While programs may have specific deadlines or timelines they adhere to, the typical lifecycle for a Plan I student — i.e. a student completing a thesis or dissertation as part of their program — is as follows:
- At the start of their academic career, students take core coursework and work with their faculty to determine a relevant research topic. Once a research focus has been identified, the student will establish their Graduate Study Committee. Be sure to confirm all members of your committee have graduate faculty status so there are no delays in setting up your committee.
- Plan I students need to complete RCR training and/or GRD 717, or an approved substitute if applicable for their program.
- Before progressing to candidacy, Plan I students must apply for and receive IRB or IACUC approval if their research includes human or animal subjects.
- Once a student completes RCR training and secures IRB or IACUC approval, the student will apply for admission to candidacy. This allows students to enroll in 699/799, Thesis/Dissertation hours.
- Prior to defending their thesis or dissertation, the student can request their Approval Form from the Graduate School, which will be generated on the day of the student’s defense and sent to their committee for approval.
- Upon completing their public defense, the student will then submit their thesis or dissertation to ProQuest for review and make any necessary edits.
- Finally, doctoral students must complete the Graduate Exit Survey and the Survey of Earned Doctorates. Upon completion, the student graduates.
This site contains information related to degree completion at UAB. For specific degree requirements, access the Graduate Catalog. Otherwise, click one of the buttons below to navigate to the relevant Earning Your Degree section.
Graduation Planning System (GPS)
You can access your degree requirements through UAB’s Graduation Planning System (GPS). Your personalized audit will list all of the courses required to earn your degree/certificate and will display completed, in-progress, and outstanding requirements. GPS is accessed through BlazerNET by clicking the GPS button in the menu on the right side of your home page. You should also be aware of the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, which can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Your GPS audit should be reviewed every semester to track your progress and help determine your registration plans. GPS is not intended to replace your relationship with your academic advisor/graduate department but should be used in conjunction with their consultation.
If you see a discrepancy on your audit, contact your department immediately to address the concern. The Graduate School uses your GPS audit to award your degree/certificate so it must be accurate and complete.
Application for Degree
As you are approaching your final term, you must notify your program and the Graduate School of your intent to graduate by submitting the Application for Degree/Certificate by the appropriate deadline. This must be completed even if you do not plan to attend the commencement ceremony.
Upon submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application. In addition, a fee will be assessed to your account. This fee covers the verification of your curriculum requirements and your diploma and will only be assessed the first time you apply to graduate for that specific degree/certificate. The fee for graduate degrees is $60 and the fee for graduate certificates is $20.
If a student misses the application for degree deadline, their degree will not be awarded for that term. The student should apply to graduate the next open term.
- Upon request, a letter of pending degree can be generated confirming the term the degree will be awarded upon successful submission of an application for degree and completion of all degree requirements.
Know Your Deadlines!
The Graduate School has the deadlines listed below for application for degrees and/or graduate-level certificates. Degree requirements can be found in the Graduate Catalog. The Application for Degree/Certificate is accessible through BlazerNET by clicking on Links/Forms and selecting Apply for Graduate Degree/Certificate.
Plan I Deadlines (students completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline |
Final Defense Deadline |
Diploma |
Deadline for Document Submission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Summer 2024 |
June 10, 2024 |
July 12, 2024 |
August 10, 2024 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Fall 2024 |
September 3, 2024 |
November 15, 2024 |
December 14, 2024 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
|
Spring 2025 |
January 21, 2025 |
April 4, 2025 |
May 3, 2025 |
No later than 10 business days following public defense. |
Plan II Deadlines (students NOT completing a thesis or dissertation)
Semester |
Application for Degree and/or Certificate Deadline* |
Diploma |
|---|---|---|
|
Summer 2024 |
June 10, 2024 |
August 10, 2024 |
|
Fall 2024 |
September 3, 2024 |
December 14, 2024 |
|
Spring 2025 |
January 21, 2025 |
May 3, 2025 |
*IMPORTANT: Please check the application deadline with your department as some programs have earlier deadline dates (e.g. School of Education and Human Sciences).
