Preparing to Graduate

Stanford University officially confers degrees each academic quarter. To receive a degree, students MUST submit an official application to graduate in Axess before the degree conferral application deadline and ensure that all degree requirements are fulfilled by the end of their final quarter. Students may apply to graduate for any quarter during the year: autumn, winter, spring or summer.

If you’re planning to continue for another degree at Stanford, there are forms you must file before you graduate. See the Aero/Astro Grad Student Handbook (PDF) for information. Degree conferral dates can be found on the Academic Calendar, generally about a month after the last day of classes for that quarter.

Application process

Students can apply to graduate directly in the Axess system. This will trigger them to be included in a list that is provided to the department by the Registrar’s Office, called the “recommending list.” The department then looks at the program sheet and transcript and ensures that the student has completed all of the departmental requirements to graduate. For undergraduate students, the file is then forwarded to the School of Engineering Student Affairs Office for review of general engineering and university requirements (e.g., math, science, TIS, fundamentals).

The student will be contacted via email if there are any problems. When all problems have been resolved, the student will be “cleared” to graduate. To ensure a smooth progression, it is important that students submit a revised program proposal or candidacy form, ensuring that all ‘Incompletes’ are officially converted to passing grades, and addressing any other outstanding requirements. We recommend visiting the Aero/Astro Student Services Office early in your final quarter to review your records and confirm graduation criteria.

Commencement

Stanford hosts Commencement ceremonies (and distributes diplomas) only once a year, even though students can graduate — have their degrees conferred — every quarter. Each June, during the annual Commencement ceremonies, the University and the Department honor all degree recipients from the past year. This celebration includes several days of events, culminating in a University-wide ceremony, followed by the Department’s ceremony for graduates and their families. 

Students just shy of completing graduation requirements are also allowed to “walk through” by submitting a petition at least one month prior to the commencement ceremony. Students graduating in summer or fall can come to the department ceremony held in the June prior to degree conferral. Students graduating in winter should attend the June ceremony the quarter after degree conferral.