To start the process leading to the award of your bachelor's degree, you must indicate through URSA the quarter or summer session in which you expect to complete your degree requirements. This is known as your Degree Expected Term and it appears on your Degree Progress Report.

Benefits of Declaring Degree Candidacy

• The names of declared degree candidates are automatically included in the College Commencement Program.
• Any and all Commencement mailings are automatically sent to 'declared' degree candidates.
• You final degree audit can be prepared by the Registrar's office in a more timely fashion.

When to Declare your Degree Expected Term

You should indicate your Degree Expected Term by the time you complete 160 units; otherwise, a $13 late candidacy fee will be charged to your BAR account. The term you choose must fall within the academic year (four quarters) subsequent to the term in which you reach or expect to reach the 160-unit mark. 

Declaring Candidacy for the Current Term

If you decide that you would like to graduate at the end of the current term, you must declare candidacy through URSA Online (Main Menu, Academic) by Friday of the second week of classes. Declaration of candidacy after Friday of the second week of classes may result in your degree award date being moved to the following quarter as well as the assessment of additional penalty fees.

Please note: If the current term is your degree expected term, you will not be assigned an enrollment appointment for the following term.

Changing Degree Expected Term

If you are a "past-term candidate" —in other words, if you declared a past term as your degree expected term but did not complete your graduation requirements by that date—you must re-declare your degree expected term by submitting a Declaration of Candidacy Form to the Registrar's Office at 1113 Murphy Hall.  This form is available online at www.registrar.ucla.edu/forms or at any UCLA store.

Degree Expected Term and EAP

Students completing their work in Spring Quarter through the Education Abroad Program should declare Summer Session as their Degree Expected Term to allow time for the arrival and processing of transcripts. Make sure you have checked with an Honors counselor and your major department regarding any necessary petitions or other paperwork before you go abroad. 

Verifying your Degree Expected Term

You may check your degree expected term at any time through URSA . If you still have questions about your degree candidacy status, you should speak with a counselor in your L & S advising unit or make an inquiry at the Registrar's Office (1113 Murphy Hall).