Requirements
Master’s Degree
Coursework Only. No additional paperwork is necessary to graduate.
Individual Project (ME590). If ME590 is being taken in the term of graduation, final reports must be provided to the supervising faculty via the ME590 website no later than the last day of finals week, the last day of the semester. Individual faculty may require that the reports be completed earlier.
Thesis. The thesis abstract must be submitted to the Academic Services Office before the last day of classes in the term of graduation. A PDF may be sent to me-aso@umich.edu.
Dual Degree Master’s. Dual degree students must complete the dual degree course election form prior to last day of final exams. Please note that this form must be approved by both departments and may take a few weeks to complete.
“Embedded” Masters. An embedded master’s is a master’s degree awarded “on-the-way” to a PhD in the same program. Direct PhD students (i.e. students without a Master’s degree) will receive an “embedded” master’s along the way. The student should complete the Online Request for an Embedded Master’s in order to have the Master’s added to his or her record.
Doctoral Degree
All dissertation requirements must be completed by the deadlines listed below. More information can be found in the Dissertation Timeline and in the Graduate Handbook Dissertation Section.
Deadlines to Apply for Graduation
The deadline for having a name printed in the commencement booklet is early in the term, typically the first weeks of October (fall) and March (Winter). The ME Graduate Coordinator will also communicate these dates.
- Master’s students should refer to Rackham’s Master’s Degree Diploma Application Deadlines page for further information.
- Doctoral students should refer to Rackham’s Doctoral Degree Deadlines.
In order to graduate, a student must complete all degree requirements by the end of the current term and apply to graduate through Wolverine Access in the Student Center.
Commencement
Graduation means having a degree conferred by the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan. Students may graduate in April, December, or August, depending on when the degree requirements are completed.
Commencement is the ceremony celebrating graduation. ME students are eligible to participate in any or all of three separate commencement ceremonies: The University’s ceremony, Rackham’s ceremony, and the College of Engineering’s ceremony.
Eligibility to participate in Commencement can be found on the University’s Commencement website (see link above).
Diplomas
Diplomas are should arrive to your diploma address approximately 12 weeks after degree conferral. The standard size of a Rackham diploma is 8.5″ x 11″. Degree postings will appear on your official transcript approximately one month after the last day of classes.
The Registrar’s Office creates and distributes diplomas. If you have questions about when your diploma will arrive, if you need to change your diploma address, or have other questions please contact the Registrar’s Office as we do not issue diplomas in the ME Academic Services Office.
Alumni Organizations
Alumni Association – University of Michigan
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