Below you will find instructions on the processes involved in applying for graduation at Marquette University and receiving your diploma. Read these instructions closely, as they give you important information, deadlines, and explanations.
When should I apply for graduation?
What happens after I submit my graduation application?
Master's Degree Thesis Submission
Doctoral Degree Dissertation Submission
Will I be notified if I will/will not graduate?
What should I do if I am denied for this graduation, but plan to graduate in the future?
After I graduate, how can I get my diploma?
Click here to order a copy of your Marquette transcript
Click here for information on May 2008 commencement ceremonies
When should I apply for graduation?
It is each student's responsibility to apply for graduation, and to do so by the deadlines listed in the Graduate Bulletin (online: on page 2, under "Academic Deadlines"; physical copy: on the inside back cover). Reminders are also sent to each graduate student via MUGS News (the Graduate School's e-newsletter), which is sent to your eMarq account.
Although the exact dates will vary, the deadlines are approximately:
| May graduation |
The second Friday in February |
| August graduation |
The third Friday in June |
| December graduation |
The second Friday in October |
| August graduation/attend May ceremonies |
March 30 |
Note: There is a distinct difference between officially graduating and participating in the graduation ceremony. Graduation ceremonies are held in May and December. Because there is no August ceremony, some August graduates will be permitted to participate in the preceding May's ceremony. In general, master's degree candidates and certificate students expecting to graduate in August may apply to participate in the May ceremony. For master's and certificate graduate students expecting to officially graduate in August but walk in the May ceremonies, the deadline to apply is March 30.
Doctoral students cannot participate in a commencement ceremony unless all graduation requirements have been completed by the graduation deadlines specified in the Graduate Bulletin.
What happens after I submit my graduation application?
Once graduate students have applied to graduate, their names will be sent to the Office of the Registrar for ordering of the diplomas, and also to the Office of Special Events for graduation ceremony planning. The Office of Special Events will, in turn, send out invitations to those family members and friends that the graduate has listed on the application. Note: Receipt of these invitations to the graduation ceremony does not mean the student has been approved for graduation. Invitations are sent out well before the final audit of each student's academic record has been completed.
The submission of the Graduation Application will cause a report for the academic record of each applicant to be created. That academic summary will be printed and sent to the department for auditing. Once the department has completed the audit, it will be sent to the Graduate School, where the audit will be reviewed.
The results of the audit will be one of three options:
- the student is fully eligible to graduate,
- the student is definitely not eligible to graduate, or
- the student may be eligible pending completion of remaining requirements. These pending requirements are typically course work and/or defense and submission of the thesis or dissertation.
Master's Degree Thesis Submission
Submission of the thesis must include:
- an original and two copies of the thesis,
- three signature pages with original signatures,
- the signed Thesis Approval Form, and
- a $25 binding fee (payable in cash, check or money order to Marquette University).
Doctoral Degree Dissertation Submission
Submission of the dissertation must include:
- an original and one copy of the dissertation,
- a digital version (CD or disk) of your dissertation,
- two original signature pages,
- an additional abstract and title page,
- the UMI (Publishing Your Dissertation) form,
- a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates,
- the signed Dissertation Approval Form, and
- a $65 publishing fee (payable in cash, check or money order to Marquette University).
Ensure that the formatting of your dissertation is in accordance with the instructions in the Dissertation Directives, or it may be returned for reformatting.
Will I be notified if I will/will not graduate?
The Graduate School will work with each department to resolve the final status of each student that is in a pending status. The defense and submission of officially approved theses and dissertations must occur by the deadline listed in the Graduate Bulletin. Completion of final course work is typically not known until a day or two prior to the graduation ceremony, so notification of students who are pending course work is not practical. This does not affect doctoral students, who will have completed their course work much earlier, but it does affect master's and certificate students.
All doctoral candidates that have applied for graduation will be notified of the status of their graduation audit as that audit is completed. If the audit is pending the dissertation defense/submission, students who have not completed those steps will be notified that they are not approved for graduation after the expiration of the deadline. Students who do defend and submit their dissertations prior to the deadline will be told at the time that their dissertation and all associated paperwork is submitted that they are approved for graduation.
Master's degree candidates whose graduation status does not depend on final grades will be notified of their status when the academic audit is complete. Master's degree candidates whose graduation is pending the results of courses taken during the final term will be notified by the Graduate School only if they have been denied.
What should I do if I am denied for this graduation, but plan to graduate in the future?
Any candidates who are not approved for official graduation must reapply for a future graduation cycle, and they must do so by the next application deadline. Students who apply for one graduation and who are denied for whatever reason will not automatically have their applications for graduation carried forward.
