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.

Review the appropriate checklist for the format of your Final Exam:

Timeline

Before Final Exam

Task Deadline
Review Graduate School Thesis Submission Deadlines
Review Graduate Final Thesis Submission Instructions and Guidelines
Schedule Final Exam with Supervisory Committee
~ The UW Graduate School and the MCB Program requires the Chair and GSR to attend the Final Exam
~ For Hybrid Exams, the Chair and/or the GSR must request prior approval from the MCB Program to attend virtually
At least three months before exam
Establish 3 member Reading Committee and email roster to Maia Low
The Chair is required to be on the Reading Committee
At least three months before exam
Schedule room for In-Person Exam OR Zoom meeting for Virtual/Hybrid Exam
~ In-Person: For room reservation assistance, contact Maia Low (UW) or Carolina Chambers (FH)
~ Virtual/Hybrid: Follow the Remote Thesis Defense Instructions and designate Maia Low, Alice Ven, and your Advisor(s) as alternate hosts
At least three months before exam
Confirm credit requirements have been met via MyUW Academics Tab (Grades box)
~ 18 total graded credits
~ 27 total MCB 800 credits
At least three months before exam
Submit thesis to Reading Committee At least five weeks before exam
Schedule Final Exam on MyGrad At least three weeks before exam
Email your dissertation title, date, time, and location of exam to Alice Ven and Maia Low
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
Email 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 In-Person Exam: In-person signatures by committee members. Scan and email to Maia Low or drop off at MCB Office.
Hybrid Exam: In-person signatures for those attending in person and email signatures for those attending virtually. Scan and email to Maia Low or drop off at MCB Office.
Virtual Exam: Email signatures by committee members (facilitated by Maia Low). Scan and email to Maia Low or drop off at MCB Office.
Doctoral Dissertation Reading Committee Form Approval by Committee submitted via MyGrad

After Final Exam

Task Deadline
Submit MCB Exit Survey Last day of quarter
Format thesis for submission to ETD Day before upload/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)
Upload survey of Earned Doctorates (via SED) 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.