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Welcome, Students!

The Academic Services and Records Office is here to support graduate students every step of the way, whether you're enrolling, navigating your studies, or preparing to graduate. We ensure student records are accurate, policies are clear, and processes run smoothly. Our goal is to make things easier for you and to help our graduate programs thrive by offering assistance, training, and guidance wherever it's needed. We know your success is tied to the quality of our service, so we're dedicated to providing the best support possible to all our students and programs. Let us know how we can help!

Click Here for Student Resources (Newsletters, Quick Links, Wellness, Campus Community, and More!)

On this page: 

  • Academic Services resources
  • Key Dates
  • Professional Enhancement to further your academic and professional journey
  • Student and Degree forms 

Key Dates (2025-2026)

See below for key dates relevant to the University of Kentucky Graduate School.  For additional key dates from the University of Kentucky Registrar, visit the Academic Calendar at https://registrar.uky.edu/academic-calendars/university
 
 

Registration Deadlines

Registration Deadlines 2025-26
August 25 - 29, 2025
Late registration begins for returning students and applicants cleared for late admission for the Fall 2025 semester. A late fee is assessed for students who register late.
October 13 - November 25, 2025
Spring 2025 registration opens for new students in the following categories: online certificate, non-degree, certificate non-degree, visiting, and online degree seeking.
November 3 - November 25, 2025
Priority registration for the Winter 2025 intersession and Spring 2026 semester.
December 1, 2025 - January 11, 2026 Registration continues for Winter 2025 for currently enrolled students. Winter 2025 intersession and Spring 2026 registration for newly admitted students opens.
December 8, 2025 - January 11, 2026 New post-baccalaureate student registration for the Spring 2026 semester.
January 12 - January 16, 2026
Late registration begins for returning students and applicants cleared for late admission for the Spring 2026 semester. 
 
A late fee is assessed for students who register late.
March 9 - April 21, 2026

Fall 2026 and Summer 2026 registration for new students in the following categories: Online Certificate, Non-Degree, Certificate Non-Degree, Visiting, and Online Degree Seeking. 

Please make sure to meet with your advisor to remove your advisor hold before priority registration begins. Check the registration webpage for more information about steps you should take to ensure a smooth registration process.

May 18 - 19, 2026

Late registration begins for returning students and applicants cleared for late admission for the Summer 2025 term. 

A late fee is assessed for students who register late.

Add/Drop Deadlines

Summer 2025 Semester Add/Drop Deadlines
May 18, 2025 Last day a student may officially drop a course or withdraw from all classes for the Summer 2025 semester with the Office of the University Registrar for a full refund.
May 19, 2025 Summer 2025 semester classes begin.
May 20, 2025 Last day to add a class for the Summer 2025 semester.
May 25, 2025 Last day to fully withdraw or reduce course load for the Summer 2025 semester and receive an 80% refund for full-term courses.
May 31, 2025 Last day to change grading option for full-term classes for the Summer 2025 semester (credit to audit or audit to credit).
June 5, 2025 Last day to drop a full-term class for the Summer 2025 semester without it appearing on a transcript.
June 9, 2025 Last day to fully withdraw or reduce course load for the Summer 2025 semester and receive a 50% refund for full-term courses.
July 19, 2025 Last day to fully withdraw or reduce course load from full-term classes for the Summer 2025 semester. After this date students are only permitted withdrawal for urgent non-academic reasons.
August 13, 2025 Official end of the Summer 2025 semester.

 

Fall 2025 Add/Drop Deadlines
Event Deadline Date(s) Additional Information
Add Class 8/29/2025  
Change Grade Type 9/12/2025  
Drop Class 9/12/2025 Class will not appear on the transcript
Withdraw from Class 9/13/2025 - 11/14/2025 Class will appear on the transcript with a 'W' grade
100% Refund/Reduction Received 8/29/2025  
80% Refund/Reduction Received 8/30/2025 - 9/5/2025  
50% Refund/Reduction Received 9/6/2025 - 9/12/2025  
0% Refund/Reduction Received 9/13/2025 - 11/14/2025  
Winter 2025 Intersession Add/Drop Deadlines
Event Deadline Date(s) Additional Information
Add Class 12/22/2025  
Change Grade Type 12/24/2025  
Drop Class 12/24/2025 Class will not appear on the transcript
Withdraw from Class 12/25/2025 - 1/3/2026 Class will appear on the transcript with a 'W' grade
100% Refund/Reduction Received 12/22/2025  
80% Refund/Reduction Received 12/23/2025  
50% Refund/Reduction Received 12/24/2025  
0% Refund/Reduction Received 12/25/2025 - 1/3/2026  
Event Deadline Date(s)  
Spring 2026 Intersession Add/Drop Deadlines
Event Deadline Date(s) Additional Information
Add Class 1/16/2026  
Change Grade Type 1/30/2026

Last day to change grading option for full-term classes (pass/fail to letter grade or letter grade to pass/fail; credit to audit or audit to credit).

