- A provisional certificate is a temporary document issued after you pass, valid until the original degree is awarded at convocation
- The University of Madras issues it online via egovernance.unom.ac.in, while VTU charges about Rs. 400 through its EDDTS portal
- The Delhi High Court has ruled it cannot be a ground to deny admission.
A provisional certificate is granted to students in place of the original certificate once they pass a university or board examination. It certifies that you completed the course mentioned in the certificate. For most universities, the actual degree certificates are issued only after a convocation.
This makes it a transitional document until the actual certificate is issued. It is accepted by employers who are recruiting and by universities accepting a postgraduate candidature. Once the concerned university or college issues the degree, the provisional certificate becomes invalid; before that, it has no expiry date.
What Is a Provisional Certificate?
A provisional certificate is a temporary document a university or board issues after you pass your final examination, before the original degree is printed and awarded at convocation. It confirms you completed the course and can be used for jobs or higher studies until the permanent degree certificate is issued.
The provisional certificate acts as proof that the degree has not yet been released. It helps when applying for higher education or for employment, where qualifications hold an important place. It records the name of the student, the course in which they graduated, and the division or class secured on completing the degree.
- It is temporary in nature and issued before the original degree.
- It mentions the candidate name and the course they graduated in.
- It helps you secure an offer letter from a prospective employer.
- It is valid until the actual degree certificate is disbursed.
Why Do You Need a Provisional Certificate?
You need a provisional certificate because employers and universities require proof of your qualification long before the original degree is printed. It lets you accept a job offer, apply for postgraduate admission, or complete document verification during the gap between passing your exams and the formal convocation ceremony.
When it is time to move to the next phase in life, the provisional certificate helps you. It is also useful for the college or university administration to keep track of students who have successfully completed their education with the institution. Employers are generally willing to accept it as a substitute for the final degree.
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A provisional certificate is temporary and issued soon after results, usually free and often on request. A degree certificate is the permanent original, awarded at convocation and sometimes for a fee. The provisional version becomes invalid once the university issues the final degree certificate, which you must then collect.
In the Indian context, a degree certificate is the original document issued after an undergraduate or bachelor course is completed. A provisional certificate, on the other hand, is only a stand-in until that original is ready. Until you receive the original degree, the provisional certificate can be used for future opportunities.
| Provisional Certificate 2026 | Degree Certificate 2026 |
|---|---|
| Temporary, issued soon after results | Permanent original, awarded at convocation |
| Usually free, often issued on request | May carry a fee set by the university |
| Valid until the original degree is issued | Valid permanently |
| Used to apply for jobs or higher studies meanwhile | Final proof of your qualification |
How Long Is a Provisional Certificate Valid?
A provisional certificate has no fixed expiry date; it stays valid until the university or board issues the original degree, after which it becomes invalid. The Delhi High Court held that admission cannot be denied merely because a candidate holds a provisional certificate instead of the final degree.
Because there is no expiry date printed on it, the provisional certificate remains valid until the day the final degree is issued. In one case, the court noted that denying admission on the ground of a provisional certificate was not sustainable, since the candidate already held a valid certificate issued by their university.
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The University of Madras, a state university in Chennai founded in 1857, issues provisional certificates online. Visit the university e-governance portal at egovernance.unom.ac.in, enter your registration number, click Get Details, and download the provisional certificate. The service covers its affiliated and autonomous colleges across nearly 230 programmes.
The University of Madras is one of India's oldest universities, organised on the model of the University of London, with about 87 academic departments grouped into schools. A large number of students graduate each year, and the provisional degree certificate lets them proceed with jobs or higher education without waiting for convocation.
- Go to the e-governance portal at egovernance.unom.ac.in.
- Open the provisional certificate section for your programme level.
- Enter your registration number and select Get Details.
- Download the provisional degree certificate.
What Is the VTU Provisional Degree Certificate Process?
Visvesvaraya Technological University, a public state university in Karnataka, issues provisional degree certificates through its online EDDTS portal. You log in with your USN, pay the fee of about Rs. 400 online, and apply for the PDC. VTU issues it only after all subjects are cleared and before convocation.
VTU was established by the Government of Karnataka and affiliates a large number of engineering colleges across the state. Because issuing the original degree is a time-consuming task, the provisional degree certificate lets graduates apply for jobs or higher education in the meantime. The fee is payable online and is subject to change.
- Log in to the VTU EDDTS portal with your USN and password.
- Pay the prescribed fee, around Rs. 400, online and note the transaction ID.
- Open Apply Documents and select Provisional Degree Certificate.
- Fill in the details and submit; download the certificate once approved.
How Does Delhi University Issue Provisional Certificates?
The University of Delhi, a central university founded in 1922, and its School of Open Learning (established 1962, formerly the School of Correspondence Courses) issue provisional certificates after the final semester ends. Students of DU's many affiliated colleges use these certificates for employment or postgraduate admission until the original degree arrives.
A large number of colleges are affiliated to the University of Delhi, so many students pass out each year. The School of Open Learning, a pioneer in distance education in India, issues provisional certificates soon after the final semester so that graduates are not left out of future opportunities in study or work.
How Do You Write an Application for a Provisional Certificate?
To apply for a provisional certificate, address the application to your department head, dean, or principal. State your name, course, and year of completion, and request early issue with the reason you need it. Attach any required documents and, where applicable, pay the prescribed fee online before submitting.
- Address the application to the Dean of the university or the Head of your Department.
- Write your name, course name, and the year of completion.
- Request the quick issue of the certificate and state why you need it on priority.
- Provide only correct information in a clean, professional format.
Do You Get a Provisional Certificate After Class 12 or a Diploma?
Yes. When the original passing certificate is delayed, boards such as CBSE and state boards can issue a provisional passing certificate confirming you completed Class 12. Diploma-awarding institutes issue provisional certificates too, so you are not held back from undergraduate admission or employment while the final certificate is prepared.
A Class 12 provisional certificate proves that the applicant completed schooling from a particular school or board when the original certificate is not yet ready. Similarly, diploma holders receive a provisional certificate until the original is issued, which is useful if the student plans to pursue a degree course later.