Prospective Graduate Form Instructions

Please read all instructions thoroughly before completing the Prospective Graduate Form.
All undergraduate and graduate students (except those in the Charles Widger School of  Law ) should complete a prospective graduate form for each degree or certificate they are completing at Villanova.   Please consult your college's timeline for graduation to ensure that you are applying within the appropriate time prior to the completion of your degree requirements.     Download printable instructions.

Sign in to myNOVA using your Villanova username (format: username@villanova.edu) and password.

1.  Search for 'Graduate'.  From the results, click on the Prospective Graduate Form task.

2.  Graduation Application: Curriculum Selection

• Select your most recent program term.  For the program from which you intend to graduate, choose the term in which you were last registered. Note: this could be a past term, current term or future term.
• Do not automatically select the current term.  While the current term may be correct in your case, ensure that you are selecting the latest term when you are registered in the program from which you are planning to graduate.
  

If you selected the correct term, your official academic record will display.⁺ This contains your name, Villanova ID number, program of study and your major(s) and minor(s) or concentrations.

• It is important that you check this information carefully. If a program of study, degree, major or minor is incorrect, your graduation checkout will be affected. If you want to add or change a major or minor, you must contact your college.

• If you have more than one active program displayed (e.g., multiple degrees or a degree and certificate, etc.) you will need to complete a form for each separately. 

• If the information presented is correct, click in the circle next to the verified program and then click continue. 
  
  

  _{Note: Only your program title (Degree or Certificate) will display on your diploma.  Majors, minor, and concentration will be displayed on your final transcript.   While program titles may be abbrievated on this form, they will NOT be abbreviated on your diploma}.

• Identify your official date of graduation from the available drop down. There are 3 official dates each year: September 1, December 31, and May 31.  
  
  

• _{If you complete your degree requirements during the summer semester and have been given permission to “walk” in May’s commencement ceremony, please select September as your Graduation Date.}

• _{If your anticipated graduation date does not appear, you might have missed the application deadline or are too early to complete your application.}

• _{If you are asked about graduation ceremony attendance, please indicate whether you will attend the graduation ceremony.} 

• _{Doctor of Nursing Practice ceremony takes place in December, all other ceremonies take place in May.}

• Select Continue. 
   

5. Select a Name for your Diploma

• You will be asked to verify the name that will appear on your diploma. The current name displayed above the selection drop-down represents your legal/birth name in the system. This is how your name will appear on your diploma by default. You may select “Current Name” or “Preferred Name” or “NEW” from the dropdown menu. 
• Once the correct name has been provided, select “Continue.
  
  

• _{The menu itself will still show your current name (your legal/birth name). However, when you select “Continue” you will see the diploma name you selected from the drop-down display on the next page. If you select “Current Name” it will display on the next page. If you select “Preferred Name” then the Preferred name will display on the next page.}

• _{If you have a middle initial in your display name and would prefer that your full middle name is displayed, select “NEW” from the dropdown. You will then be taken to the Diploma Name change section for editing your middle name. You can also change your first name or supply a suffix by selecting “NEW” from the drop down.}
  

• _{If you have accents in your name, refer to keyboard shortcuts for the instructions to enter these symbols in the text boxes.}

• _{If you wish to have your last name changed on your diploma, please send an email to registrar@villanova.edu} along with supporting documentation. Villanova requires that legal last name appear on the diploma. 
  

• _{Note, updating your diploma name does NOT update any of your official names in the system. Please follow the process outlined in the Updating Personal Information page.} 
  

• Your diploma will be mailed to the address you provide now.
  Choose a saved address by selecting one from the “One of Your Addresses” drop-down or select “New” in the drop-down to enter a different address.
• If you have selected “New” so that you can provide an address that is not listed, you will be taken to the “Diploma New Mailing Address” section to enter a new address.
  

• _{Do NOT select a Villanova campus address, as your diploma address.}

• _{Providing a Diploma address DOES NOT update your permanent address on file. This will only be used for mailing your diploma. Please consider that your diploma is mailed 4-6 weeks after your degree is awarded and the window for address changes will close one week before the graduation date. To supply a new diploma address after the application closing date, please send an email to registrar@villanova.edu.}

• Your Graduation Application Summary provides the information you will be submitting as your graduation application.
  Please review this information carefully, then select Submit Request.