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 Fall 2023 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, September 15, 2023 (for Fall 2023 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

Fall Congregation will take place from November 22-24, 2023.

Exact dates and time for each ceremony will be available by the end of September.

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 open Tuesday, October 3, 12:00 pm and end on Friday, November 3, 11:59 pm (PT).

If you’ve missed the deadline to reserve regalia in advance at a discounted rate of $55, please arrive at the Student Marshaling Tent in Buchanan Courtyard 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 opens Tuesday, October 3, 12:00 pm (PT).  Students who are eligible and approved to graduate are guaranteed 2 (TWO) guest tickets for their ceremony if they reserve their tickets by the Tuesday, November 7 deadline 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 beginning Thursday, November 9, 12:00 pm (PT). 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 midnight the day of each ceremony.

5. Parking at Graduation

  • For ceremony days, the Rose Garden Parkade is being reserved solely for graduating students and their guests, and Fraser River Parkade will be used as overflow parking. When reserving guest tickets using the Grad Tickets Reservation Page, you will have the opportunity to pre-purchase passes ($10.00) for the Rose Garden Parkade or the Fraser River Parkade.
  • Faculty/Staff and Student Parking permits are NOT valid in Rose Garden Parkade during Congregation. Faculty/Staff permit holders are encouraged to park at West, Thunderbird or North Parkade.
  • Student parking permits valid for Rose Garden Parkade will be accepted at West,  Thunderbird and North parkade instead.

How do I pay for parking?

  • Option 1: When reserving guest tickets using the Grad Tickets Reservation Page, you will have the opportunity to pre-purchase passes ($10.00) for the Rose Garden Parkade or the Fraser River Parkade.
  • Option 2: Save time and avoid line ups by purchasing parking for Rose Garden Parkade via Honk Mobile App up to 14 days in advance.
Parking costs $10 and can be obtained through the Honk Mobile App Zone ID 5650 or by scanning the QR code (see Honk Mobile App instructions link below) and following the prompts without the need of the mobile App.

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 November 1, 2023 (three 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 November 1, 2023.

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.