Diplomas

Degrees are conferred at the end of each quarter and posted to students' records eight-twelve weeks following the end of the term for which you applied for graduation.

Diplomas are mailed to most students approximately four months after the end of the term. Professional students, please see the section below on Professional Diplomas.

If a diploma address is not provided at least one month prior to the corresponding diploma distribution listed below, the diploma will not be ordered until one is provided. Diplomas are ordered at the end of every month.

Should a student need proof of their degree prior to receiving their diploma, see Education Verifications.

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 one month prior to the corresponding diploma distribution listed below.

Minors are shown on the diploma. 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.

International Mailing

Please include an international phone number when providing an international mailing address.

Diplomas mailed internationally are sent using the United States Postal Service (USPS) First Class Mail, which does not provide a tracking number to monitor the status of the delivery.

If you wish to utilize tracking, we have partnered with UEMS – eShipGlobal. If you already have an account with UEMS – eShipGlobal, you can use the same account to order express mailing for your diploma using either FedEx, DHL or UPS. There is an additional shipping cost and using UEMS – eShipGlobal is entirely optional. Go to UEMS - eShipGlobal to sign up for an account or log into your previously established account; you need your UC Davis student ID number, mailing address, email address, phone number, and credit card information. Select the Office of the University Registrar option. This option will add additional processing time up to a few weeks. 

Should you choose to use UEMS – eShipGlobal, they send you a notification email and tracking number to track the progress of your shipment. They also notify us on your behalf that you are using the service and assist you with any questions regarding the shipping and tracking of your diploma.

Another option is to have it mailed is USPS First Class Mail, instead of mailing internationally. If you do not have a U.S. address, we recommend that the diploma be shipped to a friend or relative in the U. S. When supplying the address, add the friend or relative's name and the abbreviation "c/o" (care of) in the address so 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."

Multiple Diplomas

If a student is degree awarded as a multiple major within different colleges (e.g., AB English under the College of Letters & Science and BS Biological Sciences under the College of Biological Sciences), they receive a separate diploma for the degree(s) earned under each college.

Graduate Diplomas

Graduate students are required to specify an address for diploma distribution at least one month before the corresponding diploma distribution listed below. 

To update or change your mailing address use the Diploma Mailing Address Change Form.  Diplomas are not mailed until the Office of the University Registrar receives a diploma mailing address.

International Mailing

Please include an international phone number when providing an international mailing address.

Diplomas mailed internationally are sent using the United States Postal Service (USPS) First Class Mail, which does not provide a tracking number to monitor the status of the delivery.

If you wish to utilize tracking, we have partnered with UEMS – eShipGlobal. If you already have an account with UEMS – eShipGlobal, you can use the same account to order express mailing for you diploma using either FedEx, DHL or UPS. There is an additional shipping cost and using UEMS – eShipGlobal is entirely optional. Go to UEMS - eShipGlobal at https://study.eshipglobal.com/default.asp and sign up for an account or log into your previously established account; you need your UC Davis student ID number, mailing address, email address, phone number, and credit card information. Please select the Office of the University Registrar option. This option will add additional processing time up to a few weeks. 

Should you choose to use UEMS – eShipGlobal, they send you a notification email and tracking number to track the progress of your shipment. They also notify us on your behalf that you are using the service and assist you with any questions regarding the shipping and tracking of your diploma.

Another option is to have it mailed is USPS First Class Mail, instead of mailing internationally. If you do not have a U.S. address, we recommend that the diploma be shipped to a friend or relative in the U.S. 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."

Professional Diplomas

Professional program diplomas for students in all programs except those listed below will be mailed.

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.

Note that some professional students are not covered by the Document Fee and therefore need to pay for diploma mailing.

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 one month prior to their diploma distribution date listed below.

Diploma Mailing Fees

Degree Mailed First Class Mail Within the U.S. Mailed First Class Mail outside the U.S. UMES - eShipGlobal
Undergraduate $0 $0 Additional charges apply
Graduate* $0 $0 Additional charges apply; * check Document Fee regarding applicable Graduate diplomas.
Professional (MBA) $5.50 $14.00 Additional charges apply
Professional (Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine) $9 $14.50 Contact the School of Law for more information about international mailing options.

Document Fee

Diplomas are shipped via USPS First Class Mail for students covered by the Document Fee.

Diploma Distribution

Graduation Term Approximate Diploma Distribution
Summer November
Fall Semester March
Fall Quarter March
Winter Quarter June
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 September

Diploma Names

Diplomas are printed with the student's legal name as it appears on their academic record. To modify your name on your 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 one month prior to the diploma distribution.

To request for special characters to appear on your name and reflected on the diploma, you 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 one month prior to the diploma distribution. Special character options are limited to what can be found on a Windows character map and we may not be able to accommodate all characters.

Diploma Holds

An existing student accounting hold placed on a student's academic record may delay or prevent the issuance of a diploma. Diplomas held for Student Accounting holds (ZF, ZU, ZD, and ZA holds) are printed and mailed once the hold is cleared. 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. 

Duplicate/Replacement Diplomas

Students may request a duplicate diploma for the following reasons:

  • Original diploma has been lost or destroyed. 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 was shipped.
  • Student's name has been changed. (Original diploma must be returned if still in possession of it, along with supporting documentation for the change. Payment is required for all diploma reprintings due to name changes.)

A duplicate diploma may be ordered from the Office of the University Registrar by submitting the Duplicate Diploma Application.

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 arrive around the middle to later half of the next month.

IMPORTANT: Only one replacement diploma is allowed.

Re-issued diplomas 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.

Allow six-eight weeks for processing a duplicate diploma request. The re-printed diploma is mailed to the address indicated on the Duplicate Diploma Application.

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 $44.00 $49.50

Incorrect or Bent/Damaged Diplomas

If there are possible error(s) on a diploma or was bent and/or damaged in shipping, contact the Office of the University Registrar. If a confirmed error or damage exists, the original diploma must be returned to the Office of the University Registrar prior to a corrected diploma being issued.