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Academic Calendar


Fall 2024

Students enrolled in executive formatted programs should contact their programs to confirm the dates of their program. 

Date

Day

Event/Deadline

August 19-23 Monday-Friday New Student Orientation
August 27 Tuesday Fall term classes begin
September 2 Monday Labor Day (NO CLASSES)
September 10 Tuesday LAST DAY to add or drop a class without financial penalty (11:59PM ET via Path@Penn). Executive education students must drop courses before their first in-person classes of the term to receive a full refund; if separating from the program during the first in-person classes there will be a 50% refund; if separating after conclusion of the first in-person classes there will be no refund
DOCTORAL (PH.D. and Ed.D.) STUDENTS GRADUATING IN DECEMBER 2024 are strongly advised to defend by October 21 to ensure that they can submit their dissertation for format review by November 4. The link to schedule your final defense is: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/student-forms/final-defense-sched. SRO requests that this form is submitted two weeks prior to defense date
October 7 Monday LAST DAY to drop a course (NO REFUND)
Courses dropped after this date require instructor approval and "W" will appear on transcript in place of grades
October 25 Friday LAST DAY to request course grade type change to audit. Requires instructor approval. GSE courses must be taken for a letter grade (standard grade mode) to satisfy GSE degree requirements. Please send request and approval to gse-sro@gse.upenn.edu
October 28 Monday Advance Registration for Spring 2025 available via Path@Penn
October 30 Wednesday Opening of December 2024 Graduation Application: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp
November 4 Monday LAST DAY to withdraw from a course with a "W". There are no drops from a course after this date
November 4 Monday LAST DAY doctoral students may submit dissertation for review by the Associate Dean for December 2024 degree:
EdD students: upload to Proquest
PhD students: Email dissertation to Faculty Affairs Office
November 11 Monday Advance registration for Spring 2025 ends at 11:59 PM. Your primary and alternative cart will not be available until Course Selection re-opens on November 19
November 19 Tuesday Course selection for Spring 2025 re-opens. Log into Path@Penn after 8:00am to register for courses
November 25 Monday LAST DAY to apply for December 2024 degree: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp
November 25 Monday Monday classes meet; no alternative schedule on Tuesday and Wendesday for GSE Graduate Classes
November 26-December 1 Tuesday-Sunday Thanksgiving Break (NO GSE Graduate CLASSES)
December 2 Monday Classes resume
December 2 Monday LAST DAY Divisions may submit Master’s Examination/Thesis Portfolio results to the GSE Student Records Office for December 2024 degree
December 9 Monday LAST DAY of Undergraduate Classes
December 12 Monday LAST DAY to submit Signed Title Page to Faculty Affairs for December 2024 degree
December 15 Sunday Last day for the new Summer and Fall incoming students to complete Penn Experience modules
December 16 Monday LAST DAY of Fall classes at GSE
December 19 Thursday LAST DAY May 2025 EdD and PhD graduates can hold final defense without having to pay Spring 2025 tuition (must receive a successful pass; tuition waiver does not apply for pending pass)
December 19 Thursday Fall term ends for University
January 3 Friday Fall term grades due
Spring Classes begin on January 15, 2025 (Monday class schedule)

Spring 2025

January 15 Wednesday SPRING TERM CLASSES BEGIN (Monday Classes)
January 20 Monday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed (NO CLASSES)
January 28 Tuesday LAST DAY to add or drop a class without financial penalty (11:59P.M. ET via Path@Penn). Executive education students must drop courses before their first in-person classes of the term to receive a full refund; if separating from the program during the first in-person classes there will be a 50% refund; if separating after conclusion of the first in-person classes there will be no refund.
May 2025 Doctoral Graduates: DOCTORAL STUDENTS (PH.D. AND ED.D.) STUDENTS DEPOSITING THEIR DISSERTATION IN MAY 2025 are strongly advised to defend by March 28 in order to ensure that they can submit their dissertation for format review by April 4.

August 2025 Doctoral Graduates: DOCTORAL (PhD AND EdD) STUDENTS DEPOSITING THEIR DISSERTATION IN AUGUST 2025 are strongly advised to defend by June 27 to ensure that they can submit their dissertation for format review by July 11.

The link to schedule your final defense is: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/student-forms/final-defense-sched. SRO requests that this form is submitted two weeks prior to defense date

