Students are expected to be aware of and follow the policies and requirements in effect at their term of admission. Departmental and Graduate College policies may change subsequent to the term of admission, but subsequent changes in program requirements may not be imposed on students. Additional specific information on master’s degree requirements (see chapter V), and doctoral degree requirements (see chapter VI) can be found in this handbook.
Requirements for specific graduate degrees and certificates are listed in the appropriate sections of the Programs of Study, and in departmental handbooks. All departments should distribute a handbook or statement to their graduate students (on paper or online) listing the requirements for the graduate degree programs to which they are admitted.
International students on F1 and J1 visas should contact International Student and Scholar Services for specific questions regarding enrollment as it pertains to visa status.
In order to receive a graduate degree a student must be registered in the program for at least twelve hours for at least one term, which could be spring, summer or fall. To be counted toward the graduate degree, hours must be at the 400-level or greater.
For doctoral students, registration is required for the entire term in which a student takes the final defense, regardless of when the thesis will be deposited or when the degree will be conferred. See the Thesis Handbook for more information about exact enrollment dates for each term, and see chapter VI for registration requirements for doctoral students. For the purpose of defense, students in the Medical Scholars Program are considered registered if they are enrolled in the College of Medicine. The Graduate College does not require students to be registered at the time of deposit.
University of Illinois rules prescribe that a certain amount of credit hours for each degree received from this campus be taken as residence credit. Credit hours earned on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus are considered residence credit. In addition, the following are accepted as residence credit:
Residence requirements are outlined in Rule 3-801 of the Student Code.
Graduate students may satisfy specific requirements by proficiency examinations, but such credit cannot be applied toward graduate degrees. Students should check with their department for details about proficiency examinations.
Master's degrees are conferred in May, August, October, and December. Doctoral degrees are conferred in May, October, and December. In order to receive a degree, a student must apply to be on the degree list for the appropriate graduation date. Until the tenth day of classes in a given semester, students may use the UI Integrate Self-Service system to apply to be on the degree list. After the tenth day, students should complete an Application for Degree form and submit it to their graduate department office. Deadlines for applying to be on the list for each graduation date are noted on the Thesis Office Deadlines Web page.
A student may not receive a degree with a grade of DFR on their graduate record in any course except thesis research, without an approved petition to request that the grade remain permanently as deferred (DFR).
A student who has fulfilled all of the degree requirements sometime before the next conferral date may need certification for employment or to meet visa requirements. To request a letter of certification, the student should use the Request for Certification of Degree Letter form, or pick up the form at the Graduate College Thesis Office. A student who owes money to the University may not receive a letter of certification.
Master's degrees are conferred in May, August, October, and December. Doctoral degrees are conferred in May, October, and December. In order to receive a degree, a student must apply to be on the degree list for the appropriate graduation date. Until the tenth day of classes in a given semester, students may use the UI Integrate Self-Service system to apply to be on the degree list. After the tenth day, students should complete an Application for Degree form and submit it to their graduate department office. Deadlines for applying to be on the list for each graduation date are noted on the Thesis Office Deadlines Web page.
A student may not receive a degree with a grade of DFR on their graduate record in any course except thesis research, without an approved petition to request that the grade remain permanently as deferred (DFR).
A student who has fulfilled all of the degree requirements sometime before the next conferral date may need certification for employment or to meet visa requirements. To request a letter of certification, the student should use the Request for Certification of Degree Letter form, or pick up the form at the Graduate College Thesis Office. A student who owes money to the University may not receive a letter of certification.
The Graduate College will generally not allow the awarding of a second graduate degree in an area in which a graduate degree at an equivalent level (master's, doctoral) has already been earned. This applies to cases where the first degree is from the University or from another domestic or international institution. The basis for this policy is that an individual should not receive another degree for work that is substantially similar to the work used to complete a previous degree. Exceptions may be allowed in cases where it is clear that the student's degree programs differ significantly. The petition process is used for such requests.
Most graduate degrees require a research component that culminates in the defense and subsequent deposit of a thesis or dissertation. Graduate students should register for research credit during semesters when they are working on the thesis. A student who has no record of registration in research credit courses cannot deposit a thesis. Most departments use the course designation “599” to indicate research registration for both master’s and doctoral students. Many departments will not allow students to register in research credit (599) until they have passed certain milestones. Registration in research credit must always be done with the approval of the student’s adviser.
The grade of DFR (deferred) is reported for research credit until the thesis has been completed, defended if required, and successfully deposited in the Graduate College. When a thesis is successfully defended and deposited, the DFR grades will be changed to S (satisfactory). If the student fails the final defense the grade becomes U (unsatisfactory), and the thesis cannot be deposited.
If research credit is taken but thesis work is not completed, the 599 registration cannot be removed from the record. If the work will not be completed, and the student wishes to receive a degree, the grades will permanently remain as deferred (DFR).
Graduate students who have completed all degree requirements except the thesis or dissertation and do not have a tuition and fee waiver may consider registering for zero hours of research credit. It is important for such students to consider the implications of not being a full-time student (see chapter III.C.1 for more information).
Graduate College (GC) 599 is a registration option for advanced doctoral students who do not have tuition waivers but must maintain full-time enrollment to defer student loans. To be eligible to register for GC 599, a student must:
Students who are required to complete a mandatory internship as part of their degree requirements may also register for GC 599 provided they comply with the all but the third bullet point listed above.
For information on theses and dissertations, see the current version of the Graduate College Thesis Handbook.
Some academic units, such as the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and some departments in the College of Education, offer Certificates of Advanced Study for students who are interested in additional professional training beyond the master's degree but are not planning to obtain the doctoral degree. These programs usually require completion of at least 32 semester hours of course work beyond the master's degree. A candidate for a Certificate of Advanced Study is expected to complete all degree requirements within five years of first registering in the Graduate College. Therefore, a Certificate of Advanced Study candidate with course work that is more than five years old at the time of degree or certificate conferral must petition the Graduate College asking that the course work be accepted for the degree or certificate. The petition must include an explanation from the department regarding how the student's knowledge in the areas covered by the old course work meets current standards. This justification is needed for degree certification and the petition should be filed during the term when the student is placed on the degree list. Information concerning specific Advanced Certificate programs is available from departmental offices.
A joint degree program is a University approved program in which students pursue two specifically identified graduate degrees simultaneously, and both degrees must be conferred simultaneously. A joint degree program differs from a dual degree program in that the total time for the two degrees is decreased by a predetermined maximum through the acceptance of required courses in one program as electives in the other. A student in a joint degree program must register in each program for a minimum of twelve hours for at least one term, and must complete the minimum requirements for each degree. A student who wishes to enter a joint degree program must be admitted separately to each program as a joint degree candidate. Joint degree programs may involve one graduate degree and one professional degree. Approved joint degree programs can be found in the Programs of Study. A student interested in pursuing joint degrees should consult both departments. Joint degree students may be enrolled in either program when they defend.
A dual degree program is defined as one in which a student pursues two post-baccalaureate degrees simultaneously. In dual degree programs, students must complete all requirements for each degree, without overlap. With the approval of both departments, students would have the opportunity to integrate their studies rather than completing the degrees in series. A student pursuing two post-baccalaureate degrees simultaneously must be registered in each program for a minimum of 12 hours for at least one term, in order to obtain both degrees. Dual degree students may be enrolled in either program when they defend.