Drop Class 1/30/2026 Class will not appear on the transcript with a 'W' grade
Withdraw from Class 1/16/2026 - 4/3/2026 Class will appear on the transcript with a 'W' grade after January 30, 2026
100% Refund/Reduction Received 1/16/2026  
80% Refund/Reduction Received 1/23/2026  
50% Refund/Reduction Received 1/30/2026  
0% Refund/Reduction Received 1/31/2026 - 4/3/2026  

Graduation Deadlines

Summer 2025 Semester
April 1, 2025

Degree Application Deadline

Last day to apply for a May or August graduate degree in myUK.

June 20, 2025

Doctoral Candidate Notification of Intent Deadline

Last day doctoral candidates for an August degree to submit a Notification of Intent to schedule a final exam in the Graduate School.

July 29, 2025

Graduate Degree Candidate Final Examination Deadline

Last day candidates for an August graduate degree can sit for a final examination. All scheduling requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposed examination date.

August 6, 2025

Dissertation/Thesis Format Review Deadline

Last day for August degree candidates to submit their thesis/dissertation (ETD) for format review to the Graduate School via UKnowledge.

August 13, 2024

Final Dissertation/Thesis Deadline

Last day for August degree candidates to submit a final revised thesis/dissertation (ETD) for acceptance by The Graduate School.

Fall 2025 Semester
September 19, 2025

Doctoral Candidate Notification of Intent Deadline

Last day doctoral candidates for a December 2025 degree can submit a Notification of Intent to schedule a final examination in the Graduate School.

November 1, 2025

Degree Application Deadline

Last day to apply for a December 2025 graduate degree via myUK.

November 20, 2025

Graduate Degree Candidate Final Examination  Scheduling Deadline

Last day candidates for a December 2025 graduate degree can sit for a final examination. All scheduling requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposed examination date.

December 4, 2025

Graduate Degree Candidate Final Examination Deadline

Last day candidates for a December 2025 graduate degree can sit for a final examination.

December 12, 2025

Dissertation/Thesis Format Review Deadline

Last day candidates for a December 2025 degree can submit their thesis/dissertation (ETD) for format review to the Graduate School via UKnowledge.

December 19, 2025

Final Dissertation/Thesis Deadline

Last day for December 2025 degree candidates to submit final revised thesis/dissertation (ETD) to the Graduate School.

December 19, 2025 Commencement for December 2025 graduates.
Spring 2026 Semester
February 19, 2026

Doctoral Candidate Notification of Intent Deadline

Last day doctoral candidates for a Spring 2026 degree can submit a Notification of Intent to schedule a final examination in the Graduate School.

April 1, 2026

Degree Application Deadline

Last day to apply for a May or August 2026 graduate degree via myUK.

April 9, 2026

Graduate Degree Candidate Final Examination Scheduling Deadline

All scheduling requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposed examination date.

April 23, 2026

Graduate Degree Candidate Final Examination Deadline

Last day candidates for a May 2026 graduate degree can sit for a final examination.

May 1, 2026

Dissertation/Thesis Format Review Deadline

Last day candidates for a May 2026 degree can submit their thesis/dissertation (ETD) for format review to the Graduate School via UKnowledge.

May 8, 2026

Final Dissertation/Thesis Deadline

Last day for May 2026 degree candidates to submit final revised thesis/dissertation (ETD) to the Graduate School.

May 8-9, 2026 Commencement for May 2026 graduates.

 

 

 

Student Resources

What resources are available to me?

Health Plan

Student Health Fee vs. Student Health Plan

Student Health Fee vs. Student Health Plan tips 

Notice: Policy Year August 15, 2024 to August 14, 2025

Student Health Plan Provider is the University of Kentucky underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, with Second Administrator, AHP.

Learn more at https://uky.myahpcare.com/ or Student Health Plan | Human Resources

Once you are enrolled in the health plan, you can download your insurance card through the Sydney Health app. Click here for more information. 

Funded Graduate Student Health Plan Declination Form (for domestic funded graduate students only, for 2024-2025 academic year).

Deadline to Waive SHIP

Fall 2024:  August 30, 2024

Spring/Summer 2025:  January 31, 2025

This form needs to be filled out and submitted each semester you wish to waive the plan.

