Preparing for Graduation
Your Senior Planning Appointment
You should schedule your senior planning appointment with your assigned academic advisor by the end of your 7th semester. During your senior planning appointment, your advisor will:
- review your remaining degree requirements;
- confirm your declared major(s)/minor(s);
- discuss how to apply for graduation; and
- clarify whether you may be eligible for a senior underload.
How and When to Apply for Graduation
You should apply for graduation when you register for your final term at UNC. If you miss the deadline, please contact the Registrar’s Office. Late applicants are not guaranteed to have their names listed in the commencement program.
- Log in to your ConnectCarolina Student Center with your UNC ONYEN and password.
- Select “Apply for Graduation” from the drop-down menu on the Academics tab.
- Follow the directions to confirm all program and personal information.
Once you’ve applied to graduate, the Registrar will review your graduation application. The review process can take several weeks. You will receive an email once your graduation application has been reviewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have fewer than 12 hours of required coursework left in your final semester, you are eligible to apply for a senior underload. To do so, you must apply for graduation on ConnectCarolina and request the Senior Underload option on the graduation application form. There are several rules and regulations to consider:
- Senior underloads are allowed only in the semester in which you are graduating.
- You must be enrolled in all remaining degree requirements and intend to graduate at the end of the current semester.
- Applications for graduation with senior underload status must be submitted by the posted deadline each semester (the option to request a senior underload is available as part of the graduation application process).
- UNC Advising will NOT drop courses for you; this is your responsibility.
- You have until the drop deadline of the semester to decide whether or not to drop any courses that are not required for graduation.
- Be sure to check with financial aid and student health insurance about any potential financial implications of taking fewer than 12 credit hours.
You can take classes during the Summer terms. As long as you are on track to complete your degree requirements by the end of Summer II, you can participate in the May commencement ceremony. Your diploma will be awarded in August after all final degree requirements have been completed.
If you cannot graduate in 8 semesters and need to stay an extra semester (Fall or Spring only), you will need to submit an Additional Semester Appeal.
- You do not need to submit this form for Summer terms.
- You will not be approved to stay longer than 8 semesters just to complete a second major or minor requirements.
- Note for transfer students: Transfer students who bring in 30+ hours of post-high school transfer credit will automatically be granted a 9th and 10th semester. You do not need to complete the Additional Semester Appeal form.
- Please consult your assigned advisor if you have additional questions.
Please contact your academic department directly if you would like to participate in your departmental graduation ceremony. Academic departments often send informational emails by listserv, so be sure to check your UNC email for details about your department’s graduation ceremony.
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Additional Resources
University Career Services
Meet with a career counselor to discuss your post-graduation plans, set up a practice interview, and review your resume