Grad checklist

To participate in Commencement, Graduates must be considered eligible, register in the Commencement Registration system, and have appropriate UC Irvine regalia.

ELIGIBILITY

Undergraduates

Students who will earn a degree during the 2024-2025 academic year – Summer ’24, Fall ’24, Winter ’25, Spring ’25 (or who expect to complete their degree requirements during Summer ’25) – are eligible and welcome to participate in a Commencement ceremony as long as they have not participdated in a previous ceremony. 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”. Confirm your graduation eligibility with your academic counselor. Find your counselor »

Graduate students

Graduate students who earned a degree during Fall ’24, Winter ’25, Spring ’25 (or who expect to complete their degree requirements during Summer ’25, Fall '25) – are eligible and welcome to participate in a Commencement ceremony as long as they have not particapted in a previous ceremony. All Master’s candidates (except for M.F.A. candidates from Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the School of Humanities) participate in their school ceremony. Ph.D, D.N.P., and M.F.A.s participate in the Graduate Hooding Ceremony. 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. Please contact your academic counselor to be prepared for the specific graduation submisiion deadline for your school. 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 and the Graduate Hooding Ceremony, all graduates must wear appropriate academic regalia.

Appropriate and Approved academic regalia is available for purchase only through UCI 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.
Cap and Gown sales will begin in April 2025. Graduates will receive an email with additional information from the UCI Alumni Association.

Cap and Gown - UCI Cap and Gown »

GradExpo

Tuesday, April 22 - Friday, April 25, 2025 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily Newkirk Alumni Center For questions regarding cap and gown purchases, 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: UCI graduation sashes and stoles representing UCI 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. Registration will begin the first week of April. Deadline for graduating students to register for Commencement is April 11 at 5 p.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 May. UCI graduates participating in Commencement do not need a ticket for themselves but must register to participate in the Commencement ceremony before registration closes April 11.

Downloading tickets

Tickets are required for all guests at all ceremonies. 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.

All Commencement ceremonies have assigned seating. Section, row and seat location is specified on each individual ticket.

Tickets are limited and must have been reserved in advance by the graduate.

You will need to print copies of your reserved tickets to distribute to your guests prior to entering the graduate check-in and line-up area.

Guests and animals with the exception of trained service animals are not allowed in the graduate check-in and line-up area.

Tickets are not available at the door, nor will any be held for guest pick-up.

Announcements, invitations & notes

Graduation announcements, thank you notes and a variety of paper goods can be ordered from Jostens Graduation Announcements More UCI and graduation-related items are available for purchase at The Hill.

Pre-order Commencement flowers and lei gifts

The Commencement Group will have booths where you can purchase flower and lei gifts for your graduate before each ceremony at the Bren Events Center. See the full selection of flower gifts for your graduate and more information about their products and flowers on their website. Pre-orders Order ahead of time to make pickup fast and easy at the ceremony. To pick up your pre-order, give your name at one of the Commencement Group booths in front of the Bren Events Center

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 June 12.

Diploma name

Diplomas can have either your legal or preferred name. You may set your preferred name via StudentAccess. 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 to be changed on university records by early May 2025.

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 UCI Giving for more information.

Yearbook

If you have any questions regarding the UCI Yearbook please contact info@yearbook.uci.edu or visit their website’s FAQ page here.

AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS Chancellor’s Award of Distinction

The Chancellor’s Award of Distinction recognizes an exceptional group of graduating students who exhibit a commitment to cutting-edge research, leadership, or service to UC Irvine. The award recognizes UC Irvine’s most outstanding undergraduates. Details and application »

Latin Honors

For questions regarding Latin Honors, please contact your school’s undergraduate counseling office.

THE DAY OF YOUR SCHOOL CEREMONY

Guest tickets

All graduates should DOWNLOAD, PRINT and DISTRIBUTE their guest tickets to their guests ahead of time. Guest tickets are assigned and the location for each seat is printed on the ticket. The Commencement office will be closed starting June 12 as the Commencement staff will be on location setting up for the ceremonies. We will not be able to respond to emails or assist with any ticketing issues. Please make sure you download and receive your tickets as early as possible. Seat locations are assigned during the downloading process. Graduates that wait to download their guest tickets until the last week before the ceremony risk having guest tickets that are not able to be assigned together due to limited open availability.

Guest entrances

All guests need to have a ticket for entrance. Guests should plan to arrive early to allow ample time for parking and to clear all safety checks prior to entrance. Doors open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony start time at the Bren Events Center. Please review "what to expect" below to prepare for your arrival and to be familiar ahead of time for what is and what is not allowed at the event. Please review the Travel Guide from Parking & Transportation Services before heading to the ceremony. (Link will be added once the information is available in May) The guide gives information specific to graduate parking, guest parking, shuttles, and disability parking locations.

Graduate lineup

Directional signs will be posted throughout the area.
NO GUESTS or animals with the exception of trained service animals will be allowed in the graduate-only areas.

You must arrive at least 75 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and check in with Commencement staff using your Commencement QR code. Be prepared for a faster check-in process by having your QR code ready ahead of time.

