convocation

Graduating Students

Congratulations, Class of 2024! Get ready to celebrate your academic achievements! Keep scrolling to learn more about preparing for your convocation ceremony, what to expect, and making the most of your convocation day.

Before the ceremony

You must arrive 90 minutes prior to your ceremony.

Photo ID must be presented when you pick up your regalia and degree.

Pick up your robe, hood and cap

Pick up your robe, hood and cap from the University of Calgary Bookstore (lower level of the MacEwan Student Centre).

Proceed to the Olympic Oval

Proceed to the Olympic Oval to your graduand meeting location (ice level).

Get your hood pinned

Visit the pinning station to get your hood pinned by a volunteer. 

 

Pick up your degree and line up

Proceed to pick up your degree package.*

Once you have your degree package, line up for the procession; marshals will be there to help you.

*February graduates only: If you have already received your degree, bring the package (including the reader card) with you to the ceremony. If you have not yet received your degree and plan to pick it up at the ceremony, please follow the steps above. 


backpack

Items not to bring

The following items are not permitted with you during the ceremony:

- purses, bags and backpacks
- corsages
- flowers
- jackets
- mementos

There is no secure location to keep personal items in the Olympic Oval, and they are not permitted in the gymnasium. Items left unattended are not the responsibility of the University of Calgary.

Make your grad cap as unique as you are

Did you know that you can decorate your grad cap (mortarboard) for convocation?

Spring 2024

Convocation dates
May 30 - June 5, 2024 ceremonies

2 p.m.  | Afternoon Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
    • associated with the below designations
  • Cumming School of Medicine
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Nursing
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

9:30 a.m. | Morning Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies 
    • associated with the below
  • Schulich School of Engineering
    • Biomedical Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
    • Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
    • Civil Engineering
    • Energy Engineering
    • Environmental Engineering
    • Geomatics Engineering
    • Oil and Gas Engineering
    • Pipeline Engineering

2 p.m. | Afternoon Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies 
    • associated with the below
  • Schulich School of Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
    • Software Engineering

9:30 a.m. | Morning Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies 
    • associated with the below
  • Faculty of Arts
    • Art
    • Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Communication & Culture
    • Communication & Media Studies
    • Communications Studies
    • Dance
    • Division of Applied Psychology
    • Drama
    • Drama Education
    • Earth Science
    • Film Studies
    • Fine Arts
    • Geographic Information Systems
    • Geography
    • Gender and Sexuality Studies
    • General Humanities
    • Law and Society
    • Music History and Theory
    • Multidisciplinary
    • Composition
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Psychology
    • Sociology
    • Science, Technology & Society
    • Strategic Studies
    • Urban Studies
    • Visual Studies
    • Women's Studies

2 p.m. | Afternoon Ceremony

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies 
    • associated with the below
  • Faculty of Arts
    • Ancient and Medieval History
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Classical and Early Christian
    • Canadian Studies
    • Development Studies
    • East Asian Language Studies
    • Economics
    • English
    • East Asia
    • French
    • French, Italian and Spanish
    • Germanic Slavic and East Asian
    • Global Development Studies
    • German
    • Greek and Roman Studies
    • History
    • History & Philosophy of Science
    • Interdisciplinary Grad Program
    • International Indigenous Studies
    • International Relations
    • Italian Studies
    • Latin American Studies
    • Linguistics and Language
    • Linguistics
    • Languages, Literature & Cultures
    • Philosophy
    • Political Science
    • Primatology
    • Social & Cultural Anthropology
    • Religious Studies & App Ethics
    • Religious Studies
    • Russian
    • Spanish
  • Faculty of Social Work

9:30 a.m. | Morning Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
    • associated with the below
  • Faculty of Science
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Astrophysics
    • Biochemistry
    • Biological Sciences
    • Botany
    • Chemistry
    • Chemical Physics
    • Cellular, Molecular & Microbial Biology
    • Ecology
    • Environmental Science
    • Neuroscience
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
    • Plant Biology
    • Zoology
    • Physics and Astronomy

2 p.m. | Afternoon Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
    • associated with the below
  • Faculty of Kinesiology 
  • Faculty of Science
    • Actuarial Science
    • Applied Mathematics
    • Applied & Environmental Geology
    • Computational Media Design
    • Computer Science
    • Data Privacy
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Fundamental Data Sciences & Analytics
    • General Mathematics
    • Geoscience
    • Geology
    • Geology and Geophysics
    • Geophysics
    • Geospatial Info Technology
    • Info Security & Privacy
    • Interdisciplinary Grad Program
    • Mathematics
    • Mathematics and Statistics
    • Network Security
    • Pure Mathematics
    • Software Security
    • Statistics

9:30 a.m. | Morning Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
    • associated with the below
  • Haskayne School of Business

2 p.m. | Afternoon Ceremony 

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies 
    • associated with the below
  • School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape
  • School of Public Policy
  • Werklund School of Education

During the ceremony

Expect to see your fellow graduates wearing their academic regalia, such as gowns and caps, as well as faculty members and dignitaries dressed in academic robes. Your ceremony may include speeches, awards, and conferring degrees.

Ceremony length

The ceremony will take place at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium and lasts approximately two and a half to three hours. Remember to always keep your degree package with you.

Graduates must stay for the entire ceremony and are not permitted to leave early.
 

Crossing the stage

When it is your turn to step forward and cross the stage, you will hand over your reader card so your name can be read aloud. As you cross the stage, you will be recorded for the livestream. You may tip your cap to the Chancellor, President and others on stage who will be there to congratulate you.

You will be photographed twice during this part of the ceremony by Artona — once as your name is announced on the stage, and once after you exit the stage. Be sure to pause to look at the cameras as you celebrate your achievement and remember to smile! 

convocation ceremony

After the ceremony

Following the ceremony, return your gown and hood to the Oval. The cap is yours to keep! Returns will be accepted until 6 p.m. on the day of the ceremony, Monday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. on Friday. Graduands who do not return their regalia prior to the above time will be charged a fee to replace the gown.


Convocation

Selfies and family photo locations

Are you wondering where to take photos before or after the Convocation ceremony?

Find some suggestions here