Degree Awarding
Degrees are awarded after final grades are posted (check the UAB Academic Calendar for the date grades are posted online). When your degree is awarded, you can access an official transcript that includes the degree through UAB One Stop.
Prior to awarding degrees, the Graduate School will send an email verifying your degree, diploma name, and diploma mailing address. You can update information by replying to that email. Diplomas will ship 4-6 weeks after graduation.
Enrollment Verification
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Letter of Good Standing
To request a Letter of Good Standing, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu).
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Transient Letter Request
To take a course at another institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at UAB, first confer with your program director to determine whether the course is transferrable and will be applicable toward a degree at UAB. Further, you must be in good academic standing (i.e., a minimum 3.0 GPA at UAB). Once approved, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu) to request the letter. Include the following information in your email:
- Name of the Institution
- Term the course will be taken
- Subject code/Course Number/Title of the course
You have the responsibility to submit an official transcript to UAB as soon as the final grade(s) for your course(s) are available. Transcripts must be sent to UAB directly from the college or university. Transcripts submitted directly from the student are not considered official.
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Pending Degree Verification Letter
To request a letter verifying your pending degree you must have an application for degree on file with the Graduate School. If your audit is complete in GPS, email Jesse Keppley (jkeppley@uab.edu) to request a letter verifying your pending degree. If your audit is incomplete, review the audit with your program director. The program may apply exceptions to complete your audit, if applicable.
Plan I students must complete the following Clearance to Graduate items prior to request:
- PDF of your committee approved dissertation/thesis
- Signed approval form
- Survey of Earned Doctorates certificate (doctoral students only)
- UAB Exit Survey (doctoral students only)
Please contact Amber Carr (carram@uab.edu) for questions about Clearance to Graduate.
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Official UAB Transcript
You may request an official transcript that includes your degree through UAB One Stop.
Commencement & Diploma
Commencement Information
The commencement ceremony for Masters, Education Specialists, and Doctoral graduates will be held on the Friday evening following final exams.
If you are interested in participating in the university commencement ceremony, you can find all relevant information on the UAB Commencement website. Participation requires that you sign up on the commencement website and order the appropriate regalia by the specified deadlines.
Diploma Information
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Certified Electronic Diploma
You may request a Certified Electronic Diploma through UAB One Stop. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
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Replacement/Additional Diploma
You may request a replacement or additional diploma through UAB One Stop.
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Receiving your Diploma
- The Graduate School places the diploma order within one week after all graduate degrees have been awarded for the term. Once the degree has been officially awarded, degree verification can be obtained through Student Clearinghouse. Official transcripts can be requested through the One Stop Student Services website or by calling (205) 934-4300.
- Graduates will receive an email confirming that their degree was awarded along with the diploma name and mailing address that was provided during the Application for Degree/Certificate process. Updates can be made to the name and/or address by the provided deadline.
- Diplomas are typically shipped within two weeks of order submission. Graduates will receive a confirmation email when it is shipped.
- UAB offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates. PLEASE NOTE: students who graduated prior to Fall 2019 must complete a Replacement Diploma request.
- Graduates who have outstanding fees will not receive their diploma directly; it will be sent to the Graduate School for pickup or delivery after their account has been cleared.
We understand that completing your final research project is both an exciting and a demanding process. In order to make this process as smooth as possible, please review this 
Plan I Student Checklist of logistical items that must be completed along the way.
The typical lifecycle of a Plan I Student (anyone writing a thesis or dissertation) can be found here (accessible version available). Individual programs may have additional requirements or processes, so be sure to communicate your plans with your program early!
Committee
Establishing your committee is the first step in formalizing your research. This process should be started early in your academic career! The below checklist will ensure your committee can be formally established with the Graduate School.
