In most APU graduate programs, a student has a maximum of eight years to complete a master’s or doctoral degree, beginning from the term of initial enrollment in the degree program (an academic year is composed of three terms: fall, spring, and summer). Students in the School of Business and Management, however, have a maximum of five years to complete a graduate degree, and School of Education students have a maximum of five years to complete all program requirements, with the exception of doctoral students, who have six years to complete all program requirements. Students seeking the Master of Divinity have a maximum of 10 years to complete the degree, beginning from the first date of enrollment for coursework in the degree program, as determined by ATS accreditation. Students seeking the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) must complete their degree in a minimum of two years and a maximum of six; an additional year may be granted under special circumstances. 

For all students, in rare instances, extensions may be requested by petition. Granting of such a petition may entail additional degree requirements and/or repeating courses that have expired.