Additional Resources

Assistance with Writing and Editing

If you need assistance with issues ranging from simple proofreading to help crafting the structure of your thesis or dissertation as a whole, we recommend the Writing Center at Mason. This service is free. If you need further assistance, UDTS has a list of freelance editors who can assist you. These individuals are private contractors, and their services are not free. They set their own fee schedules. If you are interested in learning more about this option, please email UDTS.

Mason Publishing Group

If you have questions about navigating the publishing world, publishing your work in journals or as a monograph, or about negotiating publishing rights, please contact the Mason Publishing Group. If you have questions about your own rights as an author, or if you want to ensure you are employing the best practices when using copyrighted materials, please contact Emilie Algenio, the Open Educational Resources and Scholarly Communications Lead for George Mason University Libraries.

Bound Copies of Your Document

If you would like to purchase (a) bound copy(ies) of your document for yourself, family members, committee members, etc.:
    • We provide this list of binderies. You are not required to use any bindery listed there; we simply provide this list. You are welcome to use any bindery you wish.
    • Doctoral students are required to submit their dissertations to ProQuest; you can purchase (a) bound copy(ies) through ProQuest. It may take 6 months or longer to receive bound copy(ies) of dissertations from ProQuest; if you need (a) bound copy(ies) sooner than that, you may want to investigate other binderies (see above). UDTS has no control over how long ProQuest takes to send you a bound copy of your work.

University Registrar

The Registrar at George Mason University is an excellent resource for many of your questions, including:
Academic Calendar
This resource is especially important, because you need to be aware of Final Submission deadlines for each semester. Here are some upcoming Final Submission deadlines: Fall 2025: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4 Spring 2027: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30 Summer 2027: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30
Graduation
Turning in your thesis, dissertation, or project to UDTS is just one element of theentire process you must complete in order to graduate. There are other steps, specific to each department, college and school, and specific to George Mason, that you must complete as well. Contact the Registrar’s Graduation Services department with further questions.
Catalog
If you have any questions or need any further information about classes, fee payment, tuition, and admission, the University Catalog is an excellent resource.
Special Registration
Please review the rules governing Special Registration. University Dissertation & Thesis Services is not authorized to grant extensions for the final submission of theses and dissertations–that decision is ultimately up to your department, and to the Registrar. Under Special Registration, you will still have to fulfill all University requirements in order to graduate. Your thesis or dissertation still has to go through a Format Review, and you still have to turn in the final copy of your document and all necessary paperwork, by the deadline. Upcoming deadlines for graduation under Special Registration are as follows: Special Registration for Spring 2027: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15 Special Registration for Summer 2027: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14 Special Registration for Fall 2027: 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20