Following Winter Storm Kingston, the Batten School & VIMS will reopen at 10am on Friday, February 21.

Graduation

Policy in Catalog:

Graduation Policy in the School of Marine Science Graduate Catalog

Forms & Surveys:

Apply Online for Graduation (by October 1 deadline)
Notice of Candidacy for Graduation
SMS Graduate Survey (all students)
Survey of Earned Doctorates (PhD students only)
Steps for Student Checkout (DocuSign | View Sample)

Resources:

Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) Submission
Capstone Acceptance
Important Dates & Deadlines

Applying for Graduation:

In order to be reviewed for graduation, you must first complete the online graduation application in Banner Self Service within your window of opportunity (see below). Instructions are provided for your convenience. Once you have submitted the application, any changes must be made manually by submitting a Notice of Candidacy form.

The College has instituted a one-time, non-refundable graduation fee that will be charged to your student account upon applying for graduation. Payment of the fee will be due within 30 days. Changes to your graduation date will not result in additional fees.

If you have any difficulty with completing the online graduation application, contact the SMS Registrar or Wendy Urbano, the University's Graduation Coordinator, at (757) 221-2807.

Important Deadlines and Dates for Graduation:
Graduation Important Dates and Deadlines
Semester of degree completion: Online graduation application will be open: Degree conferral date: W&M Commencement  Exercises & VIMS Diploma Ceremony: Complete defense or capstone presentation by: Submit ETD via ProQuest or capstone acceptance by:
Spring 2025 February 15 thru October 1, 2024 May 18, 2025 May 16-17, 2025 April 18, 2025 May 2, 2025
Summer 2025 February 15 thru October 1, 2024 August 22, 2025 May 16-17, 2025 July 18, 2025 August 1, 2025
Fall 2025 February 15 thru October 1, 2025 January 16, 2026 May 15-16, 2026 Nov 21, 2025 
(Before Thanksgiving Week)
December 5, 2025
Spring 2026 February 15 thru October 1, 2025 May 16, 2026 May 15-16, 2026 April 17, 2026 May 1, 2026
Summer 2026 February 15 thru October 1, 2025 August 21, 2026 May 15-16, 2026 July 24, 2026 August 7, 2026

Last Updated on January 27, 2025 by J. Hay