Graduation
After you apply to graduate and the application period closes, the Office of the Registrar reviews your eligibility to graduate based on the requirements of your Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education approved program, including the requirements listed below.
Once you have been approved to graduate, you will receive your credential and have your parchment mailed.
Refer to the Graduation Procedure (pdf) for additional information.
Program Requirements
Students must meet the program requirements in effect at the time of their admission if they're graduating within the specified graduation timeline below. Please refer to your Academic Progress Report in the MyNAIT portal for your program requirements. Please contact your program if you have questions about your Academic Progress Report or your program requirements.
Graduation Timeline
Students who do not complete all program requirements within timeline below will be required to discuss their completion plan with their program area. Students may be required to complete additional coursework to meet the current program graduation requirements.
- Ministry-approved degree programs: Standard program length + 3 years
- Ministry-approved diploma, certificate and ESL programs: Twice standard program length
- Board-approved certificate (continuing, professional learner) programs: 3 years
Course shelf life
Students previously completed NAIT coursework may be used toward graduation requirements. To be considered current, the coursework must have been completed within seven (7) years of the start date of the student's new program.
Residency
Students must fulfill NAIT's residency requirement by successfully completing a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the program requirements for their credential through NAIT. Credits earned through transfer credit or assessment of prior learning do not apply towards the residency requirement.
Subsequent Credential
NAIT graduates who are interested in pursing a subsequent credential at NAIT must complete a minimum of thirty-five percent (35%) of the subsequent program requirements in order to earn a subsequent credential.
Credit course enrolments after graduation
Prospective graduating students with future course enrolments will be charged the Open Studies per credit rate unless the student is active in another credit program for that future enrolment term.
The maximum number of Open Studies credits you can take are:
- 15 credits per term
- 30 credits in your lifetime
Students who have already exceeded the Open Studies credit limit will be removed from future Open Studies enrolments.
Graduation GPA
- For diploma, certificate and degree programs, students require a minimum Graduation GPA (GGPA) of 2.00 to qualify for graduation.
- Students will graduate With Honours if they achieve a GGPA of 3.70 or higher and have met all program requirements.
Learn more about how to calculate your GPA
Parchments
Starting with Fall 2026 graduates and beyond, you must now apply to graduate by the application deadline in order to receive your parchment.
Once you have been approved to graduate, parchments will be mailed 6-8 weeks following the end of your final term. When applying to graduate, make sure your first name, last name and mailing address listed in the application is correct so your parchment is mailed to the correct address.
- If you do not receive your parchment within the standard timeframe, please contact the Student Service Centre for assistance. Often, the parchment is returned to NAIT due to an incorrect address. NAIT will keep parchments for 6-months from the date they were returned.
- If your parchment is damaged, lost, or destroyed and you would like to request a duplicate, please submit the Request for Replacement form.
Convocation
Students who have been approved to graduate are invited to celebrate their achievement at a convocation ceremony held in the spring. You must RSVP to attend Convocation.
Learn more about convocation