Step 1
Identify faculty members who will serve on your committee. While additional committee members may be beneficial, UAB requires a minimum of three committee members for masters students and five for doctoral students.
Step 2
Verify all committee members have Graduate Faculty Status.
If they don't, or if you will have any Ad Hoc faculty serving on your committee, your program will need to request Graduate Faculty Status on their behalf.
Step 3
Submit your Committee Form to the Graduate School.
Step 4
Need to make changes to your committee? Complete a Change of Graduate Study Committee form.
Candidacy
Before you can register for thesis or dissertation hours (699 or 799) you will need to be formally admitted to candidacy. For most students, this will occur after passing your comprehensive exams, but be sure to discuss expectations and timing with your program. There are some steps you'll need to take early on to ensure your progression to candidacy is smooth!
Step 1: Know Your Deadlines!
Step 2: Determine if Your Research will Involve Human or Animal Subjects
NOTE: The review period for IRB/IACUC approval can be significant. Begin this process early, as lack of approval will delay your admission to candidacy.
Human Subjects
Research involving human subjects requires approval from the IRB office. Discuss with your program whether you will be listed as the Principle Investigator or covered under an existing protocol. Either way, your name will need to be listed on the approval letter generated by the IRB office.
Animal Subjects
Research involving animal subjects requires approval from the IACUC office. Discuss with your program whether you will be listed as the Principle Investigator or covered under an existing protocol. An IRAP Personnel Form for the relevant IACUC protocol number can be downloaded from IRAP and attached with your candidacy application.
Step 3: Verify the Research Compliance Requirements of Your Program
Masters Students (excluding Master of Arts):
Your must complete RCR training, including a 2-hour in-person component. Visit the RCR Training page for more information and to coordinate your in-person training.
Doctoral Students:
Successfully complete GRD 717 (or approved substitute) prior to progressing to candidacy.
Step 4: Apply for Admission to Candidacy
Application for Admission to Candidacy
Step 5: Register for Thesis/Dissertation Hours (699/799)
Doctoral students are required to have a minimum of 12 semester hours in 799 dissertation research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 semester hours in other appropriate research-based coursework which has been approved by the graduate student's program. Master’s students are required to have a minimum of 6 semester hours of thesis research (i.e. 699) over a minimum of one semester in candidacy.
Approval Forms and Your Public Defense
The public defense represents the culmination of your research. Once you are ready to defend your thesis or dissertation, you'll need to request your defense approval form. The Graduate School will also list your defense information on the Presentation Calendar using the information provided on the request.
Step 1
Ensure you have submitted your Application for Degree in BlazerNET.
Step 2
Schedule your defense before the final defense deadline. Find your application and defense deadline.
Step 3
Submit your Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form Request. NOTE: This must be done a minimum of two weeks prior to your public defense, but should be done as early as possible once you know your defense date.
You will receive a confirmation email from the Graduate School when your request has been processed. Your approval form will be generated electronically the morning of your defense and sent to your committee. When the form has been completed by all committee members and returned to the Graduate School you will receive an email with the final copy.
Theses/Dissertations
The publication of your thesis or dissertation is an exciting time for any graduate student. The below checklist will make the process of writing and submitting your document as smooth as possible.
Step 1
Decide which style guide (APA, CBE, etc) will be used and arrangements for having your work edited by your committee.
Step 2
Familiarize yourself with UAB's format manual. While some exceptions to this formatting may be appropriate based on program standards, the end result should be a consistently formatted and clean submission of publishable quality.
You can find a list of templates that may help you with formatting by visiting our Templates resource page and reviewing our editing and publishing guidance.
Learn about 
common formatting errors.
Step 3
Submit your thesis/dissertation as a single PDF to ProQuest within 10 business days of your final defense. You will be notified via email (usually within 5-7 business days) when your submission has been reviewed. Monitor your email closely so you can make any necessary changes.
Step 4
Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (applies to doctoral students only).
Step 5
Complete the Graduate School Exit Survey (required for Doctoral students). The link will be sent to you with your final approval form.
