Degree Application

Students planning to graduate must formally apply for graduation by submitting an online Application for Degree.

Online Application for Degree

The Application for Degree is an online form that all students must use to formally apply for graduation and the conferring of their degree(s). Near the beginning of each Fall semester, the online Application for Degree will be made available in ESTHER for the upcoming academic year (fall, spring, and summer degree conferral). It is available to all students in degree-granting programs and remains accessible in ESTHER until the Application for Degree deadline date posted in the Academic Calendar. Students cannot submit the application for a graduation term beyond the academic year in progress.

Instructions for Undergraduate Students

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. Go to Student Services and Account Information > Graduation.
  3. Click on Application for Degree - Undergraduate Students.
  4. Carefully review your degree information (graduation date, degrees, declared majors/minors/certificates, etc.) and confirm that everything is correct.
    • If your listed graduation date is incorrect (i.e., you plan to graduate earlier/later than originally expected), email the Office of the Registrar immediately to request a change of graduation date.
    • If you are missing a major, major concentration, minor, or university certificate from your record, you will need to submit a Declaration of Major/Minor, and/or University Certificate form to the Office of the Registrar.
    • Students should complete the online Application for Degree by the published deadline on the Academic Calendar regardless of any changes you plan to make at a later date (i.e., changing your graduation date and/or adding or dropping a major or minor).
  5. Answer all of the questions on the questionnaire.
  6. Click Save Responses.saveresponse
  7. Carefully review your answers to confirm that everything is correct then click the Complete Questionnaire button. Your Application for Degree is not officially submitted until you click the Complete Questionnaire button.completequest

Instructions for Graduate Students

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. Go to Student Services and Account Information > Graduation.
  3. Click on Application for Degree - Graduate Students.
  4. Answer all of the questions on the questionnaire.
    • Semester for degree completion (December (Fall semester), May (Spring semester), August (Summer semester), or “I am not applying for this degree yet”)
    • Diploma Name
    • Select the degree(s) for which you would like to apply by highlighting the check box to the left of the degree(s)
    • Notes:
      • If more than one degree is on your record (such as a master’s degree and a doctoral degree), and you are only completing the Application for Degree for one of the two degrees, then select “I am not applying for this degree yet” for the degree you are not yet completing this academic year. For example: applicationfordegree
  5. Click Save Responses.saveresponse
  6. Carefully review your answers to confirm that everything is correct then click the Complete Questionnaire button. Your Application for Degree is not officially submitted until you click the Complete Questionnaire button.completequest

Notes for Graduate Students:

  • After logging in to ESTHER, If you receive an error message when accessing the Application for Degree, please email registrar@rice.edu. Please be certain to include your name and your expected graduation date in your email. You may be receiving that error due to system records reflecting a different graduation date.
  • If the expected degree information listed on the application is incorrect, please contact the graduate program administrator of your home department, or (if applicable) submit an updated Graduate Declaration and Change of Certificate Form to the Office of the Registrar.
  • If you are a doctoral (PhD) student seeking to apply for a master's degree that does not yet appear on the Application for Degree (such as a candidacy master’s degree), please contact the Office of the Registrar by emailing registrar@rice.edu. The Office of the Registrar will add the missing degree to your record so that you can apply for that degree.

Confirm Your Degree Status and Graduation Date

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. Go to Student Services and Account Information > Graduation.
  3. Click on Verifying Graduation Status.
  4. Your Degree Status should show AP (Applied). If your Degree Status shows SO (Sought), you have not completed the Application for Degree.
    • Note for Graduate Students: If you have a previously Awarded (AW) degree from Rice, or if you are applying for one of many degrees on your record (such as a master’s degree and a doctoral degree), then you will see other degree statuses associated with other degrees on your record. Verify that the degree you are applying for shows the Degree Status of Applied (AP). A Degree Status of SO (Sought) will appear for the degree you are not yet completing this academic year. For example:studentdegree
  5. Confirm that your Graduation Date listed is the correct Graduate Date for the degree you are applying for.
  6. If any corrections need to be made, please contact the Office of the Registrar by emailing registrar@rice.edu.

Confirm Your Diploma Name and Address

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. Go to Student Services and Account Information > Graduation.
  3. Click on Verifying Graduation Status > Diploma Name and Address.
  4. Confirm that your Diploma Name and address listed are correct for the degree(s) you are applying for.
  5. If any corrections need to be made, correct them within the ESTHER form and click SUBMIT.

Application for Degree Deadlines

Please consult the semester-specific Academic Calendar for degree application deadlines.

Please Note: All students applying for graduation and submitting an online Application for Degree after the published Academic Calendar deadline will be assessed a $100 late processing fee.

Questions

If you have questions related to the Application for Degree or graduation, please contact the Office of the Registrar.