Graduation Checklist

Graduation Checklist

Graduation Checklist

Use the Graduation Checklist to help you complete the journey and enjoy the ceremony and your day to the fullest. Dates and information for Spring 2025 will be updated in the coming months. Please check back for updates.

1. Apply for Graduation

Graduation starts with a formal application, which must be made by Friday, February 28, 2025 (for Spring 2025 graduation).
You are required to apply to Enrolment Services to graduate regardless of whether you plan to participate in the scheduled ceremony events. If you’re not attending your ceremony, please indicate how you would like to pick up your diploma on your application.

2. Find your Ceremony

Spring Congregation will take place from May 21-23, 2025 and May 26-29, 2025.

Exact dates and times for each ceremony will be available by the end of March.

3. Rent your Graduation Regalia

Rent your graduation regalia (gown, hood and mortarboards) online in advance of your ceremony. Appropriate academic attire is required of all participants.

Regalia rentals will open closer to Spring 2025 congregation. Dates to be announced.

If you’ve missed the deadline to reserve regalia in advance at a discounted rate of $55, please arrive at the Student Marshaling Area in Brock Commons South 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time. The cost to rent your regalia is $75 on site (cash, debit or credit).

4. Reserve Guest Tickets (Maximum of Two Per Graduate)

Online reservation for guest tickets for graduation will open closer to Spring 2025 congregation. Dates to be announced. Students who are eligible and approved to graduate are guaranteed 2 (TWO) guest tickets for their ceremony if they reserve their tickets by the deadline. We strongly recommend students reserve their tickets as soon as possible. All tickets must be reserved in advance using the Ticket Reservation System.

 

We cannot guarantee two tickets for students who miss the deadline for reserving tickets in advance. There will be no exceptions for those who miss this reservation window; please arrange your guest tickets accordingly. Any unclaimed tickets from the first round will be added to the extra ticket inventory and distributed evenly in the extra ticket round.

 

After the initial Ticket Reservation period, extra tickets may become available. Once the initial ticket reservation round has ended, the Chan Centre will calculate the number of unclaimed tickets remaining in the system and divide by the number of grads to determine how many extra tickets (if any) will become available to each graduate. Any remaining tickets after the first two rounds will be available to the public with no limits as of 5:00 pm (PT) the day before each ceremony.

5. Parking at Graduation

  • During graduation there is a $10 rate for graduating students and their guests.
  • For ceremony days, the Rose Garden Parkade is reserved solely for graduating students and their guests, and the Fraser River Parkade and North Parkade will be used as overflow parking. Note that traffic around the North Parkade may be delayed due to construction.
  • Faculty/Staff and Student Parking permits are NOT valid in the Rose Garden Parkade during Congregation. Faculty/Staff permit holders are encouraged to park at the West, Thunderbird or North Parkades.
  • Student parking permits valid for the Rose Garden Parkade will be accepted at the West,  Thunderbird and North parkades instead.

How do I pay for parking?

  • To save time and have one less thing to think about, parking can be purchased as far in advance as 14 days before the ceremony date, using the Honk Mobile App or Honk website and selecting Zone ID 5616 and the graduation date.
  • You are also able to pay on the day at the pay stations in the parkades.

6. Prepare for Graduation Day

Find out what to expect at your ceremony, from when to arrive to the significance of the Procession to how to cross the stage.

7. Information for your Family & Guests

Share the details with your family & friends who will be joining you at your graduation so they can plan their day, from how and when to arrive to what to do after the ceremony to continue the celebrations.
For friends and family who cannot join you, all UBC graduation ceremonies are webcast live online. The live webcast will be available 15 minutes prior to the start of each ceremony. Links to view the ceremony recording will be available within 24-hours following each ceremony.

8. If you have Accessibility Needs

If you are in need of captioning or interpreting services for a ceremony, please fill out this form by April 23, 2025 (four weeks in advance of graduation) and the Centre for Accessibility will assist with these arrangements. You can also contact 604-822-5844 if you have any questions.

If you are a graduand who has physical accessibility needs/mobility issues, please email ceremonies.graduation@ubc.ca by April 23, 2025.

9. Still have more questions on Graduation?

Please check our Frequently Asked Questions page.

10. Celebrate your Graduation Day!

Following your ceremony, join your fellow grads and family in celebrating at the Flag Pole Plaza. A pop-up portrait studio will be available on the plaza. Then join alumni UBC at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre for your graduation welcome reception.