Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Source: https://archthesis.mit.edu/phd/ Parent: https://archthesis.mit.edu/march/
General Information
The term in which you plan to defend, submit your dissertation, and graduate, you must be registered for Thesis (4.THG – 36 units). Your dissertation defense takes place in the presence of your full Dissertation Committee consisting of at least three members including your dissertation supervisor.
Upon satisfactory defense and submission of the dissertation, the supervisor will assign a grade. (“SA” is the final satisfactory grade for PhD.) The grade will not be submitted to the Registrar until the final approved dissertation document is submitted to the department portal by the thesis deadline provided on the departmental thesis deadlines calendar. For help with formatting of your full document, see the Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission page for more information.
You are responsible for working directly with your dissertation committee and area administrators to schedule your defense. The defense must not be scheduled for any later than two weeks prior to the thesis submission deadline. Each area may handle the logistics differently, so it is important to touch base with your group early in the defense planning process. For example, many faculty are not available during winter holidays or summer session, and may wish to schedule the defense early in December for a February degree.
Registration Deadline:
- Register for 36 units of 4.THG
- Degree list: Put yourself on the upcoming degree list by applying for a degree.
Midterm:
- Be mindful of the Institute deadline to change your thesis title in WebSIS
- Register your final thesis title: You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final thesis must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee.
One Week Prior to Institute Thesis Deadline:
- 8:59am thesis due to the Department Thesis Submission tool — choose “Single Sign On” and log in with your MIT email address) — this is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly via the portal if adjustments are needed and specific instructions on corrections will be provided.
- Be sure to provide your exact spelling of your name (either legal name or preferred name — whichever you have provided to your degree administrator) when submitting your thesis book to the portal. Using a different name will result in a submission error.
Institute Thesis Deadline:
- All final edits and adjustments to the final dissertation book must be submitted to the department on or before this deadline. Final grade submission by your advisor also must be submitted on or before this deadline.
One Week After Institute Thesis Deadline:
- Last day to come off the degree list (contact Tessa Haynes)
- Degree conferral date (see Academic Calendar or Department Thesis Deadlines)
Specific Deadlines & Procedure
September These Deadlines
Friday, August 8, 2025
- Full book, including signature form, is due to the Department Thesis Submission tool by 9am for review. If any corrections are needed, the team will be in contact as soon as we can with edits.
February Theses Deadlines
Friday, Sept 5, 2025
- Registration Deadline: Fall term registration (4.THG) (Pre-registration for spring deadline is August 21, 2025.)
- Degree list: Put yourself on the September degree list by applying for a degree.
Friday, Sept 5, 2025
- Register your final thesis title: You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final dissertation must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee; but you may still update your thesis title until the actual submission date.
Monday, January 5, 2026
- Your front matter for your book is due by 9am on Monday, January 5 to the Department Thesis Submission tool (choose “Single Sign On” and log in with your MIT email address) for formatting review. Front matter includes the title page, committee page, abstract page, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures, list of tables (if needed), and bibliography. This is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly if adjustments are needed.
Friday, January 16, 2026
- Your full book, including any corrections needed to front matter, and approved by your advisor, is due and an electronic version must be uploaded to the Department Thesis Submission tool (choose “Single Sign On” and log in with your MIT email address), including the signed Signature Form.
Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission
Important: Consult the Formatting, Specifications and Thesis Submission information page for advice and templates on how to format your book. Please pay particular attention to the templates for the frontmatter (Title Page, Committee Page, Abstract, and Table of Contents.) Following the templates now means fewer edits to make later!
PhD Thesis Contacts
- Grad Officer: Timothy Hyde
- Director of Computation PhD: George Stiny
- Director of Building Technology PhD: Caitlin Mueller
- Director of HTC PhD: Timothy Hyde
- PhD degree administrator and thesis submission: Tessa Haynes