Terms and Definitions
Commencement – what is it?
Wild E. Cat greets the graduating class.
Photo: Perry Smith
The following terms and definitions are associated with the word “commencement”:
Degree conferral refers to the actual posting of a degree to transcript. This is the university's official seal of approval, indicating that all degree requirements are complete.
Graduation typically refers to the time when students complete their degrees. This term is also used to refer to the ceremony that takes place annually in May (synonymous with "commencement"). Students should remember that even though they have finished their degree requirements and technically "graduated", they can only have their degrees "conferred" if they register an Intent-to-Graduate form and satisfactorily complete all their degree requirements.
The UNH Commencement Ceremony is the public celebration of our graduates. There is only one commencement ceremony for UNH in May following the end of final exams for the spring semester