Diplomas are mailed several months after the end of the term in which the degree(s) were awarded. Degree candidates who need official verification of degree(s) awarded before the diploma is ready may order official transcripts or verifications via GOLD. Students with a "Scheduled" Degree Status in GOLD will need to select "Hold for Degree" when ordering transcripts or verifications.
Students who graduated Fall 2019 or later are issued both a physical paper diploma and an electronic diploma in secure PDF format.
Graduate degree candidates who need unofficial verification of degree(s) awarded before the diploma is ready should contact the Graduate Division.
Diplomas returned to the Office of the Registrar due to financial blocks or incorrect addresses are retained for 5 academic years.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar at GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu if you have any questions about picking up your diploma in person.
Diplomas are mailed approximately 3-4 months after the end of the term in which the degree was awarded.
Diplomas are automatically mailed to the "Diploma address" in GOLD. Please note: Diplomas cannot be forwarded to a new address even when using mail-forwarding services through the US Postal Service. Students must update their diploma address in GOLD to the most current address. Please contact the Office of the Registrar at GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu if the address will not fit in the space allowed in GOLD.
A diploma processing fee of $19.00 will be assessed to BARC accounts at the time of declaring candidacy via GOLD (undergraduate students) or when a degree is scheduled to be conferred (graduate students). This is a one-time fee charged per degree (bachelor's, master's, etc.) to all students the first time they declare candidacy or schedule their degree. If a student subsequently removes their degree candidacy, the fee will not be refunded.
UCSB is not responsible for diplomas which are lost or damaged in the mailing process. For diplomas lost or damaged in the mailing process and within one year of graduation, please contact our office at GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu for more information.
Diplomas are printed with the student's legal or lived name on record with the UCSB Office of the Registrar. Degree candidates can view and edit their diploma name in GOLD by selecting the Graduation and Commencement link under the Progress tab. Please check it for accuracy and report any errors or omissions to the Office of the Registrar at GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu.
Third parties using the lived name appearing on your diploma will not be able to verify your degree through the National Student Clearinghouse because of name mismatch.
Note for students planning to live or work abroad:
Some countries may require your diploma (in conjunction with your official transcript) for various legal, immigration, and employment purposes. Choosing to print your lived name on your diploma may result in unforeseen complications due to discrepancy between your diploma and other documents (e.g. transcripts, passport, birth certificates, etc.) that contain your legal name. To avoid such complications, we recommend printing your legal name on your diploma if you plan to live, study, work outside of the United States. Diploma apostille can only be provided when using your legal full name. Please contact the California Secretary of State’s Office for more information.
Students who have a name more than 30 characters long (including spaces) will need to contact the Office of the Registrar at GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu to ensure that their full name will be printed on the diploma. Students should also contact the Office of the Registrar to request an accent or special character on a diploma. Accents or special characters are only added to the diploma name by special request.
Students who need to make changes to their legal name of record, click here to submit the Name or Data Change Request. For more information please visit our page on Name Change procedures.
In accordance with University of California policy, multiple copies of diplomas are not issued. However, students may order a replacement diploma if the original was lost, damaged, or they have changed their name. Order may be place online through GOLD. Information on how to order instructions is available on the How to Order a Replacement Diploma page. Replacement diplomas bear the signatures of current University officials and the statement "Reissued [Month Year]." This process takes 3-6 weeks. Rush processing is not available for replacement diplomas.
Replacement orders received after March 2020 will be issued both a physical paper diploma and an electronic diploma in secure PDF format.
There is a fee of $50.00 (Domestic mailing via USPS) and $75.00 (International mailing or Domestic mailing via FedEx) charged for replacement diplomas.
Your legal or lived name can be printed on your diploma. When placing your Replacement Diploma Order via GOLD/Parchment, please type your name in the "Exact Diploma Name to be printed" field exactly as you would like it to appear on your diploma, including punctuation. Example: John Sample Name, Jonathan S. Name, J. Sample Name, etc. Orders cannot be refunded or reprinted due to errors made in this field . If you have any questions about how your name will appear on your diploma, email GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu before submitting the order.
Please note that any third parties using the lived name appearing on your diploma will not be able to verify your degree through the National Student Clearinghouse.
Note for students planning to live or work abroad:
Some countries may require your diploma (in conjunction with your official transcript) for various legal, immigration, and employment purposes. Choosing to print your lived name on your diploma may result in unforeseen complications due to discrepancy between your diploma and other documents (e.g. transcripts, passport, birth certificates, etc.) that contain your legal name. To avoid such complications, we recommend printing your legal name on your diploma if you plan to live, study, work outside of the United States. Diploma apostille can only be provided when using your legal full name. Please contact the California Secretary of State’s Office for more information.
The Office of the Registrar is providing this service on a very limited basis. Please email GraduationMatters@sa.ucsb.edu for more information.
UCSB does not process Apostille requests. This is handled by the State of California Secretary of State's Office. Students must complete this process on their own.
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