Step 6
See the Resources section below for information on copyrighting your work, ordering bound copies, and browsing previously published theses/dissertations.
Resources & Links
- Formatting
-
Bound Copies
If you would like to have bound copies of your thesis or dissertation, you may order copies of your document through ProQuest when you submit your pdf.
OR
After final approval by the Graduate School, you may make printed copies of your document. Please contact Tuscaloosa Bindery at (205) 758-2204 or tusbindery@aol.com for information on binding.
These pages will not be checked for accuracy before they are bound, so check your own copies carefully to be sure they have printed and copied correctly throughout. If you want a copy of your signed approval form to be included in your personal copies, you must make copies and place them there.
Paper
Because these copies will not be placed on the shelf in the library, there is no special paper requirement; however, your bound copies will have a more professional appearance and have a longer shelf life if you use high quality paper. White 20-24 lb., acid-free, 8 ½ x 11, watermarked paper (available in most office supply stores and professional copy centers) is the usual choice for bound dissertations.
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Copyright
Copyright law affects you in two ways: It governs the way in which you are allowed to use another person’s published works to support your own writing, and it determines how another person may use yours.
Use of Previously Published Material
In academia it is generally accepted that “fair use” allows writers to use small portions of copyrighted material if the original meaning or intent is not distorted in any way and if credit is given to the source from which material was taken. Writers may not, however, use substantial portions of text (e.g., several pages) or tables, figures, photographs, or other illustrative material without the written permission of the copyright holder, who is usually the publisher of a journal or book.
Copyright law as it applies to the Internet is uncertain at best. To be safe, assume that, unless the work has a specific statement indicating that the item is in public domain, it is under copyright protection and that you may not use it without written permission.
If you include material for which you have received written permission to use, (even if it is your own previously published article [i.e., a reprint]), that permission must be submitted to the Graduate School along with your finished document; in addition, a statement that the material is “used by permission” must appear in your thesis or dissertation (see the UAB Format Manual for specific wording).
Copyrighting Your Own Work
U.S. copyright law provides automatic copyright protection for written work from the time at which it is fixed in a tangible form for the first time. The advantage of officially registering (and paying for) your copyright is that registration establishes a public record of your copyright claim. A copyright page may be included in your thesis or dissertation whether or not you register for copyright protection. However, in the event that you later wish to initiate a copyright infringement suit, this official registration is required. You may initiate copyright procedures at the time of submission to the Graduate School, or you may copyright your dissertation at any time in the future. If you copyright your dissertation, a copyright page should be added to your dissertation.
ProQuest/UMI, the company that publishes the online database Dissertation Abstracts will also handle the copyright procedure if you wish. The cost is $75 and is paid at the time that you pay your submission fee (or you may file your own copyright application through the U.S. Copyright Office). The $75 fee to ProQuest/UMI includes copyright registration plus completion of requisite forms and applications and the creation of the deposit copy of your dissertation. UAB Master’s theses are not submitted to ProQuest/UMI. Therefore, if you would like to copyright your thesis you should do so directly through the U.S. Copyright Office.
If you are reprinting articles which have previously been published or that you wish to publish later, the publishing company owns (or will own) the copyright. Therefore, preprint/reprint theses and dissertations should not be copyrighted.
Resources
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Thesis and Dissertation Lookup
All theses and dissertations beginning in the spring of 2007 are submitted electronically and are published through the UAB libraries’ digital collections. Browse/Search UAB Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Electronic Submission and Publication
An Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) is the same as its paper counterpart in content and organization and meets the formatting requirements described in the Format Manual for Theses and Dissertations (pdf).
It is important to recognize the distinction between electronic submission and electronic publication.
- Electronic submission indicates that rather than printing your document and submitting paper copies to the Graduate School, you submit your final document as a PDF file. No paper copies are accepted by the Graduate School or the UAB libraries. Committee members may still, if they choose, require a paper copy for their part of the review process.
