Degree Clearance Process

Full degree clearance information for MS and PhD students can be found here: https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/degree-completion-steps

MS Plan C

Submit your Graduate Degree Plan (GDP) if you started before Fall 2020; submit GPAS if you started your program Fall 2020
and after


Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate no later than the first day of the anticipated month of graduation.


Ensure all coursework is completed

All grades and degree plan requirements must be completed by the last business day of the intended month of graduation.


*Master’s Plan C students graduating in Fall 2021 and beyond are no longer required to submit the Final Report Form.


MS Plan A

Submit your Graduate Degree Plan (GDP) if you started before Fall 2020; submit GPAS if you started your program Fall 2020
and after

Record your final oral exam committee

Complete at least one month prior to exam at: http://z.umn.edu/examcommittees


Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate no later than the first day of the anticipated month of graduation.

Initiate your Reviewers’ Report form

Initiate your Reviewers’ Report form at least one week before your final exam at: https://z.umn.edu/ReviewersReportForm

  • All committee members submit their responses before your final exam.

Initiate your Final Exam Form

At least one day prior to your exam, initiate the form at https://z.umn.edu/FinalExamForm

  • Review your examining committee for accuracy and click “Submit” to send the form to your committee chair.


Submit Final Exam Form

Committee chair must submit the completed form no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation.

Ensure all coursework is completed

All grades and degree plan requirements must be completed by the last business day of the intended month of graduation.

Initiate Thesis/Dissertation Approval & Deposit Agreement

  • Prior to the last business day of the month, initiate your Thesis/Dissertation Approval & Deposit Agreement at: https://z.umn.edu/thesis-dissertation-approval-deposit

  • The student needs to initiate the Dissertation Approval form from an email received by GSSP after holding the final exam/defense

  • Advisors must submit their approval no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation, so please plan accordingly.


Submit your thesis

Submit your thesis to ProQuest no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation.

  • Ensure your thesis meets University formatting guidelines and is free of errors prior to submission. Details about thesis formatting requirements and submission are available at https://z.umn.edu/thesissubmit

  • You will receive an email within 5 business days either confirming approval or requesting revisions.

  • Any revisions must be completed and your thesis approved by the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation, so please plan accordingly.


PhD

Submit your Graduate Degree Plan (GDP) if you started before Fall 2020; submit GPAS if you started your program Fall 2020
and after

Record your final oral exam committee

Complete at least one month prior to exam at: http://z.umn.edu/examcommittees


Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate no later than the first day of the anticipated month of graduation.


Initiate your Reviewers’ Report form

  • Initiate your Reviewers’ Report form at least one week before your final exam at: https://z.umn.edu/ReviewersReportForm

  • All committee members designated as “reviewers” submit their responses before your final exam.


Schedule your doctoral final oral exam

Schedule your exam at least one week in advance at: https://z.umn.edu/docexamsched

You will be emailed a link to access your Final Exam form for graduate students after you have met all of the above requirements. Your record will also be reviewed for completion of coursework and adherence to policy.

Initiate your Final Exam Form

At least one day prior to your defense, initiate the form to review your examining committee for accuracy and send the form to your committee chair.

Submit Final Exam Form

Committee chair must submit the completed form no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation.

Initiate Thesis/Dissertation Approval & Deposit Agreement

  • Prior to the last business day of the month, initiate your Thesis/Dissertation Approval & Deposit Agreement at: https://z.umn.edu/thesis-dissertation-approval-deposit

  • The student needs to initiate the Dissertation Approval form from an email received by GSSP after holding the final exam/defense

  • Advisors must submit their approval no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation, so please plan accordingly.


Submit your dissertation

  • Submit your dissertation to ProQuest no later than the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation.

  • Ensure your dissertation meets University formatting guidelines and is free of errors prior to submission. Details about dissertation formatting requirements and submission are available at https://z.umn.edu/thesissubmit

  • You will receive an email within 5 business days either confirming approval or requesting revisions.

  • Any revisions must be completed and your dissertation approved by the last business day of the anticipated month of graduation, so please plan accordingly.