Where to Look: Check the Academic Calendar.

• Graduation Application: Check when the application opens for the semester.
• Application Deadline: Meet the deadline to ensure your name appears in the Commencement book. (If you miss the deadline, you can still participate in the ceremony, but your name will not be printed in the book.)
• Commencement Ceremony: Dates when registration for commencement opens and closes. (For Spring: March 1st to May 1st. For Fall: October 1st to December 1st.)

To be considered for your degree, meet with and your College or School’s academic advisor before your last semester begins.

How They Will Help:

• Degree Audit Check: Confirm you’re on track to meet all graduation requirements.
• Declare Everything: Before you apply for graduation, make sure you are officially declared for all majors, minors, or certificates you plan to receive.
• Confirm Graduation Date: Double-check your expected graduation date with them.

How to Apply: Register for all your final required classes in STAR. Once you are registered, a “Petition to Graduate” pop-up with a link to the Graduation Application should appear. If it doesn’t, contact your academic advisor.

Important Tip: Pay close attention to the instructions for your diploma name and diploma address.

What Happens Next: Within four weeks, your graduation status in STAR will update to ACCEPTED. You can check for updates by using the re-sync feature.

When: After your petitioned to graduate status appears as ACCEPTED in STAR.

Cost: $30.00 per degree type

Where to Pay: Your diploma fee can be paid at any UH Cashier’s Office or online via eBanner Dashboard.

The fee covers the cost of your paper diploma and CeDiploma (certified electronic diploma). Remember, all outstanding balances on your student account must be cleared before you can receive your diplomas or request transcripts.

When: After your graduation status appears as ACCEPTED in STAR.

Where to Register: Visit the Commencement website to register, find out more about the ceremony, and how to order caps and gowns.

Special Notes:

• Summer Graduates: Commencement ceremonies are held twice a year, in December and May. If you’re graduating in the summer, you can choose to participate in either the Spring or Fall ceremony. Contact your academic advisor if you plan to walk earlier in the Spring; you will need to submit a Graduation Application for Degree by the Spring deadline.
• International Students: If you are an international student, please visit the inviting family members from abroad to commencement page.

This is how you secure your spot to participate in the ceremony and celebrate your big day!

If you missed the application deadline, you can still apply online until the last day of the semester. Your name will not be included in the commencement booklet due to printing deadlines.

If you have already submitted a Graduation Application for Degree and need to postpone or cancel your graduation, contact your academic advisor. They can help you change your graduating semester and will reach out the Office of the Registrar to reopen your registration.

To reapply for a future semester, you must submit a new Graduation Application for Degree after you have registered for all your final required classes in STAR.

You can request a graduation candidate verification letter up until the last day of instruction for the current semester or term, on the Academic Calendar.

If you are a current enrolled undergraduate student who has applied to graduate for an eligible semester, you may request a letter confirming your candidacy to be sent to future employers, graduate schools, or other third-party organizations. This candidacy letters will only confirm your intention to graduate at the end of the eligible semester with all your current majors and minors.

International Students: While the university will not provide a “Letter of Invitation,” you may use this form to receive a letter of support. For more details, visit the inviting family members from abroad to commencement page.