Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re eligible for commencement, you’ll receive an email invitation via your NSU student account about two months before commencement. This email contains information on how to complete the Commencement Participation Form (CPF) and order a cap and gown directly from the NSU Bookstore vendor, Oak Hall Cap & Gown. Completing the form reserves your space in the appropriate commencement ceremony. Refer back to NSU’s Commencement page for updates and additional information as commencement approaches.

NSU Commencement

If this is the first commencement ceremony that’s taken place since your degree conferral, you’ll be automatically invited to participate - so long as you weren’t invited to participate in a prior year.

Otherwise, each college determines its participation requirements. If you have any questions, check with your academic program office or visit its commencement page for clarification on requirements

Nova Southeastern University’s commencement ceremonies are held at the Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center on NSU's campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Reference the dates and times page for information about your college’s schedule.

View Commencement Schedule

No tickets are required for guests to attend our commencement ceremonies.

Live Streaming: All NSU Commencement ceremonies will also be video streamed in real time. Visit the NSU Commencement home page and click on the "Commencement Ceremony Live" link for access. All NSU Commencement video streams are archived approximately one week after the ceremony.

You’ll receive an email (to your NSU email address) informing you when you should expect your printed diploma in the mail. Please note that diplomas cannot be mailed to P.O boxes or APO/FPO addresses.

If your address changes after receiving the Diploma Name and Address Verification email, be sure to update your mailing address in SharkLink and email the Diploma department with the updated information at diplomas@nova.edu. Incorrect or invalid addresses may result in delaying the receipt of your diploma and may result in additional fees.

For framing purposes, NSU diplomas are 11” x 14”.

Additional information regarding diplomas is available on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Degree Conferral Process

1. Once you have completed 90% of your degree requirements, the Office of the University Registrar will send a Diploma Name and Address Verification email to your NSU email. If you need to make changes to your name to be printed on your NSU Diploma or the address to which your diploma will be mailed, follow the prompts in the email.

2. If you wish to postpone the anticipated date of your degree conferral, you may follow the instructions in the email to submit your request to your program office. Please note that approvals for a deferral of your degree conferral are granted by your program office, not the Office of the University Registrar.

3. Unless a deferment of degree conferral is approved, your academic record will automatically be presented to your program office for review and approval once you have completed 100 percent of your degree requirements. You will be notified by email from daqc@nova.edu that your degree has been conferred and you should receive your diploma along with a complimentary copy of your transcript within a few weeks.

Additional information regarding the degree conferral process is available on the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

The Office of the University Registrar will still confer your degree, but your transcripts and diploma will be held until all transactions have been paid in full via NSU eBill. For additional payment information or questions, please contact the Bursar’s office by email at bursar@nova.edu or by phone at (954) 262-5200.

Replacement diplomas may be ordered through the Registrar’s office by submitting an online request form.  To obtain additional information about how to place your order and access the online request form, visit The Office of the University Registrar's website.

NSU acknowledges that many of our students choose to set their preferred names for use within internal university systems. However, it is important to note that, at this time, only legal names will be written on diplomas and transcripts.

If you have legally changed your name, and would like this name reflected on your diploma and transcripts, you must fill out the Data Change Form and provide additional documentation.

If you’ve noticed errors in previous communications, please correct the error in your SharkLink account.

If you need accommodations during the commencement ceremony, we encourage you to reach out to the Office of Student Disability Services either via email, at disabilityservices@nova.edu, or phone, at (954) 262-7185, at least two weeks in advance of the event. Please have the following information at the ready when you reach out:

• First and Last Name
• Student N Number
• Phone Number
• Date and time of the commencement ceremony
• Summary of accommodation needed for commencement ceremony

For more information on ceremony accessibility, including parking, elevators, and seating, please visit our Commencement Accommodations page.

Regalia can be purchased through the NSU Bookstore. Candidates must have appropriate academic regalia to participate in commencement. NSU’s customized regalia, which are blue for baccalaureate candidates and gray for master’s, specialists, and doctoral candidates, are available exclusively through the NSU Bookstore.

The purchase price of regalia varies according to the degree attained. Undergraduate and Master’s degree regalia is yours to keep. If you’re a doctoral candidate, you may either rent or purchase your deluxe regalia. Rentals must be returned to the bookstore or Shark Store within seven days after commencement; failure to do so will incur a charge of the full purchase price. Please note that rented deluxe regalia will not be available for shipping due to the process that requires a candidate’s signature at checkout. Rental regalia can be picked up at the NSU Shark Store in the Don Taft University Center.

Candidates who purchase regalia and wish to have it shipped domestically must place their order no later than the posted deadline for their respective commencement ceremony. Individuals requesting international shipping must allow a minimum of 6-9 weeks for delivery. Custom Deluxe Doctoral Regalia purchase orders require 9 weeks from the time of order, for production and delivery. The custom deluxe regalia cap includes a fitted tam. For correct tam sizing techniques, click here.

For questions regarding the purchasing or renting of regalia, call the NSU Shark Store at (954) 262-4799 or email regalia@nova.edu.

If you decide not to participate in commencement and your regalia hasn’t shipped, your purchase can be refunded. You’ll be reimbursed for the full purchase price of regalia prior to commencement. No refunds will be given after the date of the ceremony.

If your regalia was already shipped, you can return it to the NSU Bookstore at the Fort Lauderdale campus with the original sales receipt or mailed back along with the original sales receipt. The NSU Bookstore’s mailing address is 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004.