Refer to the academic calendar below for a list of important dates related to Ph.D. program milestones. Check the GSBMS General Academic Calendar for important dates related to registration and holidays.
Academic Year 2025-2026
| Summer 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| April 22 - May 26, 2025 | Registration | All students |
| May 8 - May 23, 2025 | Meeting with first-year Academic Advisor | All first-year IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| May 27, 2025 | Classes begin | All students |
| May 30, 2025 | Research rotation #3; rotation request forms due in GSBMS office | First-year IPP students |
| June 2 - July 25, 2025 | Research rotation #3; hours by arrangement with Rotation Advisor | First-year IPP students |
| June 6, 2025 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in August 2025 |
| June 21, 2025 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in August 2025 |
| July 28, 2025 | Research rotation #3; deadline to submit rotation report (abstract) | First-year IPP students |
| July 28, 2025 | Semester ends | All students |
| July/August, 2025 3 days TBA |
Qualifying exam | Second-year PhD students |
| August 1, 2025 | Declaration of major | First-year IPP students |
| Fall 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| June 19 - August 10, 2025 | Registration | All students |
| June 19 - August 10, 2025 | Meeting with first-year Academic Advisor | All new IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| August 4 - 8, 2025 | Ph.D. orientation for new students; sessions will be held throughout the week | All new IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| August 4 - 8, 2025 | Research orientation for new students; overview of research programs within each basic science department | All new IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| August 7, 2025 | General orientation | All new IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| August 11, 2025 | Classes begin | All students |
| August 15, 2025 | Research rotation #1; rotation request forms due in GSBMS office | First-year IPP students |
| August 18 - December 12, 2025 | Research rotation #1; hours by arrangement with Rotation Advisor | First-year IPP students |
| September 2, 2025 | Form Advisory Committees | Rising second-year IPP, first-year AS, & first-year MD-PhD students |
| October 15, 2025 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in December 2025 |
| November 1, 2025 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in December 2025 |
| December 15, 2025 | Research rotation #1; deadline to submit rotation report (abstract) | First-year IPP students |
| December 22, 2025 | Semester ends | All students |
| December 23, 2025 - January 4, 2026 | Holiday break | All PhD students |
| Spring 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026 | Registration | All students |
| December 22, 2025 - January 4, 2026 | Meeting with first-year Academic Advisor | All first-year IPP, AS, & MD-PhD students |
| January 5, 2026 | Classes begin | All students |
| January 9, 2026 | Research rotation #2; rotation request forms due in GSBMS office | First-year IPP students |
| January 12 - May 1, 2026 | Research rotation #2; hours by arrangement with Rotation Advisor | First-year IPP students |
| March 17, 2026 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in May 2026 |
| April 1, 2026 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in May 2026 |
| April 6 - 10, 2026 | Spring break | All students |
| May 4, 2026 | Research rotation #2; deadline to submit rotation report (abstract) | First-year IPP students |
| May 7, 2026 | Semester ends | All students |
Academic Year 2026-2027
| Summer 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| April 20 - May 22, 2026 | Meeting with Academic Advisor | All first-year PhD students |
| April 20-June 8, 2026 | Registration | All students |
| May 15, 2026 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in August 2026, but walking in May 2026 commencement |
| May 29, 2026 | Research rotation #3; rotation request forms due | First-year IPP students |
| June 1, 2026 | Classes begin | All students |
| June 1 - July 30, 2026 | Research rotation #3; hours by arrangement with Rotation Advisor | First-year IPP students |
| June 5, 2026 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in August 2026 |
| June 22, 2026 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in August 2026 |
| July 30, 2026 | Semester ends | All students |
| July 31, 2026 | Research rotation #3; rotation abstract and faculty evaluations of rotation due | First-year IPP students |
| July/August, 2026 3 days TBA |
Qualifying exam; dates arranged by Program Director | Second-year PhD students |
| Fall 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| June 15 - August 7, 2026 | Meeting with Academic Advisor | All new PhD students |
| June 15-August 31, 2025 | Registration | All students |
| August 10, 2026 | General orientation | All students |
| August 11, 2026 | Ph.D. orientation for new students | All new PhD students |
| August 11-14, 2026 | Overview of research programs | All new PhD students |
| August 17, 2026 | Classes begin | All students |
| September 1, 2026 | Declaration of major; research laboratory placement request forms due | All PhD students who are joining research laboratory |
| October 15, 2026 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in December 2026 |
| November 2, 2026 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in December 2026 |
| December 1, 2026 | Submit Individual Development Plan (new or revised) | All PhD students |
| December 1, 2026 | Form Advisory Committees; advisory committee membership form due | Rising third-year IPP, second-year AS, & MD-PhD students |
| December 14, 2026 | Semester ends | All students |
| December 23, 2026 - January 4, 2027 | Holiday break | All PhD students |
| Spring 2027 | ||
|---|---|---|
| November 23-December 25, 2026 | Meeting with Academic Advisor | All first-year PhD students |
| November 23, 2026 - January 19, 2027 | Registration | All students |
| January 4, 2027 | Classes begin | All students |
| March 17, 2027 | Last day to defend dissertation | PhD students graduating in May 2027 |
| March 22 - 26, 2027 | Spring break | All students |
| April 1, 2027 | Last day to submit approved thesis | PhD students graduating in May 2027 |
| May 7, 2027 | Semester ends | All students |
