Honor Code and Ecclesiastical Endorsement
Honor Code
Whether on or off-campus or between semesters, all students are expected to abide by the Honor Code, which includes (1) the Academic Honesty Policy, (2) the Dress and Grooming Standards, and (3) the applicable Residential Living Standards. Students are required to be in good Honor Code standing to graduate.
Students who are "members" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must fulfill their Church duties, attend Church meetings, and abide by the rules and standards of the Church on and off-campus.
Students who are "non-members" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also expected to maintain the same standards of conduct. They are encouraged to participate in services of their preferred religion. All students must be in good Honor Code standing to graduate, to receive a diploma, and to have the degree posted.
Ecclesiastical Endorsement
An ecclesiastical endorsement is a religious recommendation by your religious clergy.
All persons wanting to attend BYU must complete and maintain a valid ecclesiastical endorsement in order to be enrolled at the university. The endorsement process can be started at endorse.byu.edu and by following the instructions below:
- First select 'Student' and then choose 'Applicant'
- Agree to abide by the honor code and all related policies and standards
- Select if you are a member OR non-member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Enter your ward or branch information (members only)
- Contact your local bishop (member) OR religious leader (non-member) to schedule your first ecclesiastical interview
- At the completion of your first interview, contact a member of your stake presidency to schedule your interview (member)
- OR the BYU Chaplain (non-member) will reach out to you to complete your final ecclesiastical interview
Applicants who require assistance should email gsadmissionintern@byu.edu.
Additional instructions for applicants who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Member applicants applying for graduate admission (including currently enrolled BYU students), must complete the new "APPLICANT" ecclesiastical endorsement which requires an interview with both their local bishop and a member of their stake presidency.
- Currently enrolled BYU undergraduate students are instructed NOT to complete the "Continuing/Currently Enrolled" endorsement as this is incorrect and will cause significant delays.
Additional instructions for applicants who are non-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Non-member applicants must 1) elect to complete the first ecclesiastical interview with either their local religious leader OR a local bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the area and 2) complete their final interview via phone or email with the BYU Chaplain in order to complete this process.
- To find the name and phone number of the nearest Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the area please click here.
- Applicants who require additional assistance and/or instructions about completing their ecclesiastical endorsement should email gsadmissionintern@byu.edu.
Full-time BYU employee applicants
- Employees must initiate the new "APPLICANT" ecclesiastical endorsement through endorse.byu.edu and complete an interview with both their local bishop and a member of their stake presidency. This process is in addition to their current employee endorsement and/or temple recommend and all applicants are required to complete this process.
All applicants are encouraged to complete the Ecclesiastical Endorsement process well in advance of their respective graduate program application deadlines to prevent possible delays in being considered for admission.