Every thesis and dissertation must go through a format review to ensure it meets the Thesis/Dissertation Specifications. This process begins with an Early Draft, which should be a complete copy of your document from title page to vita—even if the content is still being refined. The purpose of this early review is to catch formatting issues well in advance of your final deadlines.

When you submit your early draft, a format checker in Graduate Education will be assigned to you. This staff member will review each version of your document and work with you from the initial submission through the final approved copy. Please note that drafts showing no attempt to follow the provided templates, guides, or formatting resources cannot be assigned for review and will be returned. In these cases, the early draft deadline is considered not met.

After each review, you will revise your document according to the feedback provided and resubmit it directly to the same format checker.

It is essential to plan ahead and follow the recommended timeline for each review stage. While exact deadlines are posted on the Graduation Deadlines and Checklists webpage, the general expectations are as follows:

• Early Draft: Submit approximately four weeks before your final defense, but no later than the posted early draft deadline.

• Pre-Defense Draft: Submit 1–2 weeks before your scheduled defense, once your defense has been officially scheduled and your document is ready for committee review, but no later than the posted deadline.

• Post-Defense Draft: Submit after your committee has approved your defense results and Graduate Education has received your Form 2/7. This draft must be submitted before the final draft deadline for the term.

Following these timelines ensures you have sufficient time for revisions and final approval. Missing a required deadline will delay your graduation and may require enrollment in the following semester or session.

Ready to submit your document for the first review?

Submit Early Draft

Once you have completed all required formatting corrections to your document, you will receive instructions for the final submission process. Please be aware that these instructions will only be provided after the Graduate Education office has received and reviewed your Form 2/7. This form contains information that dictates the final submission procedure and ensures compliance with all administrative requirements before your submission is finalized. Once your final document has been accepted by our office, no further changes can be made.