Degrees are conferred at the end of each quarter. Degrees are posted to students' records eight–twelve weeks following the end of term for which you applied for graduation. Diplomas are mailed for those students covered by the Document Fee approximately four months after the end of term for which the student applied for graduation. Diplomas held for Student Accounting holds will be mailed once the hold is cleared. If the hold is not cleared within five years, the diploma is then destroyed.
Should a student need proof of their degree prior to the diploma being available, please refer to the Education Verifications webpage.
Undergraduate Diplomas
Undergraduate students are required to specify an address for diploma distribution when completing the Online Graduation Application.
Changes to this mailing address may be requested using the Diploma Mailing Address Change Form and must be received by the Office of the University Registrar at least three months prior to the corresponding diploma distribution date listed below.
Minors are shown on the diploma, but are not added to the student's record until the student has been approved for graduation by the dean's office approximately one to one and a half months after their graduation date. Concentrations, emphases, supplementary fields, focus areas, tracks, plans, options, and specializations within majors are not shown on the diploma, but are shown on the transcript.
Internationally mailed diplomas are now required by the postal service to have phone numbers. Diplomas are not shipped by the printer without a phone number; so please include a phone number when providing or updating the diploma mailing address.
Internationally mailed diplomas are frequently lost in the mail and we recommend that international students have their diplomas shipped to a friend or relative in the United States. When supplying the address, add the friend or relative's name and the abbreviation "c/o" (care of) in the address so that the Postal Service is clear on the name and address for delivery. For example, "YOUR NAME c/o Jamie Doe, 123 Smith Street, Davis, CA 95616." Specify numbers in addresses such as post office boxes, apartment or condominium numbers, and mobile home spaces; e.g., "Box," "Apartment," "Unit," or "Space". Do not add # in the address.
Graduate Diplomas
Graduate diplomas are mailed by the diploma distribution dates listed below. Graduate students must submit the address for their diploma to be mailed by submitting the Diploma Mailing Form to the Office of the University Registrar. Diplomas for graduate students will not be mailed until the Office of the University Registrar receives a diploma mailing address.
If mailing is previously requested, updates to the diploma mailing address may be requested using the Diploma Mailing Form and must be received by the Office of the University Registrar at least three months prior to the corresponding diploma distribution date listed below.
Professional Diplomas
Professional program diplomas are available for pick up at the School of Medicine Registrar's Office, School of Law Registrar's Office, and the School of Veterinary Medicine. Graduate School of Management student diplomas are available at the Office of the University Registrar unless a Diploma Mailing Form is submitted.
Professional program students may request their diploma to be mailed by submitting the Diploma Mailing Form to the Office of the University Registrar.
If mailing is requested, updates to the diploma mailing address may be submitted using the Diploma Mailing Form and must be received by the Office of the University Registrar at least three months prior to their diploma distribution date listed below.
Diploma Mailing Fees
Degree | Mailed Within the U.S. | Mailed outside the U.S.
Undergraduate | $0 | $0
Graduate* | $0 | $0
Professional | $9 | $14.50
* Check Document Fee regarding applicable Graduate diplomas.
Diploma Distribution Dates
Graduation Term | Diploma Distribution Date
Summer | Late December
Fall Semester | Late April
Fall Quarter | Late April
Winter Quarter | Late July
Spring Semester–School of Law | Late July
Spring Quarter–School of Medicine | Late July
Spring Semester–School of Veterinary Medicine | Late July
Spring Quarter–School of Business Administration | Early September
Spring Quarter | Late October
Multiple Diplomas
If a student is degree awarded as a multiple major within different colleges (e.g., AB English under the College of Letters and Science and BS Biological Sciences under the College of Biological Sciences), they will receive a separate diploma for the degree(s) earned under each college.
How Names Appear On Diplomas
Diploma are printed with the student's legal name as it appears on their academic record. To modify a student's name on an academic record, please submit a Name Change form along with legal supporting documentation of the change such as a photocopy of your current driver's license, passport, or marriage license. For a name change to be reflected on the diploma, the name change request must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar at least two months prior to the diploma distribution date, listed above.
To request for special characters to appear on the student's name and reflected on the diploma, the student must inform the Office of the University Registrar by submitting a paper petition for name change form to specify the needed special characters. The request for special characters must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar at least two months prior to the diploma distribution date, listed above.
Diploma Holds
An existing student accounting hold placed on a student's academic record may delay or prevent the issuance of a diploma. An accounting hold is not removed from the student's record until the circumstances involving the hold are resolved. If a student is unsure if an accounting hold has been placed on their record or needs assistance regarding the circumstances or resolution of an existing accounting hold, please contact Student Accounting.
Incorrect or Bent/Damaged Diplomas
If there are possible error(s) on a diploma, contact the Office of the University Registrar. If a confirmed error exists, the original diploma must be return to the Office of the University Registrar prior to a corrected diploma being issued.
If a diploma was bent and/or damaged in shipping, the original diploma must be returned to the Office of the University Registrar along a completed Duplicate Diploma Application, prior to a corrected diploma being issued.
Duplicate/Replacement Diplomas
Students may request a duplicate diploma for the following reasons:
- Original diploma has been lost or destroyed.
- Student's name has been changed. (Original diploma must be returned along with supporting documentation for the change.)
A duplicate diploma may be ordered from the Office of the University Registrar by submitting the Duplicate Diploma Application. If a student previously had a Student Accounting hold on their account, has had it removed and still has not received the diploma, please contact the Office of the University Registrar before ordering a duplicate diploma to verify if the diploma the diploma was shipped.
Diplomas are ordered in bulk on the last business day of every month. All diploma reorders received before the last business day of the month will arrive around the middle to later half of the next month. For example, a diploma order that is received April 4th will be ordered on April 30 and should be shipped around the middle of May.
The Office of the University Registrar does not order the following certificates:
- FNP/PA (Family Nurse and Physician Assistant) certificates. Contact the School of Nursing.
- Teaching credential certificates. UC Davis cannot provide you with a copy of your teaching credentialing and you will need to contact the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to obtain one. See the School of Education website on how to print your teaching credential for clear directions on how to obtain this copy. If you need additional guidance, contact the School of Education's Credential Analyst by email at eduadvising@ucdavis.edu
- UC Davis-Fresno State Joint Doctoral Program in Leadership. Contact Tiffany Jennings at Fresno State.
IMPORTANT: Only one replacement diploma is allowed. Second copies of diplomas are no longer permitted.
Re-issued diplomas will contain current signatures and a notation located at the bottom center of the diploma stating the diploma is "re-issued."
If it has been more than one year since your original diploma was mailed, but not received, payment is required for a reprinting of your diploma.
Payment by check, money order or credit/debit card are accepted (except American Express). Please make check or money order payable to "UC Regents." Please allow six to eight weeks for processing. The re-printed diploma is mailed to the address indicated on the Duplicate Diploma Application. Payment for Duplicate Diploma Application requests are not accepted via email, phone, or fax and will not be processed.
Complete Duplicate Diploma Application and return it with payment to the Cashier's Office, in 1200 Dutton Hall, or by mail to:
Cashier's Office
University of California Davis
PO Box 989062
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9062
Duplicate/Replacement Diploma Processing Fees
Degree | Mailed Within the U.S. | Mailed outside the U.S.
Undergraduate | $27.50 | $36.00
Graduate* | $27.50 | $36.00
Professional | $44 | $49.50
Note: The Office of the University Registrar does not accept emailed, phone, or faxed requests for duplicate or re-issued diplomas.