Graduation Candidacy

This is it! Is this the semester you’re going to be able to complete all of your degree requirements and graduate? Let's make sure you meet all the requirements and deadlines, and then follow the right steps to graduate.

Step 1: Go through the checklist

Please go through the candidate student checklist for your degree program below, and make sure you’ve met or will meet all the requirements by the deadlines your final semester:

Step 2: Register for Candidacy

In order to graduate, you must declare candidacy for the semester in which you intend to graduate by the designated deadline (you can find the deadline calendar on the Grad School website). You declare candidacy by using the scheduling assistant within myPurdue and registering for either CAND 991, 992, or 993.

CAND 991: This is the candidacy type to register for if you are currently taking any courses and/or research; most students will register using this candidate registration type.  Thesis-option master’s and doctoral students must register for research in proportion to their efforts during each session, and must be registered for at least one credit of research in this semester (if PU-funded, the full-time registration requirement still applies). Research registration should be commensurate with actual research and writing efforts. All funded students still need to register full-time, even in their last semester. Non-funded international students registering for candidacy and less than full-time, need to request approval for a reduced course load from ISS.

Special candidate registration may be allowed for those students needing to only deposit (CAND 992) or defend/deposit (CAND 993). If allowed, please note:

  1. Early deadlines apply (you can find the deadline calendar on the Grad School website).
  2. Students cannot be registered for any credits in this semester (research or coursework).
  3. Students MUST be registered in research the semester prior to enrolling in one of these candidate types (including summer if research was performed, which includes writing/formatting thesis).
  4. Students may still hold an RA appointment (and TA appointment, if remaining for the full semester despite defending and/or depositing early).
  5. Candidates who register for this special registration and who do not meet the early deadline, will be switched by the Grad School to CAND 991 and required to register for credits.  If you’re funded you need to make sure you are registered full-time as soon as you know you will not meet the early deadline, so check your schedule if you miss the early deadline and notify megradoffice@purdue.edu immediately to assist you with modifying the number of registered credits.

CAND 992 (Degree-Only Candidacy): Candidacy for those that ONLY need to deposit their thesis. Please note that there is a fee to register in CAND 992 which is not covered by PU-funded tuition/fee remits.

CAND 993 (Exam-Only Candidacy): Candidacy for those that ONLY need to defend AND deposit their thesis. Please note that there is a fee to register in CAND 993 which is not covered by PU-funded tuition/fee remits.

Being registered as a candidate does not automatically register you for the commencement ceremony itself. If you plan to participate in commencement, you must respond by using the Commencement tab on myPurdue. It will be added to your myPurdue account after a specified date in the semester you have registered as a candidate.

If you are declaring candidacy for multiple degrees within the same semester, please register for candidacy for one degree, and then please contact megradoffice@purdue.edu, to let them know information on the second degree.  This also applies to candidacy for certificate completion. Candidacy will only show on your schedule for one degree, but we’ll work with the registrar’s office to make sure expectation for both degrees is recorded in their system.

Please note: If you don’t register for candidacy by the deadline, there is a possibility we can get you added for the semester with an extension request to the Grad School, but if approved there will also be a $200 late fee charged.  If you need to request an extension, please reach out to megradoffice@purdue.edu for instructions. The third time you register for candidacy for the same degree type, there is a $200 fee that will be assessed by the Grad School.

For specific semester graduation deadlines, see the deadline calendar on the Grad School website.

Step 3: Register for Commencement

Being registered as a candidate does not automatically register you for the commencement ceremony itself. If you plan to participate in commencement, you must respond by using the Commencement tab on myPurdue. It will be added to your myPurdue account after a specified date in the semester you have registered as a candidate.

Please watch this video on How to Complete the Commencement Task List, whether you’re planning on participating in commencement or not, as there are certain areas that all graduates need to complete.

For information about the commencement ceremony; all Grad School commencement-related activities; how to request a Letter of Invitation for International Students’ Families; how to request special accommodation for family members; and much more, please visit purdue.edu/commencement.

For specific semester graduation deadlines, see the deadline calendar on the Grad School website.

Please note:  There are no extensions to register for commencement if you miss the commencement registration deadline.   You can, however, request to participate in a future summer or fall graduation ceremony; contact commencement@purdue.edu.

Step 4:  Complete the Required Exit Surveys/Questionnaires

The Graduate School Exit Questionnaire will open up on myPurdue about the same time the commencement tab opens for the semester and should be completed by all graduating Master’s (thesis & non-thesis) & PhD/D-PhD students.   PhD/D-PhD students also need to complete the ‘Survey of Earned Doctorates’.  Your thesis/dissertation will not be accepted for deposit, until these have been completed. (Survey links can be found at: myPurdue > Academic > Graduate Plan of Study.)

