Preparing for Graduation

During your final academic year, follow the below guidelines for a successful graduation experience.

Tasks:

• Apply for a degree before the Application for Degree deadline
• Visit the Rice Bookstore to obtain your regalia, cap, gown, hoods, and stoles.
• Consult the Commencement website for the schedule of events, FAQs, and general information for families and guests.
• Consult the Academic Calendar to ensure you are meeting all deadlines. Note: this timeline applies to students who expect to graduate in the Spring semester (May) of a given academic year.
  
  Note: this timeline applies to students who expect to graduate in the Spring semester (May) of a given academic year.

In the Fall:

• Apply for a degree before the Application for Degree deadline (UG students only).
• Review your Degree Works degree audit directly online or via ESTHER (UG and UP students, as well as students in select GR programs).
• Meet with your academic advisor to ensure that you will fulfill all the requirements for your major and/or minor (UG students only).
• Consult the Graduate Program Administrator of your home department and/or the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) to confirm your graduation timeline status and academic progress toward the degree (GR students only).
• Consult the Academic Calendar to ensure you are meeting all deadlines.

In the Spring:

• Apply for a degree before the Application for Degree deadline (GR students only).
• Visit the Rice Bookstore to obtain your regalia, cap, gown, hoods, and stoles.
• Consult the Commencement website for the schedule of events, FAQs, and general information for families and guests.
• Consult the Academic Calendar to ensure you are meeting all deadlines.
• Consult the coordinator of your residential college and/or the department coordinator of your major/minor/certificate for additional information (UG students only).
• Consult the Graduate Program Administrator of your home department and/or the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) to confirm your graduation timeline status and academic progress toward the degree (GR students only).
• After final exams undergraduate students will be requested to complete the Senior Exit Survey. A hold on accessing your transcript will be placed on your records until you complete the mandatory survey. An email invitation will be sent to you at your Rice email address with details after the final exam period in May (UG students only).

After Commencement:

• Collect your diploma (available mid-to-late July for May degree recipients).
• Login to ESTHER to update your contact information regularly.
• Connect with the Rice Alumni community.
• Remember: Your Rice University email address remains active until the August following May (Spring semester) graduation.
• Remember: ESTHER accounts are active indefinitely after graduation. As an alumni, you retain the ability to login and access your account at any time. You are encouraged to update your contact information regularly.

Graduation FAQs

For a list of frequently asked questions about Graduation, please click here.

For an overview of the Graduation Certification Process, please click here.