International Students: For updated waiver requirements, please see University of Kentucky International Center website.



health plan chart

Graduate Student Travel Policies

Travel Policies

Introduction

The University of Kentucky places the highest importance on the health, safety and security of its faculty, staff and students who travel abroad under University auspices. Therefore, before departing the United States for educational purposes endorsed by the University, graduate students are required to register their travel with the UK International Center, through either the Education Abroad (EA) or International Health, Safety and Security (IHSS) office, for risk management purposes, and to purchase coverage under the University’s international travel medical insurance and security evacuation policy. Registration and the purchase of insurance is required for all students who are traveling for educational purposes outside the United States or to U.S. territories.

Under this policy, University endorsed travel includes instances where the travel is funded, in full or in part, by the University, and regardless of purpose. It also includes instances where travel is actively arranged by University faculty or staff, or where students are accompanied by University faculty or staff in the capacity of their employment. Please refer to University Administrative Regulation 4:9  for more information.

Credit-Bearing International Travel

Graduate students traveling abroad individually and earning academic credit (even if only enrolled in a 767 course) must register their travel with the International Center. However, they may need to register through the EA office instead of the IHSS office, as doing so could lower the amount of tuition they are required to pay for those credit hours. For questions regarding these options, please contact the Director of IHSS.

Non-Credit International Travel

Graduate students traveling abroad individually and not earning academic credit (e.g., conference attendances, research trips, etc.) must register their travel with the IHSS office at this link. Graduate students should always register with the International Center using the student registration, regardless of any concurrent employment status with the University (e.g., teaching or research assistantships, etc.).  After completing the registration process, students will receive an automated e-mail containing details of how to access UK’s international insurance and security evacuation benefit.

Academic Travel in Higher-Risk Destinations

Per Administrative Regulation (AR) 4:9, students may only engage in educational travel in countries or regions where the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel) Advisory after completion of a mandatory review process with the International Health, Safety & Security (IHSS) Committee and with the approval of the Associate Provost for Internationalization in consultation with the college dean or designee. This same process applies for proposed travel to destinations where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Warning Level 3.

Faculty members and other advisors should never advise any student to undertake work abroad in a country or region currently under a Level or 4 U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory or CDC Warning Level 3 without the involvement of the UK International Center. To do so assigns unacceptable risk to the department and the college, as well as to the student.

The process for submitting an appeal to the IHSS Committee is as follows:

  1. As soon as a student begins making plans to pursue academic travel in a restricted country or region, he or she should immediately contact UK’s Director of IHSS to discuss plans, to ask any questions he or she may have about the University’s travel appeal policy, and to set up a meeting with the IHSS Committee.
  2. The student should begin the travel registration process through either the Education Abroad (EA) office , or the IHSS registration system , depending on whether or not academic credit is being earned.
  3. The student should begin compiling the required documentation which must be presented to the IHSS. A template to assist students in compiling the appropriate information can be found at this link
  4. At least 7 days before meeting with the IHSS Committee, the student must submit all required documentation to the Director of IHSS.
  5. Based on the appeal documentation and the presentation by the student, the IHSS Committee will make a recommendation to the Associate Provost for Internationalization regarding a potential exception to the travel policy outlined in AR 4:9. The Associate Provost will then consult with the appropriate dean or  designee and make the final decision.
  6. The Director of IHSS will provide the student with an official letter from the Associate Provost either granting or denying an exemption to the AR and outlining any conditions for such an exemption.
  7. The student must submit an additional signed waiver to the Director of IHSS before final approval can be granted. Please contact the IHSS office to procure a copy of this waiver. The student most also print out a copy of the most recent version of the travel advisory or CDC warning for the country to which he or she is traveling, write “I have read and understood the contents of this travel advisory” or “I have read and understood the contents of this CDC warning” on it, sign it and submit it to the Director of IHSS.

Students should consider printing and keeping hard copies of the submitted documents with them for the duration of their time abroad.

Questions regarding any part of the appeal process should be directed to the Director of IHSS.

Graduate Catalogs/Bulletin

Professional Enhancement

The Graduate Student Professional Enhancement team is here to help you! Providing resources and advice for your post-graduate school professional life! We focus on assisting students on professional growth, education and career success, and holistic wellbeing. As a centralized resource, we offer a variety of in-person and online programs and services, guided by professionals with years of experience in graduate education. 

IMAGINEPHD

ImaginePhD is a free online career exploration and planning tool for PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences.

Aurora by Beyond the Professoriate

Aurora is a faculty job market and professional careers online exploration and planning tool specifically for PhD and Masters students!

Even more resources!

These resources are just the beginning of what GSPE can offer you as a current graduate student! To see all available resources, learn about GradLive! or other events, and internships opportunities, visit the Professional Enhancement page! 

Get Involved with GSC!

Graduate Student Congress

Represent Your Fellow Graduate Students!