What Happens After a Thesis Defense? A Step-by-Step Guide for Graduate Students

Long-tail keyword: what happens after a thesis defense in graduate school

Completing your thesis defense is a major academic milestone—but what happens after the presentation ends and the committee stops asking questions? Many students are uncertain about the next steps, paperwork, and possible revisions. Whether you’re pursuing a master’s or Ph.D., this guide explains what to expect after your thesis defense so you can prepare and move forward with confidence.

1. Immediate Committee Deliberation

After your defense presentation and Q&A, the committee will ask you to leave the room briefly. During this closed-door session, they:

Evaluate your presentation and oral defense
Discuss the quality and contribution of your research
Decide whether you passed and what revisions (if any) are needed

This can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

2. Announcement of Defense Outcome

You’ll be invited back into the room to receive your official result. Common outcomes include:

✅ Pass with No Revisions: You’re done! No changes are needed.
✏️ Pass with Minor Revisions: You’ll need to make small edits (e.g., grammar, formatting, citations).
🔍 Pass with Major Revisions: Substantial content changes are required before final approval.
❌ Fail or Resubmit: Rare, but may occur if your thesis is fundamentally flawed or incomplete. You’ll be given another chance to revise and defend.

Your advisor or chair will usually give a summary of the feedback and expectations going forward.

3. Making Revisions (if required)

If revisions are required, you’ll receive a detailed list of corrections or feedback. You may be asked to:

Add or clarify sections
Fix formatting to meet university style guidelines
Adjust data interpretation or strengthen your conclusion
Address overlooked literature

Always follow the timeline given—typically 2–6 weeks. Some programs require final approval from all committee members again, while others only need the chair’s sign-off.

4. Final Submission of Your Thesis

After incorporating revisions, you’ll:

Submit the final version to your advisor or thesis committee for approval
Format the document according to university guidelines (APA, MLA, etc.)
Upload it to your school’s repository or database (e.g., ProQuest, ETD)

Some universities require submission of printed and bound copies; others accept digital submissions only.

5. Completing Administrative Requirements

Next, complete these formalities:

Submit required forms (e.g., thesis approval form, publication agreement)
Clear with the graduate school
Apply for graduation if not already done

Check your institution’s thesis submission checklist to avoid delays.

6. Celebrate Your Achievement

After months—or even years—of hard work, you’ve reached a turning point. This is the perfect time to:

Update your CV and LinkedIn to include your thesis
Share your achievement with peers and professors
Plan for what’s next: job search, further studies, or publication

7. Optional: Publish Your Thesis

You may consider turning your thesis into:

A journal article for peer-reviewed publication
A conference presentation in your field
A book chapter (especially for Ph.D. students)

Ask your advisor for recommendations on journals or publishers.

Final Thoughts

What happens after a thesis defense is just as important as the defense itself. From revisions and approvals to formal submission and graduation paperwork, these final steps ensure your research becomes part of the academic record. With diligence and attention to detail, you’ll officially complete your thesis journey and earn your degree with pride.