Arrive dressed in your regalia and have your regalia robe unzipped until you pass through the security check. All graduates must have appropriate regalia to participate in Commencement.
A valid photo ID is required for check in. Please be prepared to show this and your QR code at graduate check-in.
Graduates will be given a wristband once they are checked in. The wristband must remain on the graduate through the end of the ceremony.
All graduates will pass through security magnetometers to enter the graduate check-in area.
Cell phones and wallets are permitted. Bags, Backpacks, Purses will NOT be allowed in the Grad Check-in area or into the facility.
- There is no place to store items. All small items (wallet, phone) will need to remain on the person at all times.
- Graduates will not be allowed to leave items at their seats when they go on stage. Graduates are not guaranteed to return to the same seat after they exit the stage.
Graduates line up by school and degree. Graduates can line up with their friends in the same school and degree. We do not line up graduates by alphabetical order.
Staff will be on site to assist graduates and there will be signs to show where specific school/degree lines are.
Water stations for graduates will be near the lineup area.
Restrooms will be available nearby for graduates. Graduates will need to exit security and go through the security process again when they return.

Once you’re checked in, you will not be able to leave the area to meet with guests until after the ceremony. The ceremony is expected to be about an hour and 45 minutes long. After the ceremony, UCI Alumni Association will hand out license plate frames to all graduates that exit the Bren during the graduate exit at the end of the ceremony. This is the only time a graduate can receive this item.

What to expect

The ceremony will begin with a welcome, introductions to the platform party and some remarks by dignitaries. Speeches will be given by designated speakers and each graduate will be called forward to be recognized and congratulated by the faculty of their school. There will be a recessional to exit the ceremony, after which graduates will be able to greet family and friends. UCI Alumni Association hands out a participation gift to graduates at the end of the ceremony. Graduates will only receive this item in the graduate recessional line as they exit the ceremony. These gifts are not mailed out and are not available for pickup at any other time. This is a gift for those participating in Commencement ceremonies and not a gift given to all graduates. Designate a post-ceremony meeting place with your family and guests ahead of time. Graduates will not be allowed to leave early from the ceremony. Each ceremony will last approximately one hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours long. The Graduate Hooding Ceremony is expected to be 2-2.5 hours. Please have your guests review what is allowed inside the venue for guests prior to the ceremony. Clear bags only with the excpetion of medical bags. Clear bags should be no larger than 12"x12"x6" and all guest clear bags will be searched prior to being allowed into the venue. No bags with be allowed through the graduate entrances.

Graduate photographs

Professional photographers from Pro Pics will be at the ceremony to take portraits of every graduate. Photos of the graduates crossing the stage, as well as individual portraits on multiple backgrounds, will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremony. You can email questions about photos to info@propicsusa.com. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. Graduates or Guests will be responsible for payment of any photos that are ordered.

Honor your fellow graduates

This is an important day for Anteaters, their families and invited guests. Your courtesy and respectful decorum are appreciated. Graduates will not be able to leave the ceremony early.

Livestream, Digital Program and Extras

The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Commencement website for any guests who are unable to attend. The link will be viewable just prior to Commencement weekend. The digital program can be found on the Commencement website starting Thursday, June 12 at commencement.uci.edu/program. Download misc Class of 2025, grad anteater and celebratory graphics as well as coloring pages from our Flickr page. Save this link to view and download photos after the ceremonies (they should be posted approximately one week after the last ceremony).

AFTER THE CEREMONY

Diplomas

Diplomas are typically available four months after the end of the quarter in which the student graduated. Degrees are posted on official transcripts approximately six to seven weeks after the end of the quarter in which they are awarded. The degree award date is the last day of the graduating term, or for Summer Session, the last day of Summer Session II. When diplomas are available, students will be notified via their UCI email address or alternate email address provided on their Application for Graduation. Once notified, you may:

pick up your diploma at the Registrar's Office.
authorize another individual to pick up your diploma
authorize the Registrar to mail your diploma to you

To have your diploma mailed, complete and sign the applicable section of the Diploma Request Form, and send it to the Registrar's Office. Expedited mailing services are available for an extra fee. Graduate students from self-supporting graduate degree programs should submit their Diploma Request form with a check for $25 payable to UC Regents. Diplomas are sent via USPS certified mail to domestic addresses, or USPS registered mail to addresses outside the United States. Both services require a return receipt signature. Diploma frames and other display options are available at the The Hill's booths during the ceremonies and at the store. Diploma Size

Diplomas measure 8 1/2 inches high by 11 inches wide.
School of Law diplomas measure 11 inches high by 17 inches wide.
Medical Doctor (M.D.) diplomas measure 11 inches high by 17 inches wide.

For all questions regarding transcripts and other records information, please contact the University Registrar.

Digital Commencement Program

The digital Commencement Program lists the names of all qualified students who applied on time for graduation. The digital Commencement program can be found on the Commencement website starting June 12. Graduates that apply to graduate late, will not have their names listed in the program.

Photo proofs

STAYING IN TOUCH

UCI email accounts

Alumni have two options regarding their UCI email address: OIT Alumni Email options »

Join the UCI Alumni Association

The UCI Alumni Association looks forward to your participation in UCI’s alumni family and continuing your connection with UCI. Members can enjoy free permanent alumni email address forwarding, career services and discount programs. Your support also benefits student scholarships and fellowships. Join UCIAA now »