This site contains information related to degree completion at UAB. For specific degree requirements, access the Graduate Catalog. Otherwise, click one of the buttons below to navigate to the relevant Earning Your Degree section.
Graduation Planning System (GPS)
You can access your degree requirements through UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS). Your personalized audit will list all of the courses required to earn your degree/certificate and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessed through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of your home page. You should also be aware of the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, which can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Your GPS audit should be reviewed every semester to track your progress and help determine your registration plans. GPS is not intended to replace your relationship with your academic advisor/graduate department but should be used in conjunction with their consultation.
If you see a discrepancy on your audit, contact your department immediately to address the concern. The Graduate School uses your GPS audit to award your degree/certificate so it must be accurate and complete.
Application for Degree
As you are approaching your final term, you must notify your program and the Graduate School of your intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree/Certificate by the appropriate deadline. This must be completed even if you do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony.
Upon submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application. In addition, a fee will be assessed to your account. This fee covers the verification of your curriculum requirements and your diploma and will only be assessed the first time you apply to graduate for that specific degree/certificate. The fee for graduate degrees is $60 and the fee for graduate certificates is $20.
If a student misses the application for degree deadline, their degree will not be awarded for that term. The student should apply to graduate the next open term.
- Upon request, a letter of pending degree can be generated confirming the term the degree will be awarded upon successful submission of an application for degree and completion of all degree requirements.
Know Your Deadlines!
The Graduate School has the deadlines listed below for application for degrees and/or graduate-level certificates. Degree requirements can be found in the Graduate Catalog. The Application for Degree/Certificate is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking on Links/Forms and selecting Apply for Graduate Degree/Certificate.
Plan I Deadlines (students completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline |
Final Defense Deadline |
Diploma |
Deadline for Document Submission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Spring 2025 |
January 21, 2025 |
April 4, 2025 |
May 2, 2025 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Summer 2025 |
June 9, 2025 |
July 11, 2025 |
August 16, 2025 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Fall 2025 |
September 2, 2025 |
November 14, 2025 |
December 12, 2025 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
Plan II Deadlines (students NOT completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline* |
Diploma |
|---|---|---|
|
Spring 2025 |
January 21, 2025 |
May 2, 2025 |
|
Summer 2025 |
June 9, 2025 |
August 16, 2025 |
|
Fall 2025 |
September 2, 2025 |
December 12, 2025 |
*IMPORTANT: Please check the application deadline with your department as some programs have earlier deadline dates (e.g. School of Education and Human Sciences).
Degree Awarding
Degrees are awarded after final grades are posted (check the UAB Academic Calendar for the date grades are posted online). When your degree is awarded, you can access an official transcript that includes the degree through UAB One Stop.
Prior to awarding degrees, the Graduate School will send an email verifying your degree, diploma name, and diploma mailing address. You can update information by replying to that email. Diplomas will ship 4-6 weeks after graduation.
Enrollment Verification
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Letter of Good Standing
To request a Letter of Good Standing, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu).
-
Transient Letter Request
To take a course at another institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at UAB, first confer with your program director to determine whether the course is transferrable and will be applicable toward a degree at UAB. Further, you must be in good academic standing (i.e., a minimum 3.0 GPA at UAB). Once approved, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu) to request the letter. Include the following information in your email:
- Name of the Institution
- Term the course will be taken
- Subject code/Course Number/Title of the course
You have the responsibility to submit an official transcript to UAB as soon as the final grade(s) for your course(s) are available. Transcripts must be sent to UAB directly from the college or university. Transcripts submitted directly from the student are not considered official.
-
Pending Degree Verification Letter
To request a letter verifying your pending degree you must have an application for degree on file with the Graduate School. If your audit is complete in GPS, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu) to request a letter verifying your pending degree. If your audit is incomplete, review the audit with your program director. The program may apply exceptions to complete your audit, if applicable.
Plan I students must complete the following Clearance to Graduate items prior to request:
- PDF of your committee approved dissertation/thesis
- Signed approval form
- Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate (doctoral students only)
- UAB Exit Survey (doctoral students only)
Please contact Amber Carr (carram@uab.edu) for questions about Clearance to Graduate.
-
Official UAB Transcript
You may request an official transcript that includes your degree through UAB One Stop.
Commencement & Diploma
Commencement Information
The commencement ceremony for Masters, Education Specialists, and Doctoral graduates will be held on the Friday evening following final exams.
If you are interested in participating in the university commencement ceremony, you can find all relevant information on the UAB Commencement website. Participation requires that you sign up on the commencement website and order the appropriate regalia by the specified deadlines.
Diploma Information
-
Certified Electronic Diploma
You may request a Certified Electronic Diploma through UAB One Stop. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
-
Replacement/Additional Diploma
You may request a replacement or additional diploma through UAB One Stop.
-
Receiving your Diploma
- The Graduate School places the diploma order within one week after all graduate degrees have been awarded for the term. Once the degree has been officially awarded, degree verification can be obtained through Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts can be requested through the One Stop Student Services website or by calling (205) 934-4300.
- Graduates will receive an email confirming that their degree was awarded along with the diploma name and mailing address that was provided during the Application for Degree/Certificate process. Updates can be made to the name and/or address by the provided deadline.
- Diplomas are typically shipped within two weeks of order submission. Graduates will receive a confirmation email when it is shipped.
- UAB offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
- Graduates who have outstanding fees will not receive their diploma directly; it will be sent to the Graduate School for pickup or delivery after their account has been cleared.