School of
Graduate Studies

Theses and Dissertations

Look for our SGS workshops for students on the thesis/dissertation (T/D) format review, certification, and submission approval process; UMKC formatting guidelines; and deadlines.

T/D Format Review, Certification, and Submission Approval Process

Summer 2025:

All graduate students are required to submit electronic Microsoft Word* copies of their T/D to the School of Graduate Studies for format review by the posted deadlines shown below. The following forms should be submitted to the SGS with the T/D:

*If using LaTeX or a similar program and a PDF is the output, then students can mention that and submit a PDF instead of a Word document.


Fall 2025 and forward:

All graduate students are required to submit electronic Microsoft Word* copies of their T/D to the School of Graduate Studies for format review by the posted deadlines shown below. The following Kuali forms should be submitted online when the T/D is submitted to SGS:

*If using LaTeX or a similar program and a PDF is the output, then students can mention that and submit a PDF instead of a Word document.


SGS will complete an initial review of the T/D document, providing the student with requested revisions. Immediately following the T/D defense, the primary advisor/committee chair should initiate the online Kuali forms for the T/D defense results (due within 48 hours of the defense from the entire committee) and the committee approvals of the final written document (due before the student can upload to ProQuest). Any additional assessment forms needed by an individual department will not be included in this process.

After the SGS receives the required Kuali online committee forms and a student submits their final T/D via email, the SGS completes a final format check. Next, the SGS will provide the student with instructions on how to submit their T/D as a PDF to UMKC’s Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Administrator ProQuest. After acceptance in ProQuest, full-text versions will be available through MOspace, a digital institutional repository of the University of Missouri System.


UMKC Formatting Guidelines

The “University of Missouri-Kansas City Guide to Formatting Theses and Dissertations” is the main document resource for formatting guidance. The formatting guide was revised in January 2025.

UMKC Formatting Resources

Formatting Guidance Workshops

Formatting guidance workshops are typically held each Fall and Spring semester for students who are ready to start, or are already, working on their T/D. Attendance at a workshop is highly encouraged.

  • September 2025 Workshops TBA
  • Workshop: Tues., February 11, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Atterbury Student Success Center 237 and via Zoom
  • Workshop (Repeated): Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Atterbury Student Success Center 237 and via Zoom
  • A recording from February 8, 2025, of a presentation of the workshop material

The deadlines listed below for theses/dissertations are also downloadable as a PDF.

Thesis/Dissertation Deadlines1
Spring 2025 Summer 2025 Fall 2025 Spring 2026
Registrar's deadline to submit application for graduation Monday, March 31, 2025 Monday, June 30, 2025 Friday, October 31, 2025 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Deadline to submit T/D to SGS for initial format review2 Monday, March 31, 2025 Monday, June 30, 2025 Monday, October 27, 2025 Monday, March 30, 2026
Deadline for completing T/D defense Friday, May 16, 2025 Friday, July 25, 2025 Friday, December 19, 2025 Friday, May 15, 2026
Deadline to submit final T/D to SGS for final format review3 & committee chair submit T/D paperwork to SGS Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Tuesday, December 23, 20254 Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Deadline to upload T/D to ProQuest Friday, May 30, 2025 Monday, August 4, 2025 Friday, January 2, 20264 Friday, May 29, 2026
1All SGS T/D deadlines are by 5:00 pm Central Time.
2Preference for students to submit initial T/D Word file 2-3 weeks before defense or by the date listed in the table - whichever comes first.
3Preference for students to submit final T/D Word file within 2-3 weeks after defense or by the date listed in the table - whichever comes first.
4UMKC is closed for Winter Break December 25, 2025 - January 1, 2026.

Thesis/Dissertation Forms

  • Preliminary Approval (see above)
  • MOspace licence (see above)
  • Embargo request (see above)

Additional Resources