Skip to Main Content
UCLA Registrar's Office

Identifying the term in which degree requirements will be completed initiates the steps that lead to award of a degree.

Undergraduate declaration of candidacy and verification of the degree-expected term are processed through the online Declaration of Candidacy. The degree-expected term is the term in which a student expects to complete all degree requirements. A student must declare this term to receive a final degree audit.

For graduate program advancement to candidacy information, see the individual program.

Degree-Expected Term

All undergraduate students begin at UCLA with a declared degree-expected term of two years from matriculation for transfer students, four years for first-year students. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within that time frame. Students who exceed the time-to-degree limit must petition their College or school to change their degree-expected term.

For graduate program time-to-degree information, see the individual program.

Students with time-to-degree related questions should contact an adviser or counselor, see academic counseling, or contact the individual department.

Declaring Candidacy

Candidacy is declared by completing an online Declaration of Candidacy. Current-term candidates are not assigned enrollment appointments for the following term.

Declaring candidacy is not a guarantee of graduation.

Students who wish to graduate early should update their degree-expected term using the online Declaration of Candidacy.

Students who wish to graduate in a term for which they are not registered at UCLA (no fees paid and not enrolled in classes) must request in absentia graduation.

Students who wish to graduate in a past term should contact the Registrar’s Office for instructions.

Deadline

The last day to declare candidacy for the current term (fall, winter, or spring) is Friday of finals week. The last day to declare candidacy for the summer term is Friday of the sixth week of summer session C.

For questions, students may contact Registrar’s Office units by e-mail or through the Message Center.