Instructions for Filing a Graduate Student Petition
If you have questions about petitions, contact Graduate Student Academic Services (217-333-2364) before filing the petition.
The petition form may be completed by submitting the PDF form.
Completed petitions should be returned to Graduate Student Academic Services, Graduate College, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 204 Coble Hall, MC-322, Champaign, IL 61820.
Required of All Graduate Student Petition Requests:
- Completed Graduate Student Petition form
- Current adviser’s signature and comments on petition request
- Current department authorized signature and comments on petition request
- Individual Types of Petitions (Outlined Below) may require specific information. Please review specific type of petition to identify if other documentation is necessary.
- Petitions may be denied if submitted incomplete
NOTE: Changes to your registration may affect tuition charges, financial aid, student status, etc.
Petition Types
1) Change or Add Curriculum for Current or Future Term
2) Add or Drop a Graduate Minor or Concentration
3) Re-Entry
4) Time Extensions (Expected Graduation Date)
5) Use of Coursework More than 5 Years old for Master’s Degree and Certificates of Advanced Study
6) Use of Old Coursework for Doctoral Degree
7) Overload
8) Transfer Courses from One Graduate Degree to Another
9) Transfer Courses Taken as a Non-Degree Student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
10) Transfer Courses Taken as an Undergraduate or Professional (Law/Vet Med) student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign toward a Graduate Degree
11) Transfer Courses from Another Accredited Institution
12) Grade Mode Change after Deadline
13) Extend Time Allowed for I or DFR Grades
14) Retroactive Add or change in Credit Hours to a Course
15) Retroactive Drop of a Course
16) Withdrawal/Cancellation from University after Deadline
17) Reinstatement after Dismissal for Low GPA
18) Thesis, Dissertation, and/or Committee Policy Exceptions
19) Other
1) Change or Add Curriculum for Current or Future Term
Prior to filing a petition for this request, contact the new department. The new department will review and make decision according to their procedures.
Use the petition process to request transfers from one academic program to another in a current or future term, including changing your degree objective (for example, Master’s to Doctoral).
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- New department’s authorized signature and comments
- New department’s signature is only necessary when changing to a program in a different department. When changing degree objective (Master’s to Doctoral), or changing programs within the same department or program, only the current advisor and departmental signatures are necessary.
- If moving from MS to PHD, a statement from new Department Head what Stage of the PHD program the student will be accepted into.
- Term and year curriculum change is to take place
- New program code (provided by department) and concentration code if concentration is required by department
Coursework completed prior to a curriculum change does not automatically count toward the new degree program. A petition to transfer other University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduate coursework toward the new degree program may accompany a petition requesting a curriculum change. Please refer to #10 "Transfer Courses from One Graduate Degree to Another" for further information.
If you are pursuing a joint degree program or dual degree program, you must be enrolled in each program for at least one term for a minimum of twelve hours. You must use the petition process to change between the joint or dual degree programs. Please refer to the section in the Graduate College Handbook for registration requirements for these programs.
2) Add or Drop a Graduate Minor or Concentration
Students who wish to add or drop an approved graduate minor or concentration must submit a petition. Be sure to read the policy on minors or concentrations in the Graduate College Handbook
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Current major adviser’s signature and comments
- Current major department’s authorized signature and comments
- Authorized signatory for the minor or concentration must sign the petition
- Minor or Concentration code (by minor or concentration department)
- List of courses that will be used to fulfill the minor or concentration
- The major program must specify which, if any, minor or concentration courses and hours will also apply to their major program requirements
3) Re-Entry
Many Graduate programs have policies governing leaves. Be sure to refer to your academic department and the Graduate College Handbook section on Leaves.
Domestic students who have not registered for more than one calendar year and International students who have not registered for one semester, not including summer must submit a Graduate Student Petition requesting re-entry to the Graduate College.
The following items are required with the Graduate Student petition request:
International students must submit in addition to the petition for re-entry and the Re-entry Data Form:
Re-entry and Change of Program
Students wishing to change programs upon re-entry may also be required to request a Curriculum Change (Petition Type #1) and to Transfer Courses from One Graduate Degree to Another (Petition Type #10). Please consult with your department or Graduate Student Academic Services for more information and refer to the directions for these petition types for additional signatures and documentation that will be needed.
4) Time Extensions (Expected Graduation Date)
Graduate students are expected to complete all degree requirements within specified periods of time. Students who have reached or exceeded the time limit for the graduate degree cannot continue to register and cannot graduate without Graduate College approval of a Graduate Student Petition requesting an extension of time. Please be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for the policies on time limits for master’s, certificate of advanced study, and doctoral students.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Comments from student’s adviser and Authorized Departmental signatory indicating satisfactory progress toward the degree, extenuating circumstances for the delay, and expected completion date
- Detailed and realistic timetable for completion of the degree
Extensions will be granted for no more than one academic year at a time. Subsequent requests for extensions will be evaluated based on substantial progress toward the degree as measured by the timetable and the extenuating circumstances provided.
5) Use of Coursework More than 5 Years old for Master’s Degree and Certificates of Advanced Study
A master’s degree or certificate of advanced study candidate is expected to complete all degree requirements within five years of first registering in the Graduate College. Coursework that is older than five years will not be automatically accepted for the degree or certificate. Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies. To request acceptance of old coursework, the student must petition the Graduate College.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Statement from the adviser or departmental authorized signatory indicating that the coursework older than 5 years is still current and relevant to the student’s degree or certificate.