- Electronic publication is a separate issue and refers to the ways in which your document will be made available to others. This issue may require further consideration. Learn more about publication and copyright issues.
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Helpful Links
- Application for Graduate Degree/Certificate: Students planning to graduate in the upcoming term can access the Application for Graduate Degree/Certificate online through BlazerNET by clicking Links/Forms and selecting Apply for Graduate Degree/Certificate. The application must be submitted by the deadline date listed above; however, check with your department as some programs have earlier deadline dates (e.g. School of Education and Human Sciences).
- Approval Form Request
- Change of Diploma Mailing Address
- Change of Graduate Study Committee
- ProQuest Submission Site
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (doctoral students only)
- AI Guidelines
Domestic applicants are US citizens or lawful permanent residents who hold a Permanent Resident Card (green card). Lawful permanent residents will be asked to upload a copy of their green card during the application process.
Before you begin the Graduate Application Process, you should review the programs offered at UAB to identify your specific program of interest and review program-specific admissions requirements and deadlines. If you are applying to a research program, you should also identify faculty research areas within the department to verify that they align with your own interests.
Important Program Information
Some graduate programs may have earlier application deadline dates and/or program-specific criteria, so please refer to the program website or contact the department directly.
Deadlines
If your program does not have a specific application deadline, the Graduate School has the below standard application deadline dates.
Typically, this is the date by which your application fee must be paid and your application submitted. Supporting materials, such as recommendations or transcripts, will continue to be accepted after this deadline for most programs.
| Semester | Degree Seeking Applicant Deadline | Non-Degree Seeking and Readmission Applicant Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | August 1, 2023 | August 14, 2023 |
| Spring 2024 | December 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 |
| Summer 2024 | May 1, 2024 | June 17, 2024 |
Requirements
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Online Application
If this is your first time applying through this dashboard, you will need to click Sign Up to create an account. After creating your password, you will be automatically signed into the application dashboard. Select Start New Application to get started.
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Application Fee
Where to Submit: Application Dashboard
Graduate School's standard fee is $50 for domestic applicants and $60 for international applicants. Certain programs have higher fees which will be assessed at the time of application. The application fee is non-refundable.
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Transcripts
It is highly encouraged that you upload an unofficial copy of your transcript for as many institutions as possible at the time of application. This will speed up the processing time of your application.
Where to Submit: Send Electronically or Mail to UAB Graduate School
Admission to the UAB Graduate School requires a recognized baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited (e.g. SACSCOC) college or university, or an international equivalent of a four-year degree. By the start of your first semester, your bachelor's degree must be awarded and appear on your transcript.
Unofficial transcripts may be utilized for the application review process and must be submitted for all post-secondary institutions, including community colleges, high school dual-enrollment, and military credit. During the application process, applicants will have the option to upload an unofficial PDF copy of their transcript(s). If admitted, the Graduate School must receive an official transcript: a) from each post-secondary institution where the student earned a degree and b) for any coursework taken after the awarding of a student’s bachelor’s degree (e.g. as a post-bacc or graduate student)
Transcripts are considered unofficial unless they are issued in one of the following ways:
- Electronic transcripts issued directly to the Graduate School by the school's Registrar's Office. Depending on which transcript service the prior institution uses, applicants should use gradschool@uab.edu as the email address or select the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Graduate Admissions as the receiving university. Transcripts forwarded from a student's email account will not be considered official.
- Paper transcripts bearing a university seal sent directly to the Graduate School from the issuing school’s Registrar Office or submitted by the student* in a sealed envelope bearing a university signature or stamp across the seal should be mailed here.
- NOTE: Official transcripts do not need to be sent for coursework completed at UAB. Your UAB transcript will be automatically added to your application when processed.
