Apply to Graduate

All Steps of the Graduation Process are required.

Congratulations! You are close to graduation. You must submit a graduation application to begin the process towards degree completion. Review the essential information, deadlines, and requirements below before you apply. Please note that deadlines are strictly enforced. Missing a deadline may prevent a student from participating in the ceremony and result in a delay in degree conferral. To ensure a smooth celebration, please review all graduation and commencement guidelines and keep track of all upcoming deadlines. Submitting a graduation application confirms your agreement to the requirements outlined on this page, your specific program catalog, and all university-wide policies. After reading this page, log in to your MyMemphis account and click UMDegree to apply for graduation.

To ensure a seamless experience, the University of Memphis schedules a backup date for all commencement ceremonies to accommodate potential weather or facility adjustments. Please keep both potential days completely open on your calendar until the final date is officially confirmed. We strongly advise graduates and guests to reserve travel arrangements for the entire weekend and plan their departure for the following Monday or Tuesday.

 

Deadlines

For deadlines to Apply to Graduate, visit Apply to Graduate Deadlines.

Important: Just a quick heads-up: please pick your current or recent term on the very first screen! Don't worry, you will get to choose your graduation date a bit later in the application.

How to Apply to Graduate

• Log in to MyMemphis.
• Open My Degree and find the commencement box.
• Select your current/recent term for your curriculum.
• Click to the next screen.
• Answer the questions.
• Choose your graduation date and submit.
• Proceed to Step 3 for diploma and cap and gown details.
• You will receive Step 4 via your Memphis email 2–3 months before the event.

 

Important Details about graduating from the University of Memphis

 

• All students at the University of Memphis are required to Apply for Graduation.
• Early participation is not permitted. Graduating students must be enrolled in their final term coursework and officially cleared (approved) for graduation to participate in the ceremony.
• Students are limited to one commencement appearance per degree.
• University of Memphis commencements held at the FedExForum require a backup date due to potential NBA Memphis Grizzlies schedule changes. Graduates should advise guests to keep the entire weekend flexible to ensure attendance.
• Important Second Major and Certificate Information
  • A second major under the same degree type does not receive a separate diploma and does not participate in the ceremony.
  • For complete requirements and degree applicability rules, read and review the University of Memphis Catalog or consult your Graduation Analyst.  
  • Certificate-only recipients do not take part in the commencement ceremony.
  • Earning a double degree (ex. BBA and BS) results in receiving two separate diplomas. Refer to the University of Memphis Catalog.  
• Please note that deadlines are strictly enforced. Missing a deadline may prevent a student from participating in the ceremony and result in a delay in degree conferral.

• Step 4 is mandatory for all degree-seeking graduation candidates and will be sent to your Memphis email 2 to 3 months before the event.

  • You must complete the questionnaire, fill out the U of Memphis survey, and formally accept or decline your seat to register for the ceremony.
  • Approved attendees receive graduation regalia.
• Majors, minors, concentrations, and the like are not reflected on the undergraduate diploma.

• All graduates and guests must follow our Commencement Guidelines during the ceremony. To learn more, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/conduct_guidelines.php.

• Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation. Degree conferral is contingent upon the successful completion of all academic requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate School, and Departmental guidelines.

• After reading this page, log in to your MyMemphis account and click UMDegree to apply for graduation.
• If you have questions about applying to graduate, commencement ceremonies, cap and gowns and the like, contact us at commencement@memphis.edu.
• Direct questions regarding academic records, majors, minors, concentrations GPAs and other related academic inquires to your Graduation Analyst at Graduation Analyst Contact.

 

Honors Distinction

At Commencement, undergraduate honors distinctions are determined using the grade point average from the preceding semester. Final grade point averages and official honors statuses are conferred following the ceremony once final grades are certified by the respective college. Graduate students are not eligible for honors distinctions.

 

University of Memphis honor cords are single ropes in gold, crimson, or white. To earn a designation, students must meet the minimum GPA requirement on both their UofM and overall GPA (using the lower of the two). Each eligible participant will receive their cord at Cap and Gown Distribution. Honors calculations omit this semester's grades until after this semester ends and official diploma certification occurs. If you believe your honors distinction is incorrect, contact your Graduation Analyst.

 

Honor Cord Policy

• Gold Cord: Summa Cum Laude (3.80–4.00)
• Crimson Cord: Magna Cum Laude (3.50–3.79)
• White Cord: Cum Laude (3.25–3.49)

 

A perfect GPA of a 4.0 is determined by looking at an undergraduate student's overall undergraduate studies (entire transcript/entire undergraduate career: Every undergraduate course taken must be an A or better) to determine a 4.0 GPA.

