Degree Application

All students planning to complete their degree requirements must submit an online Application for Degree via ESTHER. Near the beginning of each Fall semester, the application becomes available in ESTHER for the active academic year (Fall, Spring, and Summer degree conferrals).

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by the Academic Calendar deadline to avoid being assessed a $100 late processing fee.

How to Apply

🎓 Undergraduate Students (UG/UP)

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. From the Students tab, click Students - General.
  3. Click on Graduation.
  4. Click on Application for Degree - Undergraduate Students.

Complete the Application:

  1. Review the student information at the top of the application.
    a. Email registrar@rice.edu to change your expected graduation term or to submit declaration form(s) for a major/minor/certificate.Picture 1

  2. Answer the questions on the application, then click Save Responses.
    a. Enter Diploma Name (ALL CAPS) and Commencement Program Name (standard capitalization).Picture 2

  3. Review your entries, then click SUBMIT.Picture 3

🎓 Graduate Students (GR/GQ)

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. From the Students tab, click Students - General.
  3. Click on Graduation.
  4. Click on Application for Degree - Graduate Students.

Complete the Application:

  1. Review the student information at the top of the application.
    a. Email registrar@rice.edu if you are a PhD student applying for an unlisted Master’s degree.Picture 4

  2. Answer the questions on the application per degree listed (as applicable), then click Save Responses.
    a. Select graduation term per listed degree.
    b. Enter Diploma Name (ALL CAPS) and Commencement Program Name (standard capitalization).
  3. Review your entries, then click SUBMIT.Picture 6

Post-Submission Verification

To verify that the application for degree was submitted successfully:

  1. Login to ESTHER.
  2. From the Students tab, click Students - General.
  3. Click on Graduation.
  4. Click on Verify Graduation Status.
  5. If you successfully submitted the Application for Degree, your Degree Status should show AP (Applied). If your Degree Status shows Sought (SO), you have not completed the Application for Degree.

You may see some other graduation statuses after you apply for graduation or elsewhere in ESTHER. Please consult the Preparing for Graduation page for details on graduation status updates.

Additional Information

For information related to the Application for Degree or graduation, please see the following pages or contact registrar@rice.edu with questions:

Questions

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