I Am Ready to Graduate

As you prepare to graduate, there are a number of important steps to complete. It is important that you work closely with your advisor and department to ensure you have met all departmental and university requirements to complete your advanced degree. This can include but is not limited to: an approved Plan of Study on file with the Graduate College, completion of a thesis/dissertation/special project, oral or comprehensive examinations, clearance of all incomplete grades, and an application for degree.

Graduation Deadlines 

Plan of Study

All students must have an approved Plan of Study on file with the Graduate College prior to submission of the Application for Degree form. Please note: Meet with your advisor prior to completing the Application for Degree form to verify that your coursework aligns with the coursework listed on your Plan of Study. If you have deviated from your originally approved plan, you will need to submit a Revision to an Existing Plan of Study.

Thesis and Dissertation Deadlines

Thesis and Dissertation students have specific deadlines that must be followed prior to graduation. Click here for the list of graduation deadlines for manuscript submissions.

Application for Degree

Students must apply for a degree by the end of the third week of the semester in which they expect to graduate. The Application for Degree form is available from the Office of the Registrar here. It is the student's responsibility to meet all requirements for the degree. For the deadlines to apply for a degree, consult the Academic Calendar.

Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

All doctoral students are required to submit the SED prior to graduation. Information regarding the SED will be sent to students once they submit their dissertations to the Graduate College. For more information go to: https://sed-ncses.org/GradDateRouter.aspx.

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and five other federal agencies, the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) gathers information annually from approximately 50,000 new research doctorate graduates from U.S. universities about their educational histories, funding sources, and post-doctoral degree graduates, the Doctorate Record File (DRF). The DRF contains annual information (back to 1920) that is used to track the number of graduates in various fields; the educational paths of these graduates; their movement into the labor market; and related information about doctorate recipients and doctoral education.

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of each fall, spring and summer semester. Candidates for graduation will be emailed (to their FAU email address) specific information regarding participation in the ceremony and tickets for guests.

The Office of the Registrar coordinates commencement and their website is your best source for information on commencement. Click here to visit the Graduation Information section of their website