Graduation: Commencement, Applying for Graduation, and Graduation Plan Verification Form

Applying for Graduation

All students need to apply for graduation during their final year. This is done in DukeHub. 

  • Students graduating in September or December will be emailed notification of their window at the beginning of their semester of graduation. 
  • Students graduating in May will be emailed notification of their window in the fall semester before they graduate. 
  • All of these windows are about three weeks long. 
*NOTE* Students may only add a major, minor or certificate to their academic plan up to the end of the third week of the semester in which they plan to graduate.

Graduation Plan Verification Form  

  • Students graduating in September or December will be emailed a Graduation Plan Verification Form early in their graduating semester.  
  • Students graduating in May will be emailed a link to the form in late September/early October and asked to complete it before the time spring registration begins.  
*NOTE* this is an enforced deadline. Students expected to graduate in May, and who do not complete the form by the time spring registration begins, will have their registration blocked. 
Graduation exercises are held only once a year, in May.  

For all information about graduation/commencement ceremonies, apparel, diplomas, transcripts, deadlines, and a checklist, see the Commencement Weekend Website.  

If you have questions about the Intent to Graduate Form, you should email the Trinity Graduation Staff at trinity_graduation@duke.edu(link opens in a new window/tab). Note that the trinity graduation email account will only accept emails that are sent from duke.edu email addresses. 

If you will graduate in September or December, your diploma will be mailed to you after you complete all requirements.  Your name will be listed in the Commencement Program the following May and you can participate in commencement activities at that time.  

  • If you will have completed at least 30 of the 34 required credits for graduation at the end of the spring semester (this includes the two AP/IPC/PMC credits that all Duke undergraduates are allowed to use towards the 34 credit requirement), you may choose to participate in commencement activities early, e.g., you can "walk" through graduation exercises in May before finishing your remaining classes.  
  • Your diploma would be mailed to you later.  
  • There is a place on the Change of Graduation Date Form for you to indicate your desire to walk through graduation or you can discuss your interest with your Academic Dean.  

If you would like to participate in departmental graduation ceremonies, you will need to contact the Undergraduate Studies Office in your major to make that request, as those arrangements are administered separately from the main Commencement program.  Be sure to check the Commencement Weekend website for information on the schedule of activities and deadlines for ordering apparel and tickets to Baccalaureate. 

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