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Preparing for Graduation

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Duke holds one graduation weekend to celebrate the three graduating classes of each academic year. September 2025, December 2025, and May 2026 graduates will be invited to attend the weekend of events being held on campus Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10, 2026.

The Pratt School of Engineering will host a variety of events to celebrate PhD, Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Engineering Management graduates. Event details can be found on the Pratt Graduation Events Guide. The University-wide Commencement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 10. Students who are eligible to participate will receive an invitation from the Pratt School of Engineering and a second invitation from the University’s Office of Special Events. A separate response for both events will be required, so please watch for your Duke email account for these invitations in early February.

Should you require a Confirmation of Status Form in order to support the visa application for guests who will be traveling internationally to attend these events, please complete Part I of the form and then email Cherie Creten (cherie.creten@duke.edu) who will complete Part II. 

Diplomas are delivered to graduates by mail from a third-party vendor, Parchment. Diplomas are typically mailed 4-6 week after the completion of the semester, to the address selected as “degree address” in Duke Hub. For international  mailings, please allow an additional 1-2 weeks.

Graduates will also be sent a digital diploma to their Duke email address. The email will come from Parchment rather than Duke so please check your spam folder if you do not see it arrive. All questions regarding your diploma status should be directed to Parchment.

All Duke students have unlimited number of transcript requests available to them. To request a copy of your transcript or degree verification, please visit the University Registrar website.

Students and alumni can request degree verifications through the Registrar’s office using this form.

Your Duke email account will remain active for approximately one year. We recommend that you forward any important emails and contact lists to a personal email account or a Duke alumni email account before your student account is deactivated. We also recommend setting up an out of office reply notifying senders of your new email address.

You can request a Duke Alumni email account immediately after graduation. This account never expires and will be your permanent link to Duke.

All Duke graduates automatically become members of the Duke Alumni Association. Gain access to a global network of over 200,000 alumni by setting up your profile today!

Duke University no longer issues physical Alumni Association cards. We strongly encourage you to download the Duke Alumni app, which will allow you to enjoy special discounts and exclusive privileges

  • Download from Apple App Store here.
  • Download from Google Play here.

With the virtual card on the Duke Alumni app, you will be able to enjoy benefits and discounts including:

  • 10% off “best available room rate” at Washington Duke Inn and the JB Duke Hotel, and a 10% discount at their gift shops. Some blackout dates apply.
  • Access to dozens of library databases (requires OneLink account).
  • Access to free after-hours and weekend parking on campus. Visit this page for details.
  • 20% discount when shopping in-person at the Duke University Store and Team Store. This discount cannot be applied to online purchases.
  • access to alumni gatherings across the globe

Check this page for more details.

Pratt master’s alumni can continue to schedule career coaching appointments for four years after graduation. You will be able to schedule these appointments using Handshake. Like other alumni resources, the Duke OneLink login will seamlessly replace your NetID once it expires. Be sure to set that up!

For the next six months we will attempt to collect a survey response from every single graduate and will be in touch several times. Whether you’ve found a role, are continuing your education, or are still searching, please complete this survey. Click here for tips on logging in. 

Why is this so important? You may have used this interactive data visualization, recall the employment trend information shared at orientation, or used the statistics for incoming students on the admissions webpages. Perhaps you wish you had better salary information for an offer you received or could see where students enroll for a PhD. All that information becomes available because graduates have completed their first destination survey, so please share! You’ll join an important tradition that benefits the next cohorts of students.

Although access to CAPS and Blue Devils Care ends after graduation, your well-being remains a priority. Whether you need mental health resources or career support, we are here to help.

Refer to this list of local and national support resources for help with things that might be making life more difficult than it needs to be. From food insecurity to specialized mental health support, there are lots of resources to help!

For details about career support, including how to request an alumni email and how to make an appointment with Career Services, refer to this page.

If you have any questions, please contact us at Pratt-GSPS@duke.edu.  Our team is here for you!