6) Use of Old Coursework for Doctoral Degree
Coursework that is older than the number of years by which a doctoral student is expected to complete all degree requirements will not be automatically accepted for the degree. Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies. To request acceptance of old coursework, the doctoral student must petition the Graduate College.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Statement from the adviser or departmental authorized signatory indicating that the old coursework is still current and relevant to the student’s degree
7) Overload
Graduate students wishing to register for more than 20 hours in a fall or spring semester or more than 12 hours total in the summer term must petition for overload approval. The greater the overload requested increases the seriousness of the request and requires a more detailed the justification. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Term and year and total hours for which the student would like to register
- Justification for the overload based on past academic performance provided in the explanation section of the petition
8) Transfer Courses from One Graduate Degree to Another
Graduate students may wish to use coursework earned while enrolled in one University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate degree program toward a different University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate degree program. For these types of petitions, there is no limit as to the number of credits the student can request to transfer. The courses, however, can be applied toward only one degree. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for transfer policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Approval from authorized signatory for both departments involved and statement that the requested courses are not being used toward degree from previous department
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
9) Transfer Courses Taken as a Non-Degree Student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate students previously enrolled in a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate non-degree program, but who are now currently enrolled in a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate degree program may wish to count those courses taken while a non-degree student toward their degree. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for transfer policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
10) Transfer Courses Taken as an Undergraduate or Professional (Law/Vet Med) student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign toward a Graduate Degree
Graduate Students may wish to request the transfer of graduate level coursework taken while an undergraduate, but not used toward an undergraduate degree or taken while enrolled as a Professional student (Veterinary Medicine or College of Law JD program). Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for transfer policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Undergraduate or Professional College office authorized signature validating the courses were not used toward an undergraduate or professional degree
- Statement from each course instructor that the course was completed at the graduate level
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
- Completed Change of Course Level Form
11) Transfer Courses from another accredited Institution
Graduate students may wish to request the transfer of graduate level coursework taken at another accredited institution, but not used toward a degree. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for transfer policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Signed and dated departmental statement including the following:
- Transfer institution attended
- List of courses to transfer, including department, number, and title
- Term and year transfer courses were taken
- Credit earned for each course and credit accepted by student’s University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign degree department (Note: Credit accepted must be equal to or less than transfer credit earned; accepted credit cannot be greater than transfer credit earned.)
- Statement validating that the courses are at a level equivalent to graduate level courses (400 or 500 level) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- New Official transcript from accredited institution
- Signed and dated statement from transfer institution affirming that the courses were not used toward another degree (if degree was awarded).
12) Grade Mode Change after Deadline
After the deadline in the current term or for any past term courses, a petition is required to change the grade mode for a course to Credit/No Credit, Audit or Standard grade. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Course instructor’s signature and comments
- Due to seriousness of request, an explanation from the student why the deadline was missed and why the student should be granted an exception to the deadline.
- Supporting documentation, such as medication documentation is required
13) Extend Time Allowed for I or DFR Grades
The Graduate College has policies regarding time limits for the completion of Incompletes (I) and some deferred grades (DFR). Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies. Requests for extensions of the time to complete the course requirements for a course with an I or DFR grade are made by petition to the Graduate College.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Instructor’s signature and comments
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
- Detailed timeline for completion of course. Extensions are granted for one term only
- Supporting documentation, such as medication documentation is required
14) Retroactive Add or change in Credit Hours to a Course
Petitions to change registration in a past term are extremely serious requests and are considered only for extraordinary circumstances.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Instructor’s signature and comments, including date of last attendance or academic activity for the course
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
- Supplemental Grade Report Form completed by the department and signed by the instructor
- A statement of explanation why the deadline was missed and why the action is being requested
15) Retroactive Drop of a Course
Petitions to change drop a course after the deadline are extremely serious requests and are considered only for extraordinary circumstances.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Instructor’s signature and comments, including date of last attendance or academic activity for the course
- Course information (CRN, Course departments, titles, credit hours, term)
- A detailed statement about why the deadline was missed, and why the student should be an exception to the deadline is required
- Supporting documentation, such as medical documentation
16) Withdrawal/Cancellation from University after Deadline
Petitions to withdraw/cancel your registration after the deadline are extremely serious requests and are considered only for extraordinary circumstances.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- A detailed statement about why the deadline was missed and why the student should be an exception to the deadline is required
- Supporting documentation, such as medical documentation
- Withdrawal/Cancellation form including an authorized signature from the department, and for international students a signature from a representative of International Student and Scholar Services
- Instructors’ signatures and comments may be required, including date of last attendance or academic activity for the course(s)
17) Reinstatement after Dismissal for Low GPA
Students who are dismissed from the Graduate College because of a low cumulative graduate GPA must petition to appeal their dismissal. Note: If approved, students are reinstated on probation and expected to achieve the required GPA in one term. Be sure to refer to the Graduate College Handbook for policies.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Student’s explanation of circumstances leading to low grades and steps being pursued to improve academic performance
18) Thesis, Dissertation, and/or committee policy exceptions
Graduate students are expected to observe all requirements and policies in the Graduate College Handbook for theses, dissertations, and Preliminary and Final exam committees.
The following items are needed before a petition for exceptions to Graduate College policy on theses, dissertations, or committees can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Additional signatures and necessary documentation vary for these types of petitions. For example, additional statements may be required from all committee members or the Executive Officer of the program. Students and advisers may wish to consult with Graduate Student Academic Services before submitting this type of petition
- If a correction of data of a previously filed form, a new, corrected form must be attached to the Graduate Student Petition request.
19) Other
Graduate students who have special requests that are not outlined in petition requests 1-18 may request “Other”.
The following items are needed before the petition can be submitted for Graduate College review:
- Additional signatures and necessary documentation vary for these types of petitions. Students and advisers may wish to consult with Graduate Student Academic Services before submitting this type of petition.