To graduate, students must submit a formal application for graduation. If a student plans to graduate, they must submit an application regardless of whether or not they intend to participate in the scheduled ceremonies.
Before applying to graduate, make sure you’ll have completed all program requirements by the specified dates below.
If you’re graduating in November
Your parchment refers to your diploma.
If you plan to graduate in November 2024, you must apply for graduation by July 31, 2024. For important dates and deadlines, refer to the fall graduation timeline on this page.
Your parchment will be printed with a conferral date of August 2024 and available at or after the November graduation ceremonies.
Graduation timeline
There are 2 graduation periods, one in spring, and another in fall:
- Spring graduation: May 21 to 23, 2025 and May 26 to May 29, 2025
- Fall graduation: November 27 to 29, 2024
You can find the graduation ceremony schedule on the UBC Graduation website. Please review the important dates and information below to ensure you are eligible to graduate at your desired time.
You are required to apply for graduation, even if you don’t plan on attending the ceremony.
Spring graduation in May 2025
| Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | Mon, Jan 6, 2025 Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in May can start submitting their applications. |
| Application deadline | Fri, Feb 28, 2025 |
| Deadline for parchment name change requests | Fri, Apr 11, 2025 |
| Degree requirements must be completed by | End of April 2025 If you’re a graduate student, there are specific deadlines for you. |
| Order ceremony gown and guest tickets | Visit the ceremonies website for specific dates. |
| Degree conferred (awarded) and credential added to UBC record | Late May 2025 Your grad application status on Workday will be updated from “approved” to “conferred”. |
| Graduation ceremony dates | May 21 to 23, 2025 and May 26 to May 29, 2025 |
Fall graduation in November 2024
If you’re planning to graduate in November, please contact your faculty for more information.
If you are completing Term 1 courses in December, you are not eligible for November graduation and should wait to apply for May graduation. If you have questions about your degree requirements, contact your academic advising office.
| Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | Wed, May 1, 2024 Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in November can start submitting their applications. |
| Application deadline | Wed, July 31, 2024 This is the last day to submit an application for fall graduation. |
| Deadline for parchment name change requests | Fri, Oct 11, 2024 |
| Deadline to complete all degree requirements | Please contact your faculty for more information. If you are completing term 1 courses in December, you are not eligible for November graduation and should wait to apply for May graduation. If you’re a graduate student, there are specific deadlines for you. |
| Order ceremony gown and guest tickets | Visit the ceremonies website for specific dates. |
| Degree conferred (awarded) and credential added to UBC record | Fri, Aug 30, 2024 Your grad application status on Student Service Centre (SSC) will be updated from ‘approved’ to ‘conferred’. |
| Graduation ceremony dates | Nov 27 to 29, 2024 |
Later graduation periods
If you don’t apply for the graduation period after you complete your requirements, you can apply in the following period. This is an option if you or your family members are unable to attend the ceremony during the earlier graduation period.
Eligibility to graduate
- If you are graduating in May, you must complete your program requirements by the end of April.
- If you are graduating in November, you must complete your program requirements by the end of July.
- If you are completing Term 1 courses in December, you are not eligible for November graduation and should wait to apply for May graduation. If you have questions about your degree requirements, contact your academic advising office.
- You will not receive a parchment or be able to order transcripts if you have an outstanding balance of fees.
How to apply to graduate
Before you apply
Make sure your financial account with UBC is settled. You will not receive a parchment or be able to order transcripts with an outstanding balance of fees. You will still be able to apply to graduate and attend the ceremony, but will not receive your parchment when you cross the stage. If you have questions about your finances, contact your Enrolment Services Advisor. If you don’t have an assigned advisor, they’re still available to help.
If you are an international student, and you plan to invite family from abroad to attend your graduation, be sure to apply for the necessary travel documents for your family in advance.
If you are a student completing a double major, you will be assigned to the ceremony for the major that is listed first on your student record (e.g., a double major in French and Economics will be assigned to French). To check your student record, log into Workday and select “Academic history” under Academics. For any changes to your specializations or the major that is listed first, contact your faculty or departmental advising office before you apply to graduate.
