Final Exam

The culmination of each student’s graduate career is the Final Exam, or dissertation defense.  This is an opportunity for the student to present their dissertation research in a public forum, and to discuss this work in depth with their Supervisory Committee.

The Final Exam Timeline is also available in the form of a checklist (download).

Timeline

Before Final Exam

Task Deadline
Review Graduate School Thesis Submission Deadlines
Review Graduate Final Thesis Submission Instructions and Guidelines
Receive approval to graduate from Supervisory Committee
Upload Supervisory Committee Report to Annual Committee Documents Portal At least three months before exam
Schedule graduation advising meeting with Maia At least three months before exam
Set Final Exam date with Supervisory Committee

The UW Graduate School and the MCB Program requires the Chair and GSR to attend the Final Exam. Virtual attendance by the Chair and/or GSR requires prior approval by the MCB program.

At least three months before exam
Establish three member Reading Committee

The Chair is required to be on the Reading Committee

At least three months before exam
Hold draft submission timeline meeting with Reading Committee At least three months before the exam
Reserve venue for Final Exam

For assistance, email:
UW – MCB Office (mcb@uw.edu)
FH – Office of Graduate Education (graduateeducation@fredhutch.org)

As soon as Final Exam Date is set
Email Maia with Reading Committee members and confirmation of draft submission timeline At least three months before exam
Submit thesis to Reading Committee According to draft timeline
Schedule Final Exam on MyGrad At least three weeks before exam
Email your dissertation title, date, time, and location of exam to Alice Ven
MCB will promote your defense via social media, email and print
At least three weeks before exam
Receive Committee Signature Form, MCB Exit Survey and other exam materials from Alice Ven At least three weeks before exam
Activate Electronic Thesis/Dissertation (ETD) account through UW ETD Administrator Site At least three weeks before exam
Send Reading Committee Electronic Thesis Approval Instructions At least three weeks before exam

Day of Final Exam

Remember to bring all required documents to your final exam.

Required document Submission instructions
Committee Signature Form Entire committee must sign by hand or digitally using Adobe signature. Return signed form to Maia Low at the MCB office.

After Final Exam

Task Deadline
Submit MCB Exit Survey Last day of quarter
Format thesis for submission to ETD One day before submission
Upload dissertation to ETD By 11:59 p.m. PST on last day of quarter
View UW Academic Calendar for exact date (last day of finals week)
Doctoral Dissertation approval by Reading Committee submitted via MyGrad By 11:59 p.m. PST on last day of quarter
Upload survey of Earned Doctorates (via SED) By 11:59 p.m. PST on last day of quarter

Information about ETD Submission

Have questions about ETD publishing? Contact the UW Libraries ETD team.