Graduation checklist for grad students
Before you complete your degree and graduate, you’ll need to be prepared. Knowing what your degree requirements are and if you are fulfilling them, when to complete your Application for Degree, and talking to your advisor will help you prepare for the final steps of your academic experience at the University of Minnesota.
Preparing to graduate
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Review the degree completion steps for your degree. For some students, this will include assigning your examination committee.
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Talk to your faculty advisor(s) and Graduate Program Coordinator to ensure you are on track with programmatic degree completion requirements.
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If your program has a language requirement, fill out the appropriate form below to certify that you have demonstrated language proficiency.
Applying to graduate
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Online exit counseling is required of all borrowers of federal and University-administered student loan programs. You will be provided information about the rights and responsibilities of a borrower, and how different financial aid programs handle repayment.
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- If you are using the Graduate Planning and Audit System (GPAS), make sure that you have satisfied all your degree requirements on your GPAS.
- If you are not using GPAS, review your degree completion checklists in your graduation packet to ensure you are completing all the necessary work for your degree program.
See the degree completion steps page for more information.
Commencement and after
Commencement is your graduation ceremony. These events are typically planned by your college. If you have any questions, your college will be the best resource.
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Watch for an invitation to your campus graduation fair in spring. You can find additional information about and purchase commencement regalia through the University Bookstore.
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The University of Minnesota is committed to maintaining both high-quality graduate programs and student experiences. Your responses to these surveys will be used to assess and improve the graduate education experience at the University of Minnesota and beyond.
If you have technical questions, contact gsdmgmt@umn.edu. All other questions may go to gssp@umn.edu.
Doctoral Exit Survey
The doctoral exit survey is a reporting tool used by the University of Minnesota to improve graduate education. The survey requires your internet ID and password. Your survey responses will be kept confidential.Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
Upon completion of the doctoral exit survey, you will be presented with a link to the national Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and five other federal agencies. The SED gathers information annually from approximately 50,000 new research doctorate graduates across the United States regarding educational histories, funding sources, and postdoctoral plans.
Related Resources
Important Dates
Academics
| Wed, Dec 23, 2020 | End of fall semester |
| Tue, Jan 19, 2021 | Spring full semester and first 7-week sessions begin |
| Tue, Mar 9, 2021 | Spring second 7-week session begins |
Graduation
| Sun, Nov 1, 2020 | November graduation application deadline for graduate and professional students (monthly clearances only) |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2020 | December graduation application deadline for graduate and professional students (monthly clearances only) |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2021 | January graduation application deadline for graduate and professional students (monthly clearances only) |