Completing Your Degree

Source: https://grad.illinois.edu/academics/completing-your-degree Parent: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/application-instructions

Graduate College Academics Completing Your Degree

Completing Your Degree

Congratulations on nearing the completion of your degree!  

We know how hard you’ve worked, and we want to help you create a plan as you finish your final degree requirements and prepare for graduation. Below is a list of tasks that you will want to complete to stay on track toward graduation. 

Final Year Before Graduation

One year before graduation is a good time to start thinking about what your long-term plans will look like. You’ll also want to make sure you are on track to graduate when you plan to.

• Communicate with your department and adviser regarding your graduation plans.
• Run a degree audit to make sure you are on track to complete all degree requirements. If you have any questions about your degree audit, reach out to your department.
• Meet with individuals in campus career services offices to discuss the job search process. Now is a good time to update your resume or CV and have it reviewed.
• Attend workshops on the job search process. The Graduate College hosts these each semester.
• If you are writing a thesis, make sure to review the thesis formatting requirements.

Your Final Semester

During the semester that you are planning to graduate, there are a lot of things to remember to update and check to make sure that your academic record reflects your time at Illinois correctly.

• Confirm your plans with your department and adviser
• Your department will likely have additional deadlines and requirements to take into consideration. Review those items and deadlines along with this checklist.
• Make note of the academic deadlines.
• Review and update your information in Self-Service. There are several important things that you should do through your account:
• Apply for degree conferral using Self-Service (often referred to as adding your name to the degree list)
• Update your diploma address
• Review your diploma name
• Make sure that the university records reflect your majors and any minors and/or concentrations that you are earning
• Check for any fees
• Check for any holds and work with the relevant campus office to resolve them.
• For doctoral students, schedule and take your final exam (defend).
• Plan your deposit timeline
• If you are holding a fellowship, please contact the Graduate College prior to depositing your thesis to understand the implications of your deposit on your fellowship.
• If you hold a waiver-generating assistantship and you intend to resign your assistantship before the end of the semester, work with the Graduate College to make a plan to maintain your tuition waiver.
• International Students: You will need to act based on your next plan.
• If you will start work after graduation, you will need to apply for OPT.
• If you will earn your master’s degree and move into a PhD at Illinois, you will need to apply for a change of program.
• If you are starting a new program at a different school, you will need to request a SEVIS transfer.
• Make plans for commencement activities: It’s important to note that there are separate commencement celebrations you can participate in, for instance, university-wide Commencement, your unit convocation, and Doctoral Hooding. You will need to sign-up for each commencement activity that you want to participate in separately.
• Check out the complete list of events
• Check with your department about unit convocation registration
• Order your academic attire (all online orders will ship to your home)

Completing Your Degree

You’re almost there! This is where we take care of some of the final steps before we celebrate.

• Revisit academic deadlines so that you can stay on track.
• Complete any final degree requirements
• Deposit your dissertation or thesis
• Finish required courses
• Finish final tasks
• Complete university exit surveys for master's students and doctoral students
• Check with your department regarding any exit interviews or surveys
• Turn in any keys, library books, or other items checked out to you
• Check your Self-Service account and pay any fees
• Prepare for next steps
• Consult the Technology Services website for information on email forwarding
• Consult with Research Data Service to make a plan for managing your data (for instance, files you stored in Box).
• Request a Degree Certification Letter (optional). Prior to the date of degree conferral, you may need verification that you have completed all requirements for the degree (e.g., for employment or visa renewal). Request a Degree Certification Letter.

You have the option to purchase Continuation Coverage of your student insurance. It is a direct purchase of up to 90 days of coverage after graduation.  

Participating in Commencement Celebrations

You did it! We’re so proud of you!

• Celebrate your achievements with your family and friends!
• Explore different, memorable spaces to get your photo taken on campus. Visit the Campus Photo Opportunities page to see some suggested locations. If you aren’t visiting campus, tune into the Alma Cam to get a live look at the line of students waiting to be photographed in their regalia.
• If you are participating in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, watch our short video on what to expect during the ceremony.
• Visit the Illinois Commencement website for information about campus parking.
• Check the Day of Ceremony web page for information on what to do if there is inclement weather (if you plan to participate in the campus-wide ceremony at Memorial Stadium)

After Commencement

What happens next?

• Return your regalia to the designated spots, and specific instructions will be included in your regalia box. You can learn more about regalia on the Illinois Commencement page.
• Connect with the Alumni Association and update your profile in the Online Alumni Directory.
• Timelines to keep in mind.
• Visit the degree conferral calendar.
• Your degree will be recorded on your transcript around 4 weeks after degree conferral.
• Your diploma will be mailed around 9 weeks after degree conferral. Additional information regarding the diploma and transcripts may be found in the Graduation FAQ compiled by the Office of the Registrar.
• Your thesis will be uploaded into IDEALS 4-6 months after degree conferral.