Diplomas and Replacement Diplomas

Diplomas
Letters of Certification
Apostille and Certification from the State of Pennsylvania
Translations
World Trade Center Loss
Replacement and Duplicate Diplomas

 

Diplomas

Diplomas are issued three times a year: May, August and December. The size of the diploma is 9 5/8 inches by 12 1/4 inches.

The diplomas of May graduates are mailed in August, the diplomas of August graduates are mailed in late October and the diplomas of December graduates are mailed in late March.

Diplomas may be picked up from the Office of the University Secretary by arrangement. Contact 215/898-3553 or seccoor@exchange.upenn.edu.

 

Letters of Certification from the University

The University Registrar’s office provides verification of dates a student attended Penn and degrees awarded by the Schools of the University. There is no fee for this service except for express mail service if requested. Please visit http://www.upenn.edu/registrar/student-services/academic-certification.html for more information.

The Office of the University Secretary offers a notarized letter of certification on request. The cost is $15 per letter. Notarized letters of certification attest to the name of the graduate, the degree conferred, and the date of conferral. They are notarized and signed by the Secretary and embossed with the seal of the University. Please send the following form to the Office of the University Secretary to request a certified letter. Printable form

 

Apostille and Certification from the State of Pennsylvania

An Apostille is a seal that is used by foreign governments to assess the authenticity of an official signature and is recognized by a group of countries that are part of the Hague Convention. A Department of State certification performs a similar duty for a group of other countries.

The Office of the University Secretary can help you prepare and apply for either of these two seals. The University charges a $15 processing fee. The state charges a separate fee, per seal. This process usually takes 3-4 weeks. Please include the document you wish to seal, or include the appropriate request forms and fee for a duplicate diploma or letter. Printable form

For more information, please call 215-898-3553.

Translations

The Office of the University Secretary also offers certified translations on request without charge. These plain documents provide the English text of the Latin appearing on diplomas. See diploma translation. Please send the following form to the Office of the University Secretary to request a translation. Printable form

 

World Trade Center Loss

The University will replace any diplomas lost in the destruction of the World Trade Center free of charge.

 

Replacement and Duplicate Diplomas (Printable form)

Diplomas issued prior to May 1990:
The Office provides a replacement diploma that bears the most recent commencement date and the signatures of the current University officials. The following sentence appears on the bottom to indicate that it is a replacement, "This diploma is issued in place of one granted (month, date, year)." Cost $75

Diplomas issued from May 1990 to present:
The Office provides a duplicate diploma with the following notation at the bottom "Duplicate Diploma". Cost $100

To order a replacment or duplicate a diploma, the Office of the University Secretary requires the following information:

1. Graduate's full name exactly as it appears on the original diploma.

2. The name of the school attended and the degree received. (Include honors if applicable.)

3. Month and year of graduation.

4. Statement of the reason for a replacement request.

5. Graduate's social security number.

6. Mailing address and daytime telephone number.

7. A copy of legal documentation of a name change, if graduate prefers a new name is to appear on the replacement diploma.

8. Remains of the original diploma, if applicable.

A request for a replacement or duplicate diploma must be signed by the graduate and the signature must be notarized. All requests except those relating to the destruction of the World Trade Center must be accompanied by a check for $75 or $100 payable to the "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania". Replacement and duplicate diplomas take eight to twelve weeks to produce.

Diplomas issued with errors will be replaced free of charge provided that the diploma office is notified within one year of the conferral date.

To receive information about any of the above services provided by the Diploma Coordinator please contact:

Office of the University Secretary
University of Pennsylvania
1 College Hall Room 211
Philadelphia PA 19104-6303
Phone: 215-898-3553
Fax: 215-898-0103
e-mail: seccoor@exchange.upenn.edu