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Certificates, Diplomas, and Graduation

Find the tasks required for graduation from University of Maryland Global Campus.

UMGC's Graduation Services is ready to support your needs as you progress toward the completion of your degree and plan for graduation. The checklist below is designed to help ensure completion of all the necessary tasks required for graduation -- including applying for graduation, final review of degree program requirements, and mailing of diplomas -- and helps lead the way toward a successful graduation.

Letter of Completion

A Letter of Completion is a document indicating that you have completed your degree requirements. They are often used for employers and promotion boards when the degree has not yet been posted to the transcript. Degrees and certificates are posted to transcripts only three times each academic year. This posting will not appear on any transcript issued prior to the graduation date, even if all requirements have been completed. To request a Letter of Completion, once you have completed your degree coursework, send an email to graduationserv@umgc.edu. Be sure to include your name, Empl ID (MyUMGC Student ID), and address where the letter should be sent. If your letter has to be sent to a third party, a letter with signature via fax or hard copy is required. After the graduation date has passed, students must request an official transcript for degree verification. 

Step One: Contact Your Advisor

The term before you plan to graduate, contact your academic advisor to discuss the completion of your degree requirements or refer to your academic advising report (AAR).

Step Two: Apply for Graduation

Apply for graduation before the appropriate deadline. Log into MyUMGC and select Academic Records Graduation Apply for Diploma/Certificate.

Deadline for students in undergraduate programs and most graduate degree and certificate programs:

  • December graduation: October 15

  • May graduation: February 15

  • August graduation: June 15

Deadline for students in the graduate program s that require CBR, DCL, or PRO 600:

  • December graduation: October 15

  • March graduation: February 15

  • June graduation: April 1

  • September graduation: July 15

Step Three: Pay the Application Fee

After you have applied, pay the application fee of $50 per degree program within 10 days. Please note that every program (for example, certificate or bachelor's degree) requires a separate application and fee.

Step Four: Confirm Your Graduation Status

If you're a candidate for graduation, you will receive a notification via email whenever updates have been made to your application.

You can review and track your graduation application status through the Graduation page in MyUMGC. Please make sure your permanent address is correct in your profile in MyUMGC. All information regarding graduation will be mailed to this address.

If you have questions regarding your current graduation application status or projected conferral date, please contact our office by email. Please include your full name and student ID with your e-mail request. If you do not have your student ID, please provide your date of birth.

Step Five: Receive Your Degree

After you are approved for graduation, your degree will be conferred (i.e., program completion will be indicated in your records, including your official transcript) at the end of that term, and a diploma/certificate will be mailed to you three or four weeks after the conferral date. Please remember that participation in the annual commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation from UMGC; your degree must be conferred before you are considered a graduate of UMGC.

Conferral Dates

For students in all undergraduate programs and graduate programs that do not require CBR, DCL, or PRO 600:

  • December graduation: December 30

  • May graduation: May 30

  • August graduation: August 30

For students in graduate programs that require CBR, DCL, or PRO 600:

  • December graduation: December 30

  • March graduation: March 30

  • June graduation: June 30

  • September graduation: September 30

Step Six: Participate in Commencement

Congratulations on your accomplishment! August and December graduates from the previous year, as well as May graduates from the current year, will be invited to participate in the May commencement ceremony. Please note that you must have applied for graduation to participate in the ceremony, which is for associate, bachelor's, and master's. Please refer to the commencement website for further details about participating in the ceremony.

Contact Us

Email:  graduationserv@umgc.edu
Phone: +1-800-888-UMGC (8682), ext. 2299
Fax: +1-240-684-2008

University of Maryland Global Campus
Attn: Graduation Services
3501 University Boulevard East
Adelphi, MD 20783 USA

Get a Digital Diploma

Learn how to access a digital version of your diploma through UMGC's collaboration with Parchment. Formerly UMUC