Graduation information for master's students
Below you will find step-by-step guidance to walk you through the graduation clearance process. Please click on each "checkmark" below to navigate your way toward graduation. If you have any questions, please use our FAQs. Congratulations on reaching this achievement in your education.
Programs may have earlier deadlines. Graduate School deadlines are published in the official Academic Calendar. Students are responsible for following the policies published in the Graduate Catalog. Forms referenced on this page may be found on the Graduate School Forms web page.
Master's Student Forms are submitted electronically through DocuSign unless otherwise noted.
- To begin a new form, simply click the link for the necessary form on our Forms page. Follow the instructions on the Powerform Signer to enter names and NON-ALIAS email addresses for your advisor/committee chair, committee members, and graduate program director, depending on the requirements of the form.
- Enter your NinerNet credentials when prompted and then follow the instructions for data entry, etc. on the form.
- You can track your form within DocuSign by logging into docusign.uncc.edu using your @uncc.edu email address and NinerNet credentials and following the instructions for managing envelopes.
- If you have questions or need to make a change after submitting, please contact gradschoolforms@uncc.edu.
- For more information about DocuSign, please see this handy video or read these FAQs.
Students who fail to apply for graduation by the published deadline will not be evaluated for graduation and will be ineligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.
How do I submit the ‘Online Graduation Application’?
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Log into my.uncc.edu.
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Under Academic Resources, select ‘Student Records’.
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Under ‘Student Records’, select ‘Online Graduation Application’.
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Click "Continue" if this is the first time a graduation application has been submitted or "Create a New Application" if one has been submitted previously.
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After all sections are complete, click the "Submit" button.
The ‘Online Graduation Application’ triggers a review of your academic progress by the Graduate School. Students who apply to graduate but appear short of meeting all degree/certificate requirements will be notified by email. As the definitive record for graduation clearance, your individual DegreeWorks audit must reflect that you are on track to graduate in a given term.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline for Summer 2021 Graduation | June 30, 2021 |
| Application Deadline for Fall 2021 Graduation | September 22, 2021 |
The Appointment of the Master's Thesis Committee Form is due at this time. Students cannot proceed to the proposal defense without an approved committee. You will receive a copy of the letter via your University email once processed.
The Proposal Defense for Master's Thesis Report is due following the proposal defense. If your research requires IRB/IACUC/IBC approval, the approval memo email should be forwarded to gradschoolforms@uncc.edu once it is received or at the latest within one day of the FINAL defense. Please specify "Master's Documents" in the email subject line.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Master's Thesis Proposal Deadline for Summer 2021 Graduation | June 4, 2021 |
| Master's Thesis Proposal Deadline for Fall 2021 Graduation | October 5, 2021 |
Formatting information can be found under the Thesis and Dissertation tab of this website. Students are also highly encouraged to attend a Formatting Workshop prior to their dissertation defense. Workshops occur approximately every two weeks and can be found on the Center for Graduate Life's calendar. There is also a Formatting and Submission playlist on the Center for Graduate Life's YouTube channel. For further questions, please email Dr. Aura Young.
Note: The formatting review does not appear as a milestone in DegreeWorks.
Following the completion of this defense, the master's candidate must submit the the Final Defense Report for Master's Thesis or Master's Project form to the Graduate School within one business day of the Final Defense.
The signed dissertation title page and the IRB/IACUC/IBC approval memo, if applicable, must also be forwarded to gradschoolforms@uncc.edu within one business day of the final defense. Please specify "Master's Thesis Documents" in the email subject line. (For instructions on how to upload your title page to DocuSign and how to request signatures, please see this short YouTube video.)
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Master's Thesis Defense Deadline for Summer 2021 Graduation | July 29, 2021 |
| Master's Thesis Defense Deadline for Fall 2021 Graduation | December 13, 2021 |
Following the successful completion of the thesis defense, theses must be submitted to ProQuest no later than the published deadline, indicated both on this page as well as on the Registrar's Calendar. At the time of document submission, the master's thesis student must submit the Master's Thesis Submission and ETD Signature Form and signed Title Page to gradschoolforms@uncc.edu. Please specify "Master's Documents" in the email subject line.
Payment for the required $45 submission fee and optional $75 copyright registration fee must be made through our Payment Portal. (Another option is to register your copyright yourself for only $65 at copyright.gov, which you can do at any point.) Hard copies ordered through ProQuest must be paid for on ProQuest's website; otherwise, you will make no payments directly to ProQuest. REMEMBER: the $45 fee is REQUIRED, while the $75 fee is ADDITIONAL and OPTIONAL.
Your thesis will appear in ProQuest as well as in UNC Charlotte's institutional repository, Niner Commons.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Master's Thesis Submission Deadline for Summer 2021 Graduation | August 5, 2021 |
| Master's Thesis Submission Deadline for Fall 2021 Graduation | December 16, 2021 |
For thesis formatting information contact Dr. Aura Young (aura.young@uncc.edu)
For graduation clearance information, contact gradgraduation@uncc.edu.