February 4 Tuesday Graduation Application open for May 2025 degree conferral: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp
February 24 Monday LAST DAY to drop a course (NO REFUND)
Courses dropped after TBD require instructor approval and "W" will appear on transcript in place of grade
March 8-16 Saturday-Sunday Spring Break (NO CLASSES)
March 17 Monday Classes resume
March 21 Friday LAST DAY to request course grade type change to audit. Requires instructor approval. Please send request and approval to gse-sro@gse.upenn.edu 
March 24 Monday Registration period for Summer & Advance Registration for Fall 2025 available via Path@Penn
TBD TBD LAST DAY for all May and August 2025 and December 2024 graduates to graduate and RSVP for the May 2025 GSE commencement ceremony
March 31 Monday LAST DAY to withdraw from a course. Full financial obligation will apply. 'W' will appear on transcript in place of grade.
April 4 Friday LAST DAY doctoral students may submit dissertation for review by the Associate Dean for May 2025 degree
EdD students: upload to Proquest
PhD students:
email dissertation to Rive Cadawallader (rcad@upenn.edu)
TBD TBD Course selection for Fall 2025 re-opens. Log into Path@Penn after 7:00am for open registration.
April 9 Wednesday  Graduation Application closes for May 2025 graduations: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp. This application is not for GSE or Penn Commencement Ceremonies in May.
April 30 Wednesday Undergraduate classes end
May 5 Monday LAST DAY for submission of approved & signed dissertations for May 2025 degree:
EdD to Faculty Affairs Office
PhD to Graduate Arts & Sciences
May 5 Monday LAST DAY that divisions may submit Master's Comprehensive Examinsation/Thesis/Portfolio results to the GSE Student Records Office for May 2025 graduates
May 7 Wednesday LAST DAY OF CLASSES AT GSE
May 12 Monday Spring Term grades due
May 13 Wednesday Spring term ends for University
May 17 Saturday GSE Commencement ceremony
May 19 Monday University Commencement ceremony
May 23 Friday LAST DAY to hold an oral proposal hearing or final defense without having to pay summer tuition (Note: Both Ph.D and Ed.D students are billed at the Ed.D tuition rate in the Summer term
May 24 Friday LAST DAY to hold an oral proposal hearing or final defense without having to pay summer tuition (Note: Both Ph.D and Ed.D students are billed at the Ed.D tuition rate in the Summer term. See tuition and fees page for rates: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions_financial/tuition)
Summer I session begins on Tuesday, May 27, 2025
* ALL students who wish to march in the GSE Graduation Ceremony must RSVP to march online regardless of graduation date. For eligibility to march please consult the Graduation FAQ site: http://www.gse.upenn.edu/students/graduationfaqs

Summer 2025

Date

Day

Event/Deadline

May 26 Monday Memorial Day Observed (NO CLASSES)
May 27 Tuesday Summer Session I and 11-week classes begin at GSE
June 3 Tuesday LAST DAY to add or drop a Summer I class without financial penalty (11:59PM ET via Path@Penn). Executive education students must drop courses before their first in-person classes of the term to receive a full refund; if separating from the program during the first in-person classes there will be a 50% refund; if separating after conclusion of the first in-person classes there will be no refund
June 10 Tuesday LAST DAY to add or drop an 11-week class without financial penalty (11:59PM ET via Path@Penn). Executive education students must drop courses before their first in-person classes of the term to receive a full refund; if separating from the program during the first in-person classes there will be a 50% refund; if separating after conclusion of the first in-person classes there will be no refund.
June 11 Wednesday LAST DAY to Withdraw from a Summer Session I course. Full financial obligation will apply. 'W' will appear on transcript in place of grade 
June 17 Tuesday Opening of August 2025 Graduation Application: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp
June 19 Thursday Juneteenth Observed (NO CLASSES)
DOCTORAL (PhD AND EdD) STUDENTS GRADUATING IN AUGUST 2025 are strongly advised to defend by June 27 to ensure that they can submit their dissertation for format review by July 11. The link to schedule your final defense is: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/student-forms/final-defense-sched. SRO requests that this form is submitted two weeks prior to defense date
July 1 Tuesday LAST DAY of Summer Session I at GSE; Tuesday-Thursday classes meet; No scheduling changes for single day Summer 11-week classes, they will meet regularly on their assigned day
July 4 Friday Independence Day Observed (NO CLASSES)
July 7 Monday Summer Session II classes begin at GSE
July 7 Monday Summer Session I gradues due
July 9 Wednesday LAST DAY to Withdraw from a 10/11 week course. Full financial obligation will apply. "W" will appear on transcript in place of grade
July 10 Thursday LAST DAY to add or drop a Summer II class without financial penalty (11:59PM ET via Path@Penn). Executive education students must drop courses before their first in-person classes of the term to receive a full refund; if separating from the program during the first in-person classes there will be a 50% refund; if separating after conclusion of the first in-person classes there will be no refund
July 11 Friday LAST DAY doctoral students may submit dissertation for review by the Associate Dean for August 2025 degree:
EdD students: Upload to Proquest
PhD students: Email dissertation to Faculty Affairs Office
July 18 Friday Closing of August 2025 Graduation Application: https://srfs.upenn.edu/student-records/GradApp
July 23 Wednesday LAST DAY to Withdraw from a Summer Session II course. Full financial obligation will apply. "W" will appear on transcript in place of grade
July 28 Monday LAST DAY for submission of approved & signed dissertations for August 2025 degree:
EdD students: to Faculty Affairs Office
PhD students: to Graduate Arts & Sciences
August 4 Monday LAST DAY Divisions may submit Master’s Examination/Thesis Portfolio results to the GSE Student Records Office for August 2025 degree
August 8 Friday LAST DAY of Summer Session II and 11-week classes at GSE
August 13 Wednesday Summer Session II grades due
Fall classes begin on Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Contact the Penn GSE Student Records Office

GSE Student Records Office
3700 Walnut Street - 2nd Floor
gse-sro@gse.upenn.edu

Michael Fennell
GSE Registrar & Director of Student Records

Nicole Guerrero
Associate Registrar, Student Records Office