate course in the following semester and are responsible for any tuition incurred.
  • August 19, 2026: Submission to Proquest due and SED survey (PhD Only)
    The final MS Thesis or PhD Dissertation document should not be uploaded until the student has been notified of final approval by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering. Please do not upload the committee signature page with your document to Proquest. Instructions to complete the SED survey (PhD Only) will be emailed when the PhD Dissertation has been approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Graduate School of Engineering.
  • August 19, 2026: Degree Conferral