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UW Graduate School

Award Certificate Request

Overview

Graduate certificates are awarded quarterly by the Graduate School once the certificate program confirms all requirements are complete.

Starting January 5, 2026, this process will use a new request form in MyGrad, similar to the forms for master’s and PhD degrees, instead of the current petition process.

Important Deadlines

  • The request for certificate conferral must be submitted by the last day of the final examination week in which the student completes the graduate certificate requirements.
  • Graduate certificates are awarded after the grade deadline for the quarter.

Request Review and Award Process

  1. Student – Complete requirements
    • Before submitting your request, ensure all required coursework is complete and all required-coursework grades appear on your unofficial transcript.
    • Log in to MyGrad and use the “Request Certificate” link in the “Request Credentials” menu to access the request form.
    • If you are requesting more than one certificate in the same quarter OR are enrolled in multiple graduate programs (e.g., a certificate and a degree):
  2. Department – Review and Recommendation
    • Your program’s GPA will review and recommend your certificate for award to the Graduate School.
  3. Graduate School (Graduate Enrollment Management Services, GEMS) – Final Review
    • GEMS will conduct a final review after departmental recommendation.
    • Student action: Monitor your UW email in case GEMS requests additional information.
  4. Office of the University Registrar (OUR) – Transcript Posting
    • The time frame for your certificate to post to your transcript varies each quarter and depends on processing by OUR (typically 2 weeks after the Graduate School approves your certificate request).
    • Student action: Before ordering official transcripts, confirm that your graduate certificate has posted by viewing your MyUW unofficial transcript.

Notifications

  • Students receive email updates after:
    • submission to the department
    • the department decision
    • Graduate School review decision (if departmentally approved)

Contact

If you have questions about your certificate award, please contact your department directly. They can provide guidance specific to your program and your student record.

For additional support, you can also reach out to GEMS for general certificate guidance and advising.