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Graduation
To graduate, you must complete faculty and program requirements in the program you were admitted to and registered in. It is your responsibility to meet all faculty and program requirements before graduation.
At the time of graduation from an undergraduate degree, you must be in Satisfactory Standing with a minimum CGPA of 2.00. Certain faculties may require a higher CGPA for graduation.
You should contact your advisor (graduate students should contact their department) early in the graduating year to make sure you will meet your program requirements by graduation time. For contact information on advisors, see mcgill.ca/students/advising/advisordirectory.
Once your record has been approved for graduation, your unofficial and official transcripts will indicate the notation “Degree Granted” after approval by the University Senate. At this point, your academic record is deemed as final and no further record changes may be requested at this time (e.g. grade changes).
• Fall term graduation (courses completed by the end of December; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in February after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Spring convocation): You must apply on Minerva by the end of November.
• Winter term graduation (courses completed by the end of April; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in May after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Spring convocation): You must apply on Minerva by the end of February.
• Summer term graduation (courses completed by the end of August; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in October after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Fall convocation): You must apply on Minerva by mid-May.
For more information on applying to graduate, refer to the Apply to Graduate.
Minimum Residency Requirement
The total number of McGill credits required to graduate is known as the minimum residency requirement. You must successfully complete a minimum of 60 McGill credits to obtain a McGill undergraduate degree. Some programs have specific requirements on the type of credits that must be completed at McGill. For example, two-thirds of all program requirements must be completed at McGill. For specific information refer to your faculty's section of this publication.
Students completing a second undergraduate degree at McGill must successfully complete a minimum of 60 McGill credits to obtain their degree. You should check with your Faculty advisor for any conditions applicable to the McGill credits required toward your degree.
Graduate students should refer to their faculty under Faculties & Schools > Graduate > Program Requirements for information on minimum residency requirements for graduate programs. This information is listed for each faculty, and you can also access it through the faculty's graduate pages.
- You must successfully complete a minimum of 21 McGill credits (excluding prerequisites and corequisites) to obtain a McGill undergraduate certificate. For specific information refer to your department section of this publication.
- Students completing a second undergraduate certificate at McGill must successfully complete a minimum of 21 McGill credits (excluding prerequisites and corequisites) to obtain their certificate. You should check with your advisor for any conditions applicable to the McGill credits required toward your certificate.
Apply to Graduate
Apply to Graduate
Most undergraduate students and non-thesis graduate students (master's, certificates, diplomas) must use Minerva to apply to graduate (go to Student Records > Apply for Graduation for Your Primary Curriculum). It is your responsibility to inform the University of your intention to graduate. You need a minimum residency requirement of 60 credits at McGill to qualify for a McGill undergraduate degree. For more information, see Graduation. The minimum CGPA required to graduate is 2.00, and you must be in Satisfactory Standing.
The Application for Graduation is available on Minerva when you register for your final year (e.g., U3 or U4), except if you are in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences or Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, where you are automatically flagged for graduation in your final year. For more information on how to apply on Minerva, go to mcgill.ca/graduation/applying.
Once you apply to graduate, you are authorizing the University to:
- include your name and image in the McGill Convocation programs, web streamed convocation broadcast, and other convocation-related communications.
- to have your ID, name, degree and ceremony provided to the academic regalia provider for the purposes of Convocation preparation.
- to have your ID, name, email, degree and ceremony provided to the convocation photographer for the purposes of Convocation preparation.
- to have your name, email, degree and confirmation of graduation sent to your professional order, if you are in a professional program (e.g. Engineering OIQ, Nursing OIIQ), for licensing or accreditation purposes.
If you want to opt out of your information being sent to any of the above (1, 2, 3, or 4), you must complete an Opposition Form by March 15 for Spring convocation, and September 15 for Fall convocation.
Deadlines
Deadlines
- Fall term graduation (courses completed by the end of December; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in February after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Spring convocation): You must apply on Minerva by the end of November.
- Winter term graduation (courses completed by the end of April; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in May after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Spring convocation): You must apply on Minerva by the end of February.
- Summer term graduation (courses completed by the end of August; transcript will indicate “Degree Granted” in October after approval by the University Senate; diploma will be conferred at Fall convocation): You must apply on Minerva by mid-May.
If you miss one of these deadlines, contact your faculty's Student Affairs Office immediately.
Graduation Approval Query
Graduation Approval Query
As a graduating student, you can view the status of your graduation record on Minerva during the Faculty review and approval process (go to Student Records > Graduation Approval Query). The Graduation Approval Query form becomes available to graduating students in early January for Fall term graduation, in early April for Winter term graduation and in early September for Summer term graduation.
If you meet all requirements for graduation, your graduation record will indicate Faculty Approved on the Graduation Approval Query, and your transcript on Minerva will display the Degree Granted notation after the approval of degrees by University Senate and according to this schedule:
- Late February, for Fall term graduation (Courses completed by the end of December, Convocation in Spring)
- Late May, for Winter term graduation (Courses completed by the end of April, Convocation in Spring)
- Late October, for Summer term graduation (Courses completed by the end of August, Convocation in Fall)
See mcgill.ca/graduation/convocation for information regarding convocation ceremonies.
Replacing a Diploma
Replacing a Diploma
Required Documents
Required Documents
Diplomas are normally distributed to new graduates at their Convocation ceremony, in either May or October/November. Diplomas are not available prior to the Convocation date.
Replacing a lost diploma
To replace a lost diploma, you must submit an order and pay for its replacement and delivery by courier using the ES Services eStore.
Requesting a diploma following your Convocation ceremony
If you did not attend your Convocation ceremony and need your diploma, you can submit an order and pay for its delivery by courier using the ES Services eStore or contact Service Point for an appointment to pick up your diploma.
Modifying the name on your diploma
If you have changed your name after graduation and need to obtain a replacement diploma with your new name, first follow the steps to request a name change by completing and signing a Personal Data Change Form and submitting the required supporting documentation. Once you have received confirmation that your McGill record reflects the updated name, submit a request for a replacement diploma and pay the fee for replacement and delivery via courier using the ES Services eStore.
Submitting Your Request
Submitting your request
You can submit a request and pay for a replacement diploma and delivery via the ES Services eStore.
Certified Copies
Certified Copies
Enrolment Services will certify copies of your diploma in the original language or issue certified translations in English (from the original Latin) or French (from the original English or Latin).
Submitting your request for a certified copy
You can submit your request and pay the requisite fee via the ES Services eStore.
Aegrotat Standing and Degree at McGill University
Aegrotat Standing and Degree at McGill University
In rare cases where a student, based on serious medical or similar evidence, is unable to complete their program requirements within a reasonable time, or at all, they may be awarded their degree with Aegrotat Standing.
At McGill, this designation may be considered if a student has completed 75% or more of their degree program requirements and based on a serious medical situation or other extenuating circumstance is unable to complete their program. If approved, this could result in the awarding of an aegrotat degree. An aegrotat indicator of "Y" at graduation signifies that a student was awarded such a degree. An aegrotat degree is awarded only to students in Satisfactory Standing who have been unable to complete their degree due to special circumstances toward the end of their program. Information on this degree designation is only included in the convocation program, and not on the transcript.
A degree with Aegrotat standing is rarely granted at McGill University. A formal request must be submitted to the Dean of the student’s faculty and the Deputy Provost, Student Life and Learning, to approve granting such a degree.
