Applying to graduate

To graduate, students must submit a formal application for graduation. If you plan to graduate, you must apply, regardless of whether or not you 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 May

Your parchment refers to your diploma.

If you plan to graduate in May 2025, you must apply for graduation by Feb 28, 2025. For important dates and deadlines, refer to the Spring graduation timeline on this page.

Your parchment will be printed with a conferral date of May 2025 and available at or after the May 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 26 to 28, 2025

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

TimelineDate
Application opensMon, Jan 6, 2025

Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in May can start submitting their applications.
Application deadline
  • Undergraduate students: Fri, Feb 28, 2025
  • Graduate students: Thu, Apr 17, 2025

Apply as soon as possible if you will be completing your requirements before the deadline.

Deadline for parchment name change requestsFri, Apr 11, 2025
Degree requirements must be completed byEnd of April 2025

If you’re a graduate student, there are specific deadlines for you.
Order ceremony gown and guest ticketsVisit the ceremonies website for specific dates.
Degree conferred (awarded) and credential added to UBC recordLate May 2025

Your grad application status on Workday will be updated from “Pending completion” to “Complete”.
Graduation ceremony datesMay 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.

TimelineDate
Application opensWed, May 1, 2024

Graduate, undergraduate, diploma, and certificate program students planning to graduate in November can start submitting their applications.
Application deadlineWed, July 31, 2024

This is the last day to submit an application for fall graduation.
Deadline for parchment name change requestsFri, Oct 11, 2024
Deadline to complete all degree requirementsPlease 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 ticketsVisit the ceremonies website for specific dates.
Degree conferred (awarded) and credential added to UBC recordFri, Aug 30, 2024

Your grad application status on Student Service Centre (SSC) will be updated from ‘approved’ to ‘conferred’.
Graduation ceremony datesNov 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 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 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 program of studies 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 October.

Applying for Spring 2025 graduation

Apply by Fri, Feb 28, 2025.

First, complete your application in Workday

Log into your Workday account to complete your program completion application. Click the “Academics” tab in the “Your Top Apps” menu on the right side of the page. Once in your Academics app, you will be brought to the “Academics” page by default. 

  1. Click the “Graduation” tab in the top menu.
  2. In the “Graduation” menu to the right, click the “Apply for Program Completion” link.
  3. You must enter an Expected Completion Date (ECD) according to the conferral conferral period you are applying for. For May Graduation, enter any date between January 1, 2025 and April 30, 2025.
  4. Please follow the step-by-step guide for how to complete your application.

Complete the Graduation Application Tool

Once you’ve submitted your application in Workday, you must complete the second application, the Graduation Application Tool. This is required to ensure you can attend your graduation ceremony and receive your parchment. 

Starting Jan 6, 2025, use your CWL to log into graduation.students.ubc.ca to access your student portal. Follow step-by-step instructions for the application.

The Graduation Application Tool is also where you’ll find your ceremony details and procession number closer to the ceremony date. Your procession number is your place in line and indicates the order of when you will cross the stage.

When you can expect an approval decision

Your faculty will assess and approve your graduation application status if you have met your program requirements. You are welcome to check your application status on Workday. Approval decisions will be updated by your faculty on Workday by mid-May or mid-November, and earned credentials 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 date, time and procession number on your Graduation Application tool.

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.
If you’re graduating in Fall 2024, you can pick up your parchment starting Mon, Dec 9, 2024 from the Advising Centre in Brock Hall.

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.
DestinationCostEstimated delivery time after your request has been processed
Within Canada$22.401 to 2 business days, depending on destination
United States$43.601 to 3 business days, depending on destination
International locations$43.603 to 5 business days, depending on destination

Changing your ceremony attendance

You can change your selection for the May graduation in your Graduation Application Tool until Fri, Apr 25, 2025.

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

If you have questions

For information regarding graduation application and parchments, contact: 

Contact the Graduation Ceremonies Office by emailing ceremonies.graduation@ubc.ca for information about tickets, gown rentals, guests, or the ceremony schedule.