Completing the Master's Plan II or MFA

Master's Plan II or MFA Filing Requirements

Master's Plan II and MFA students must be registered or on filing fee in the quarter they complete the degree.  There are three documents required for completion.  You will be filed to graduate and emailed your degree conferral letter only after all forms have been received and you have passed all the courses listed on your candidacy form.  

  • Candidacy Application - we recommend filing the candidacy application when you have completed approximately half your required coursework. (preferably at least one quarter prior to the quarter in which you hope to graduate)  You must be advanced to candidacy prior to taking your comprehensive exam or submitting a final version of your capstone project.  A $55 candidacy fee (supporting the Graduate Pathways Institute) must be paid before submitting to Graduate Studies.
    • Master's Plan II Candidacy
    • MFA Candidacy
  • Master's Report Form - After passing your exam or approval of your project, your advisor will submit your Master's Plan II Report form or MFA report to GradSphere.
  • The GradSphere Filing Process

Final Deadlines

The final day to pass your exam or complete your project is the filing deadline for each quarter.  Check the Academic Dates & Deadlines page.

Conferral Letter

Once your paperwork has been received and processed by Graduate Studies, the Academic Services Unit will file you to graduate and email you a PDF degree conferral letter.  The letter, signed by the Dean of Graduate Studies, states that you have completed all the degree requirements and will be conferred the degree on the date of conferral.  Many employers and agencies accept conferral letters as proof of completion until the degree awarded official transcript and diploma are available. 

Please note, due to the volume of filing paperwork received and the processing time required for each degree list, conferral letters may be sent 3-4 weeks after your report form is received.  If you need a conferral letter by a certain date, email your SAA.

Transcript, Diploma, and Computing Account

Learn how to obtain your diploma, when your transcript will be updated, if you can keep your @UCDavis email, and more on our Diplomas, Transcripts, and Verification webpage.