Applying to Graduate

Undergraduate students must have a cumulative total of more than 88 earned hours and graduate students must have 15 earned hours.

It is recommended that undergraduates apply to graduate their first semester of their senior year.

You will know you are ready to graduate when you see the “IN-PROGRESS” or “COMPLETE” indicators at the top of your Degree Audit listed next to your degree.

There are two easy steps to filling out your graduation application:

On SeaNet, from the "Student Records" menu, choose "Apply to Graduate."

Confirm application and check Degree Audit: The View Graduation
Applications page on SeaNet will display your complete application.

The Unofficial Transcript page on SeaNet will display your "Pending" degree status about two hours after you submit your application. Now is also a good time to check your SeaNet degree audit and discuss any questions with your academic advisor.

The final step of the application is the confirmation page. If you did not receive a confirmation message, you have not completed or submitted the application successfully.

Important to Note

There is no summer commencement ceremony. Summer graduates participate in the fall commencement.

A student shall be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony if they demonstrate that degree program requirements for graduation are or will be met with the completion of one educational experience (e.g. internship, practicum, fieldwork) as defined by their dean’s office, or up to eight credit hours of coursework during the term immediately following the commencement ceremony. 

This policy only applies to students who wish to participate in a graduation ceremony but have additional coursework to complete during the term immediately following the commencement ceremony. If the student’s degree audit clears for graduation, the early commencement participation application does NOT need to be submitted.

Students approved to participate early:

• will not have their names appear in the commencement program.
• will not receive any recognition of university honors and/or distinction cords until all graduation requirements are met.
• should fill out the online graduation application for the appropriate term of graduation (the term in which they will complete all requirements).
• will be required to complete a Request to Participate in a Graduation Ceremony acknowledging the criteria and responsibilities of participating in a ceremony, prior to meeting graduation requirements. The course(s) still required will be noted on this form along with a copy of their degree audit. Online Forms

Each department is responsible for maintaining a list within their department, as they are notified by the individual students.

A list is maintained by the graduation specialist for cap and gown distribution, which is sent to the bookstore and transition programs for record-keeping purposes.

Any student not meeting the criteria for early participation in graduation, as set forth by the UNCW Faculty Senate, will be denied participation by the Office of the Registrar.

All late undergraduate graduation applications require dean approval.

Contact the associate dean for your respective college to learn more.

• A $12 graduation application fee will be added to your student bill when you apply for your degree. The fee will only be charged once per degree. Therefore, if you apply and then need to postpone your graduation, you will not be charged for the change. 
• If you have attended other higher education institutions and have not had a transcript sent to the Office of the Registrar, please do so.
• Some holds on your account, particularly financial, will prevent transcripts and diplomas from being processed. You can check for holds on SeaNet.
• Check your UNCW email account and your campus PO box frequently to look for graduation and other information.
• Review commencement exercises.
• Graduate students must be enrolled in the term in which they complete their graduate work or are scheduled to received their degree.