This information was for the Fall Commencement Ceremony in December 2024. Please use the website's main menu to navigate to the proper pages for June 2025 Commencement.
To participate in Commencement, Graduates must be considered eligible, be registered in the Commencement Registration system, have appropriate UCI regalia, and check-in on time.
ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduates
Students who earned a degree during – Summer ’24, or who expect to complete their degree requirements during Fall ’24– are eligible to participate in a Commencement ceremony and only for the following participating schools:
Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
The Paul Merage School of Business
School of Education
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering
School of Humanities
Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
School of Physical Sciences
Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health
School of Social Ecology
School of Social Sciences
All undergraduates must submit a grad application to be eligible for Commencement. Graduates can register for their ceremony once their grad application has been marked as “received”.You must not have participated in any ceremony previously and must have your graduation application set as received by your respected school.Contact your academic counselor if you have questions about eligibility.Find your counselor »
Graduate students
Graduate students who earned a masters degree form The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences during Summer ‘24, or who expect to complete their degree requirements during Fall 24’ – are eligible to participate in a Commencement ceremony. Only graduates receiving a Master's degree from those two listed schools may be able to participate if they have not participated in a ceremony previously. All other graduate degrees are recognized at the June ceremonies. Please check with your academic advisor to determine if you are eligible. Confirm your eligibility with Graduate Division »
THINGS TO DO BEFORE COMMENCEMENT
Application for graduation
All undergraduate students must complete an Application for Graduation online at StudentAccess by the deadline set by your school. Application for Graduation deadlines occur throughout the year.Submit your application, then schedule a grad check with your Academic Counselor (not required for some majors).
Academic regalia, caps & gowns and tassels
Participation in Commencement is not mandatory. However, to participate in Commencement, all graduates must wear appropriate academic regalia.
Appropriate and Approved academic regalia is available for purchase only through UC Irvine Alumni Association.
Members of religious orders or commissioned U.S. military officers may wear their customary habit or dress uniform.
Caps & gowns must be pre-purchased. They are not available for purchase at the Bren Events Center on Commencement day.
Regalia gowns may not be altered or decorated.
Caps can be decorated but must not block the view of any audience members behind the graduate.
Thursday, November 14 - Friday, November 15, 202410 a.m. - 6 p.m. dailyNewkirk Alumni CenterFor questions regarding cap and gown, please email alumni@uci.edu.Caps & gowns are not available for purchase on Commencement day.Regalia gowns may not be altered or decorated. Gowns must remain in the state they were purchased as that is the appropriate and approved regalia for our ceremonies.Caps can be decorated but must not block the view of any audience members behind the graduate.Sashes and stoles: UC Irvine graduation sashes and stoles representing UC Irvine organizations or proclaiming a vocational aspiration may be worn with cap and gown. Wearing multiple stoles is permitted. Stoles can be purchased at the Hill.Recognitions of achievement and affiliation: Recognition cords, pins and medals awarded by UCI organizations and academic departments may be worn with cap and gown. Cords are awarded and distributed to the graduates by their school.
Ticket reservations
Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement.Children who are under the age of 2 and can remain on an adult's lap for the duration of the ceremony do not need a ticket. If a child or baby occupies a seat of their own, they will need a ticket. All guests over the age of 2 will need their own ticket.Tickets are limited and must be reserved in advance by the graduate.Deadline for graduating students to register for Commencement is November 8 at 5p.m.Each graduate must download and print their own guest tickets for their ticketed event. Registered graduates will receive information for downloading their tickets in December.UC Irvine graduates participating in Commencement do not need a ticket for themselves but must register to participate in the Commencement ceremony before registration closes November 8.
Downloading tickets
Guest tickets will be available for downloading on December 3rd at 10 a.m., online through the Bren Events Center Ticket Office. You will not receive your ticket seat assignment, until after you download. Reserved guest tickets will need to be printed copies and distributed to guests prior to the student entering the graduate check-in and line-up area.Tickets are required for all guests. All guests over the age of 2 will need their own ticket. Children who are under the age of 2 and can remain on an adult's lap for the duration of the ceremony do not need a ticket. If a child or baby occupies a seat of their own, they will need a ticket.The ceremony will have assigned seating. Section, row and seat location is specified on each individual ticket.
Announcements, invitations & notes
Graduation announcements, thank you notes and a variety of paper goods can be ordered from Jostens Graduation AnnouncementsMore UCI and graduation-related items are available for purchase at The Hill.
Pre-order flowers and lei gifts
Information coming soon.
Digital Commencement Program
The Commencement Program lists the names of all qualified students who applied on time for graduation. The digital program can be viewed on the Commencement website starting December 16.
Diploma name
Diplomas can have either your legal or preferred name. You may set your preferred name viaStudentAccess. Requests for a preferred name may be submitted only by the student.You may submit a Request for Name Change to ask that your name be changed on university records by early November 2024.
Senior Class Gift
Help inspire the next generation of Anteaters by leaving behind a bit of your class personality! UC Irvine landmarks such as the Student Center Bell Tower, the Peter the Anteater benches found across campus and class scholarships are the result of senior class energy and financial support. Visit UC Irvine Giving for more information.
Yearbook
If you have any questions regarding the UC Irvine Yearbook please contact info@yearbook.uci.edu or visit their website’s FAQ page here.