Use of names on parchments and graduation ceremonies
While completing your application, check your legal name and your listed specializations for accuracy. Unless specified, the name on your official student record will be the name printed on your parchment.
Find out what to do if you’d like to change your name on your parchment.
- May graduation: You must submit your name change requests for your parchments by Fri, Apr 11, 2025.
- November graduation: You must submit your name change request for your parchment by Fri, Oct 11, 2024.
Applying for Fall 2024 graduation
- Log into your Student Service Centre (SSC).
- Select “Apply to Graduate” under Graduation.
- Fill out the required fields, and click save.
You’ll be able to check your application status in the Graduation Details box on your application at the top of the screen. This is also where you’ll find your ceremony details and procession number, closer to the date of the ceremony. Your procession number is your place in line and indicates the order of appearance of when you will cross the stage.
When you can expect an approval decision
Your faculty will assess your application and approve your graduation application status if you have met your program requirements. Approval decisions should be updated by your faculty on Workday by mid-May or mid-November, and conferrals will appear on Workday about a week before the ceremony.
If you have concerns about your application status or whether you’ve met your degree requirements, please contact your academic advising office.
About the graduation ceremony
Review the graduation checklist to find the ceremony schedule, ticket, and gown ordering information, as well as ceremony instructions for students and guests.
You can also check your personal ceremony details on your Student Service Centre (SSC). When the ceremony details are assigned, you’ll be able to check your ceremony date, time, and procession number in the Graduation Details box of your graduation application.
Getting your parchment (diploma)
Parchments are not printed until just before the May and November ceremonies. Parchments will only be available at the ceremony or by pick up or courier in early June and December for all students.
- If you’re attending the ceremony
You can start planning at the Graduation at UBC website. You’ll receive your parchment on the day of your ceremony. - If you’re not attending the ceremony
You can pick up your parchment or pay for your parchment to be couriered.
Picking up your parchment (diploma)
You may pick up your parchment or have it picked up by someone else on your behalf with a third party pick up form (pdf).
Students who have selected the courier option on their graduation application can pay the courier fee through a link that will be shared via email. You will not be able to pay online until your degree has been conferred. Couriers cannot deliver to PO boxes.
Log in with your student ID and select “Courier my Original Parchment” on the UBC Records Storefront. You will be able to pay the courier fee and provide the address where you would like your parchment couriered to. - To switch your selection on the grad application from pick-up to courier, please edit your application or email graduation@ubc.ca. Make sure to include your UBC student number.
- Once graduation ceremonies end, parchments will start being processed, packaged, and sent out via courier.
| Destination | Cost | Estimated delivery time after your request has been processed |
|---|---|---|
| Within Canada | $22.40 | 1 to 2 business days, depending on destination |
| United States | $43.60 | 1 to 3 business days, depending on destination |
| International locations | $43.60 | 3 to 5 business days, depending on destination |
Changing your ceremony attendance
You can change your selection for the Fall graduation in your Student Service Centre (SSC) until Sat, Aug 31, 2024.
If you miss the deadline and would like to change your selection to attending, please email graduation@ubc.ca. Please include your full name and UBC student number.
Important info about late requests to attend the ceremony
The Ceremonies Office cannot guarantee ticket availability.
Your parchment may not be available at the ceremony, but will be available for pickup or courier in either December (if you are graduating in November) or June (if you are graduating in May).
If you can’t make the ceremony
If you indicated that you were attending the ceremony on the application but can no longer make it, you can pick up your parchment at the Enrolment Advising Centre in Brock Hall in early December for the Fall ceremony or early June for the Spring ceremony. If you prefer courier delivery, email graduation@ubc.ca.
Additional resources
- Ordering a parchment (diploma)
- Changing the name on your parchment (diploma)
- Graduation FAQ
- Ordering a transcript
- Graduation at UBC
If you have questions
For information regarding graduation application and parchments, contact:
- UBC Vancouver: graduation@ubc.ca
- UBC Okanagan: gradapps.okanagan@ubc.ca
Contact the Graduation Ceremonies Office by emailing ceremonies.graduation@ubc.ca for information about tickets, gown rentals, guests, or the ceremony schedule.