Step 5: Complete the Required ME Exit Form

All ME grad students are required to complete the ME Exit Form and return to megradoffice@purdue.edu before the end of the semester in which they’re graduating. PhD/D-PhD students must schedule an exit interview with Dr. Eckhad Groll and confirm on the ME Exit form, so please schedule before the end of the semester.  (Please note: Not returning the Exit Form may result in a delay in the posting of your degree.)

Things to Remember

Remember to declare Candidacy in the scheduling assistant before the semester starts to avoid deadline issues. Attend the candidate meeting held by the ME Grad Office (details/link can be found on the ME Grad Blog/Announcement page) and registering as soon as registration opens. If registering as CAND 991 and funded, make sure to also register for full-time credits.

Make sure your Plan of Study is current, degree type is accurate; all grades display and meet program/academic requirements, and advisory committee members are accurate and meet degree requirements. Submit a change to your Plan of Study if updates are needed. (Note:  If you are in the BS/MS program, all dual-counted courses on your Master’s POS must have grades of B or higher). If you know that you will be receiving an ‘I’ (incomplete) in a course, or a ‘U’ in research, notify the ME Grad Office immediately. Failure to do so, may require additional registration and fees. You will not be able to graduate until all degree-required coursework is complete. It will be your responsibility to make the above changes to your Plan of Study. If grades for courses you have completed are not showing in your Plan of Study, and you’ve confirmed that your course title and number match what is on your transcript, please follow up with the Graduate School at gradinfo@purdue.edu.

If you are a D-PhD student, requesting to graduate with your Master’s along-the-way, your Master’s non-thesis plan of study MUST be completely approved before the start of the semester in which you want to graduate with your Master’s. To be on the safe side, please get your Master’s-along-the-way POS submitted in the semester BEFORE you want to graduate, so there’s enough time for full approval.

For students admitted in the summer 2022 term or later, your GPA must be 3.0 or higher and all coursework on your POS must be ‘C’ or higher to graduate; for students admitted spring 2022 term or earlier, your GPA must be 2.85 or higher, and all courses on your POS must be ‘C-‘ or higher, to graduate.

Thesis/Dissertation students, please see the Final Exam & Deposit webpage, for steps outlining the final exam (defense) and deposit process.

Diplomas are mailed out 6-8 weeks after commencement ceremonies are held. If you are a Master’s thesis or PhD/D-PhD student and you need a confirmation of the degree to be awarded before that, you must complete and submit form GS-29 to the Grad School after completing all degree requirements, but before the last couple weeks of the semester. If you are a Master’s non-thesis student, you can request certification of your anticipated graduation date by contacting the Office of the Registrar.  You can also request a Certified Electronic copy of your diploma, once Purdue has requested printing... usually 3-4 weeks after commencement.  Please see https://www.purdue.edu/commencement/diploma/CeDiploma.html for more information.

Final Thoughts

Are you considering continuing on for a PhD?

Are you a Master’s student who would like to continue on for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering?  If so, you need to submit the internal PhD application in the semester you intend to graduate with the MSME degree.  There is no fee for the internal application and it must be submitted before you graduate.  Otherwise, you’ll need to fill out a Grad School application and pay all associated admission fees if you want to continue for the PhD.

ME Graduate Reception

ME holds a reception for all their graduates during commencement weekend.  Watch for email notifications, and be sure to RSVP whether you’re attending or not.  Family and friends are welcome to attend, as long as you include them in your RSVP attendance confirmation.  All graduates will receive a ME Alumni pin at the reception.

What should I expect regarding my Purdue email and access to programs, once I graduate?

Your Purdue email will stay active for a little while after graduation, but please check out ECN’s page that outlines expectations for access to various tools and options for Purdue email after you graduate.

It’s possible to set up a free Purdue University alumni email address: please see https://alumniemail.ud.purdue.edu/ for details.  But don’t set this up until at least a month or so after graduation; once this is established, your @purdue.edu email goes away and you may lose out on notifications sent to your student email address.

Purdue Alumni Association

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Purdue Center for Career Opportunities

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ME Graduate Office
516 Northwestern Ave. (4th floor of Wang Hall)
West Lafayette, IN 47906
MEgradoffice@purdue.edu
(765) 494-5730
Virtual office hours available every Tues/Wed/Thurs