Applying to graduate

Spring 2022 Graduation

The Spring 2022 degree will be conferred on Wed, May 18, 2022. It will be reflected on your academic record on Thurs, May 19, 2022.

Overview

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.

Graduation timeline

There are two graduation periods, one in spring, another in fall: 

  • Spring graduation: May 25 to 27, 2022 and May 31 to June 2, 2022
  • Fall graduation: November 23 to 25, 2022

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 2022

Application opens

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in May can start submitting their applications.
Application deadline Friday, February 25, 2022
Deadline for diploma name change requests Friday, April 15, 2022
Degree requirements must be completed by

End of April 2022

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

Your grad application status on Student Service Centre (SSC) will be updated from 'approved' to 'conferred'.
Graduation ceremony dates

May 25 to 27, 2022 and May 31 to June 2, 2022

Fall Graduation in November 2022

If you’re planning to graduate in November, you must complete all your program requirements by the end of October.

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.

Application opens

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in November can start submitting their applications.
Application deadline

Friday, September 9, 2022

This is the last day to submit an application to graduate in November.
Deadline for diploma name change requests

Friday, October 14, 2022
Deadline to complete all degree requirements

End of October 2022

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

To be announced.

Your grad application status on Student Service Centre (SSC) will be updated from 'approved' to 'conferred'.
Graduation ceremony dates

November 23 to 25, 2022

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.

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.

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 October.
  • 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 diploma 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 diploma or be able to order transcripts with an outstanding balance of fees. You'll still be able to attend the ceremony, but will not receive your diploma 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.

Use of names on diplomas 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 diploma.

Find out what to do if you'd like to change your name on your diploma.

  • November graduation: You must submit your name change request for your diploma by Friday, October 14, 2022.
  • May graduation: You must submit your name change requests for your diplomas by Friday, April 15, 2022.

Applying for fall 2022 graduation

Apply by September 9, 2022

  1. Log into your Student Service Centre (SSC).
  2. Select "Apply to Graduate" under Graduation.
  3. 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.

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 the SSC by mid May or mid November, and conferrals will appear on the SSC 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 info, as well as ceremony instructions for students and guests.

You can also check your personal ceremony details on your Student Service Centre. When the ceremony details are assigned, you'll be able to check your ceremony date, time, and processing number in the Graduation Details box of your graduation application.

Ceremony dates

  • May 25 to 27, 2022 and May 31 to June 2, 2022

  • November 23 to 25, 2022

View detailed schedule

Getting your diploma

Diplomas are not printed until just before the May and November ceremonies. Diplomas 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 diploma on the day of your ceremony.
  • If you're not attending the ceremony
    You can pick up your diploma or pay for your diploma to be couriered.

Picking up your diploma

Diploma pickup is not available for 2020 virtual ceremonies.

You may pick up your diploma or have it picked up by someone else on your behalf with a third party pick up form.

Courier

Students who have selected courier on their graduation application can pay the courier fee through the Student Service Centre. You will not be able to pay online until your degree has been conferred. Couriers cannot deliver to PO boxes.

  • ​Log in to SSC, under the Graduation tab click ‘Courier my Original Diploma’. You will be able to pay the courier fee and provide the address where you would like your diploma couriered to.
  • We start packaging diplomas to send out via courier as soon as the graduation ceremonies end.
  • To switch your selection on the grad application from pick-up to courier, please edit your application or email us at graduation@ubc.ca. Please include your UBC student number.
Destination Cost Estimated delivery time
Within Canada $20.80 1-2 business days
United States $26.00 1-3 business days, depending on destination
International locations $31.20 3-5 business days, depending on destination

Changing your ceremony attendance

Spring graduation: You'll be able to change your selection on the Student Service Centre (SSC) until Friday, May 6, 2022.

If you miss the deadline and would like to change your selection to attending, please email us at graduation@ubc.ca.

Important info about late requests to attend the ceremony

The Ceremonies Office can't guarantee ticket availability.

Your diploma may not be available at the ceremony, but will be available for pickup or courier in either December or June.

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 diploma 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 us at graduation@ubc.ca.

If you want to defer your attendance to the ceremony

You may request to defer attendance to the next ceremony. Email graduation@ubc.ca to submit your request. 

Please note that the office receives many requests to defer ceremony attendance from students who are not able to attend their own ceremony for various reasons. However, because our graduation ceremonies are held at the Chan Centre which is a small venue and has limited seating, we are only able to guarantee attendance ahead of time to those students who have applied to graduate in the period for which the ceremony occurs. Once we are able to confirm attendance numbers from those applicants, we do our best to fit in deferrals where we can.

Additional resources

If you have questions

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