Steps to Completing Your Degree
Students dressed in their graduation hats and gowns after their commencement ceremony
Below is an introduction to the steps you will need to complete in order to graduate and recieve your degree from the University of Connecticut. For a full list of the requirements of graduation, please review the Registrar’s website and speak with your department.
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Apply For Graduation
Apply to graduate by the fourth week of your final semester for each degree you are completing (or the spring semester for summer graduates). You are able to apply when registration starts for your last semester.
Master's candidates: Be sure to submit your final Plan of Study to the Office of the Registrar.
Defend Your Thesis/Dissertation...
- As you plan your defense, keep the deadlines listed on the Academic Calendar in mind so that you have ample time to defend, complete any necessary revisions, upload your final thesis/dissertation to Submittable, and forward any necessary forms to Degree Audit prior to the deadline for conferral.
- Before your defense: You will need to select a date and time for your defense. Plan for a two hour period. This time is comprised of one hour for your public presentation, and one hour for a closed door review by your advisory committee and other attending faculty. Doctoral candidates will need to announce their oral defense in the UConn Events Calendar at least two weeks before the date of your defense.
- After your defense: Submit the Defense and Final Thesis/Dissertation Approval form. This online form will route to your major advisor and committee members for approval before notifying the Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit team that you have completed this requirement.
This is a brief outline of the requirements, and master's and doctoral students may have additional items to complete. For a full outline of the requirements and forms, please visit the Office of the Registrar's Steps to a Successful Graduation page.
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...or Report Your Final Examination
Plan B master’s, Sixth Year, and DNP students should submit the Report on the Final Exam. This online form will route to your advisory committee for approval before notifying the Office of the Registrar’s Degree Audit team that you have completed this requirement. The exam must have been completed prior to the end of the semester and the deadline to submit the form can be found on the Academic Calendar.
This is a brief outline of the requirements, and master's and doctoral students may have additional items to complete. For a full outline of the requirements and forms, please visit the Office of the Registrar's Steps to a Successful Graduation page.
Commencement
Commencement is a celebration of accomplishments and occurs once per year in May. In addition to May graduates, the prior year’s December graduates and the future August candidates may walk in Commencement. After applying to graduate, candidates can 1) RSVP to the ceremony, 2) get tickets, and 3) order regalia. These details become available after spring break in March. There are no rehearsals. For detailed information on student preparation for Commencement, see the official Commencement website or The Graduate School's webpage for Commencement.
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Receive Your Degree
Degrees are audited manually and, consequently, your transcript may be updated 1 to 6 weeks after your actual conferral date. Automatic conferral letters are sent via email once your degree is posted. If there are any problems before hand, candidates are notified by a degree auditor. Ordering a transcript or using the conferral letter are the earliest verification of your degree.
Graduate diplomas are mailed approximately 10 to 12 weeks after your conferral. For example, if your degree is conferred in May, you can expect to receive your diploma between the end of July and middle of August.
To make sure you've followed all the academic steps to conferral visit Steps to Graduation