* Please note the School of Nursing requires official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, and will not consider any transcript official that has been sent directly from the applicant. -
Transcript Evaluation (If Necessary)
Transcript Evaluations
Applicants with coursework earned from institutions outside the United States should provide a course-by-course foreign college transcript evaluation of all attended non-U.S. institutions. We will accept a transcript evaluation from any NACES accredited evaluation company. A list of approved current members can be found here: . To determine academic eligibility for admissions, academic credentials must be:
- Translated to English;
- Evaluated course-by-course;
- Include the overall academic GPA; and
- From an approved third party company. We will accept a transcript evaluation from any NACES accredited evaluation company. A list of approved current members can be found here: https://www.naces.org/members.
SpanTran: SpanTran created a custom application for UAB that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application through the SpanTran application – The University of Alabama at Birmingham portal.
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Standardized Test Scores
Where to Submit: Send Electronically or Mail to UAB Graduate School
Students are required to submit official standardized test scores if required by their program for admission consideration. We will not accept academic test scores that are more than five years old unless the program requests a recency waiver on the applicant's behalf. Applicants should contact the testing agency to have official scores sent to the UAB Graduate School's institution code (1856 for GRE, 1017 for MAT, 1CB5S61 for GMAT).
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Additional Requirements
Where to Submit: Application Dashboard
Some programs require additional items such as the examples listed below. It is important that applicants visit the program website to make sure they understand all requirements. Applicants can also log in to the application dashboard at any time to review their application checklist.
Recommendation Letters
Many programs require three (3) letters of recommendation. Applicants will identify recommenders as part of the online application process. Notification emails will be sent to the identified recommenders who will then submit their recommendation electronically. Upon submission, recommendations will be attached to the application. If you have questions about who would be appropriate to use as a reference, please contact the program directly to inquire.
Personal Essay
Most programs require a brief summary of academic interests, career goals, and relevant background experience. In addition, some programs have specific essay topics. If you have questions about the required length of the essay, please contact the program directly to inquire.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Some programs require a written compilation of education, work experience, credentials, and accomplishments.
Application Process
Step 1: Create an Account or Log In
If this is your first time applying through the UAB Graduate Online Application, you will need to click "Sign Up" to create an account. After creating your password, you will be automatically signed into the application dashboard.
Step 2: Create a New Application
Respond to key questions in the order they appear to be directed to the correct application for your intended program/concentration.
Step 3: Complete Application
The sections required to complete your application are available in the menu on the left side once you begin your application. You will need to fully complete each section as indicated by a green circle. If any sections show as a half-circle, you are still missing a required question or document for that section. Once your application is complete, you will be able to pay the application fee and finalize the submission. You can begin your application at any time and come back to it in order to continue with the process or upload additional items.
Step 4: Sign and Pay Application Fee
Once your application is complete, you will be able to pay the application fee and finalize submission. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been successfully submitted to the graduate school. Your application will be processed within 1-3 business days of submission, at which time Graduate Admissions staff will review any unofficial documents provided and attach official documents that have already been received. Please check your application dashboard regularly for updates. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!
Fee Waiver
PhD applicants who have participated in one of these qualifying programs may be eligible for an application fee waiver:
- ABRCMS - Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
- California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education
- Cientifico Latino Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative
- Emerging Researchers National Conference
- Emory STEM Research and Career Symposium
- Fisk to Vanderbilt Bridge Program
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- GEM - National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Sciences
- Graduate Horizon for Native American Students
- Hopps Research Scholars Program
- IMSD - Initiative for Maximizing Student Development
- IRT - Institute for Recruitment of Teachers
- LSAMP - Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
- MARC - Minority Access to Research Careers
- Math Alliance - Field of Dreams Conference
- McNair Scholars
- MMUF - Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- NIH Graduate Professional School Fair
- NNE - National Name Exchange
- PREP - NIH funded Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
- RISE - Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
- SACNAS - Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
- UNCF - United Negro College Fund
- SPIN - Summer Program in Neuroscience
Apply
Applying to Graduate School could not be easier with our online application. Sign-up or Sign-in to access your application and get started on your UAB journey!
