• Degree Audit
• Application to Graduate
• Eligibility Assessment & Senate Approval 
• Degree Conferral
• Convocation 
• Employers Requesting Proof of Degree

How to Apply to Graduate

Download the How to Apply to Graduate transcript

1. Complete a Degree and Program Requirements Checklist

The Do It Yourself (DIY) Degree Check is a guide to gain a sense of what you still may need to complete or satisfy your degree and program requirements. If at the completion of this Degree Check form you have discovered you are on track to graduate, proceed to Step 2: Application to Graduate.

If you have any questions or would like some clarification on your degree check, please feel free to book an appointment with an Academic Advisor by going to https://www.trentu.ca/advising/book-appointment

2. Application to Graduate

When you believe you are ready to graduate, you can submit the Application to Graduate form found in Academics > Self Service > Graduation Overview. You should apply as soon as your course registration for your final year is finalized (e.g. early in the Fall term if you are graduating in January or Spring; early in Summer term if you are graduating in September). The deadline to apply to graduate can be found in the Academic Calendar site under Important Dates, as well as at Important Dates & Deadlines.

• If you complete the requirements of your degree at the end of the Summer term you can graduate in September (Fall graduation term)  
• If you complete the requirements of your degree at the end of the Fall term you can graduate in January (Winter graduation term).  
• If you complete the requirements of your degree at the end of the Winter term you can graduate in May (Spring graduation term). 

3. Eligibility Assessment & Senate Approval 

Once the Application to Graduate is submitted, the Office of the Registrar will complete an assessment to ensure your eligibility for graduation and will notify you, by email to your Trent student account, within 10 days of the assessment outcome.  If you receive a response that your eligibility for graduation assessment is not approved, please book an appointment to review your degree and/or program requirements with an Academic Advisor by going to www.trentu.ca/advising/book-appointment. Once grades have been processed, the names of all students who have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree are submitted to Senate for approval.  As soon as Senate approves the graduation list your academic record is updated to show you have completed your degree. You are then sent notification via Trent email that you have graduated, that official transcripts can now be ordered and that your degree will be available soon.  

4. Degree Conferral 

Your degree/diploma/certificate will be presented to you on Convocation Day in June, after you have participated in the ceremony and returned your graduation gown.  

If you graduated in September or January, you don’t have to wait until June to receive your degree. If you have indicated a mailing address on your application to graduate and that you will not be picking up your diploma, our office will mail your degree out to you. Degrees are usually not available for pick-up, or to be mailed, for at least three weeks after the graduation date. For example, if you graduated in May, and are unable to attend the June convocation ceremony, your degree will be mailed after the ceremonies (mid-June). 

You can obtain your diploma by:  

• Attending the Convocation ceremony in June OR 
• At the Registrar’s Office in Blackburn Hall (please refer to the degree conferral email that you received for when your degree will be available for pick up at the office) OR 
• Request for your diploma to be mailed to you  

Unclaimed degrees will be held for two years. After the two years period has passed, degrees will be shredded. If you have not picked up or asked to have your degree mailed to you within two years of graduating, you will have to request and pay for a replacement degree.  

Please note that your degree will not be released if you owe any money to the University. This includes fines at Bata Library.  

5. Convocation 

Convocation ceremonies for students who graduated during the last year are held the first week of June.  Please visit Convocation site for the most up-to-date information. Grads who owe the University money are encouraged to attend their convocation; however, they will not receive their degree at the ceremony. As soon as the outstanding fees are paid in full they can request to have their degree mailed.

6. Employers Requesting Proof of Degree 

AuraData is a secure, third-party information repository for employers and institutions to confirm the education claims or professional designations of an individual that has graduated at any Canadian University, College and/or Professional Association.  This system is not for individuals/students to confirm their own graduation. Please visit www.auradata.com for more details.