If you are a McMaster graduating student, you will receive an email invitation from the Registrar’s Office. You will be asked to complete the following steps before convocation to ensure you receive your digital diploma after convocation:

Blockchain cryptographically seals a record of the diploma when it’s created so that third parties can be absolutely certain that a record hasn’t been altered since being issued. The verification service validates the signature of the issuer and the certificate data; it also ensures that the certificate has not expired or been revoked. To verify your digital diploma, upload it to the verification portal found here .

Blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger that cannot be altered. Once your digital diploma is issued, the data is compressed into a hash and published on the blockchain.

McMaster University issues graduates a digital version of their diploma anchored in the bitcoin blockchain. Students opt in to receive a digital diploma at no extra cost. The digital diploma is encoded and verifiable using MIT-developed blockcerts. The technology uses blockchain to protect and verify the diploma.

Digital diplomas FAQs

Q: Will I still receive the paper copy of the diploma if I opt-in to receive the digital copy?

A: Yes – you will receive the paper/physical diploma regardless of whether you opt-in to receive a digital version of your diploma. In other words, if you opt-in to receive a digital copy, you will receive both the physical copy and the digital copy of your diploma.

Q: I never received an email from McMaster to opt-in to receive a digital diploma.

A: Please make sure to check your graduation status to ensure you are eligible to graduate. Your graduation status can be viewed in Mosaic > Student Center > View my Graduation Status.

Q: I opted-in but never received a copy of my digital diploma?

A: If you have a financial hold on your account, you will not receive your digital diploma.

If you have a clear account and still did not receive a copy of your digital diploma, please email digital.diplomas@mcmaster.ca for support.

Q: How much will it cost to receive a digital diploma?

A: There is no fee for a digital diploma.

Q: What if I can’t remember my passphrase? Can I still receive my digital diploma?

A: If you lose your passphrase (your password used for your wallet), you will need to download the Blockcerts app again, obtain a new passphrase and contact the Registrar’s Office via digital.diplomas@mcmster.ca to have your digital diploma reissued.

Q: How do I share my digital diploma with an employer?

Email file directly to an employer. This can be done directly from the app. Select ‘Share File’. Be sure to send a link to the digital diploma verification portal for the employer to verify.

Import the certificate into your Blockcerts Wallet on your phone, then open the certificate in your app and show it to the employer. Press ‘Verify’ and show the employer.

Q: If I lose my phone, is my certificate also permanently lost?

A: Provided you still have your passphrase, you can reinstall the Blockcerts Wallet app on your new phone and access your files. Without the passphrase, you will not be able to prove the digital diploma belongs to you.

Q: Is my diploma publicly available on the blockchain?

A: What is stored on the blockchain is a 1-way hash and is useful only for verification. No personal information is stored.

Q: Is my diploma tamper-proof?

A: Yes, the blockchain is an immutable and distributed store of transactions, with each block building upon the last. When a certificate is issued, its data is compressed into a hash and logged on the blockchain. This generates a “receipt” that can always be checked at a later date. The verification service validates the signature of the issuer and the certificate data; it also ensures that the certificate status has not expired or been revoked.

Q: How do I change my name on my digital diploma?

A: The current diploma anchored on the blockchain will be revoked and a new digital diploma will be issued after a Name Change Request form is completed.

Q: I cleared my student account the day before convocation, why didn’t I receive my digital diploma?

A: Accounts Receivable and the Office of the Registrar require a cleared student account balance a minimum of two weeks prior to any convocation ceremony. McMaster will send out digital diplomas on the first of every month, so you can expect your digital diploma on the first of the next month.

Q: Does my McMaster email expire after I graduate? Will I still need access to it?

A: McMaster email addresses expire the January after your convocation ceremony. What can you do? Set up email forwarding. You use our system to specify a non-McMaster email address where all future emails sent to your current/student @mcmaster.ca email address are forwarded.

Please go to the email forwarding set-up instructions page to proceed with this option.

Additional questions? Please contact digital.diplomas@mcmaster.ca