• Student Marshal(s): Each undergraduate College and School will identify the undergraduate student(s) with the highest GPA in their overall undergraduate studies to serve as Student Marshal. Student Marshals are recognized by their Marshal's medallion and will lead the college across the stage. The Commencement Office selects Student Marshals. We must review student records to ensure accuracy. 
• If a student is graduating with University Honors or University Honors with Thesis, they must communicate with the Honors Program several months before Commencement to ensure the Commencement Office and the college/school knows to add this to the program and diploma information.
• For more information on the Institution's Recognition of Academic Performance, see University of Memphis Catalog.  

 

Things to Keep in Mind

Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation. Degree conferral is contingent upon the successful completion of all academic requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate School, and Departmental guidelines. For more information about diplomas, visit Diplomas and Diploma Mailing Schedule. 

 

Undergraduate Students: If you have attended another college or university, having transfer credit in UMDegree is essential for the graduation checkout to be accurate. Please notify your advisor if you have missing transfer credits. For further questions about academic coursework, please contact your Graduation Analyst.

 

Graduate Students: Visit https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current_students/graduation.php for more information. For further questions about academic coursework, please contact your Graduation Analyst.

 

Law Students: Students must return the Law School’s Graduation Checklist to the Law Registrar prior to completing the Application to Graduate. For further information about your academic coursework, contact the Law School Registrar.

 

Understanding the difference between Graduating and Participating in a Commencement Ceremony

• Commencement is the optional celebration, while graduation is the official completion of your degree.
• Commencement Attendance is optional.
• Certification is the actual degree conferral, contingent upon your successful fulfillment of all the requirements for receiving a degree, certificate in your field as described in the Catalog of your Academic Program/College or School requirements of the University of Memphis.

 

Good notes about Commencement

• We host Commencement Twice (2) a Year (December and May Only). August graduates participate in the December combined ceremonies (August and December together) Commencement ceremonies. 
• Summer graduation has not gone away! Summer Commencement is simply combined with December for a combined December and summer ceremony to be held in December each year. There is no separate summer commencement at the University of Memphis. 
• Participation is restricted strictly to graduates. Guests, family members, and children are not permitted on the event floor or the stage. Additionally, personal announcements, including marriage proposals and the like, are prohibited during the ceremony.
• All messages are routed to your Memphis email. Please monitor your inbox regularly.
• The Commencement Program is a public record listing all approved degree candidates. Names submitted before the notification cutoff may appear even if final approval is pending. To request name omission, submit a written notice to commencement@memphis.edu by the Step 4 deadline.

• Service Animals: Service Animals are allowed only if they are service animals trained to perform tasks for a disability in all public spaces. Emotional Pets are not allowed. 

• For deadlines, visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/apply/deadlines.php. 

 

Diplomas

For more information about diplomas, visit Diplomas and Diploma Mailing Schedule. 

If your address has changed, you have one month after Commencement to update your mailing address. Contact us at commencement@memphis.edu. 

 

Email After Graduation

Memphis Email Access Information: Your Memphis email will expire after 1 year/graduates will lose access to email in 1 year after graduation. For more information visit /umtech/solutions/email.php. For all students voluntarily separating from the University, either through graduation or lapse in enrollment, access to university data and IT systems will be revoked one year after the last term the student was enrolled. It is the responsibility of the student to save any personal electronic files or data stored on university systems prior to the access termination date. Access to personal electronic files or data may not be provided after the one-year expiration.

 

Delaying Commencement

To delay commencement participation, submit the apply to graduate form, first. Then, in your final semester, open Step 4, log in, select "no" for attendance, choose "Other" with the reason "I want to delay my participation to a future Commencement," and submit the form. You will receive the official Delay Commencement Form after the deadline.

How to Delay Commencement

• Apply to graduate for your actual completion term.
• Open Step 4 and log in with your credentials.
• Answer the questions and set attendance to "no".
• Select "Other" for the reason and type: I want to delay my participation to a future Commencement.
• Submit the form to get a confirmation email.
• Wait for the official Delay Commencement Form after the deadline passes.

 

What if I missed the deadline to Apply to Graduate? 
Apply to Graduate deadlines are strictly followed. If you missed the deadline for any reason, it is the decision of your academic college or school to determine if you can file late. Contact your Graduation Analyst. 

By participating in the ceremony, you agree that commencement does not equal graduation. Degrees require completing all University of Memphis Catalog requirements. Diplomas are sent post-semester following grade certification. Submitting your application confirms compliance with all academic policies. For more information, contact your Graduation Analyst or review the University of Memphis Catalog.