Students intending to graduate this semester (Spring 2026):

Any graduate students intending to complete requirements and have a degree awarded this May, regardless of intent to participate in the ceremony, will need to have some form of CAND on their spring registration (typically CAND 991).

IF you do NOT see a form of CAND on your spring registration in myPurdue then you are not yet on the candidate list. To do so, please request to register for CAND 991 via the Scheduling Assistant (it will prompt you to submit for approvals) by Friday, February 6, 2026 (5pm).   Any request beyond this date (with extenuating circumstances) will be subject to a $200 late fee.

Please refer to our AAE candidate webpage for more details on the candidate process.

Commencement-related tasks should appear in your myPurdue mid-February. Here are the commencement-related deadlines, if you intend to participate in the commencement ceremony.  

In addition, MS thesis/PhD students should be aware of these deadlines:

• March 27: Format check with OGSPS Thesis Office
• April 22: Defense deadline (submit Form 8 at least 2 weeks in advance of defense)
• April 29: Deposit deadline (although you should aim to deposit at least 24 hours in advance)

• March 6: Combined defense and deposit deadline for degree-only candidates (CAND 992)

Note to students that were intending to walk in Summer 2026 ceremony: The Registrar has announced there will not be an August 2026 commencement ceremony, but you will be able to return to participate in a future December or August ceremony.  

Please contact aaegradoffice@purdue.edu 

This content was sent in an email to aae-grad and aae-distance on 1/27/26.