Berkeley Commencement

An in-person, campuswide ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 9 a.m. in Haas Pavilion. Every student who has graduated or will be graduating this academic year, in every school and college, can participate. The event will last approximately two hours and includes a brief ceremony, keynote speaker, student speaker, the reading of graduate names, and the official conferring of degrees by Chancellor Rich K. Lyons.

The university sponsors the campuswide Commencements in May and December. These ceremonies are open to all undergraduate and graduate students, in every school and college. They include a keynote speaker, student speaker, and the official conferring of degrees by the chancellor. (The spring student speaker is the top graduating senior — the University Medalist — and the winter student speaker is chosen by audition.) Graduate names are not read at the spring campuswide event.

Many departments and student groups hold smaller, more personal graduations during the spring semester only. They typically occur over a two-week period and differ according to each group’s plans. Registration and tickets for these graduations are handled separately through each group. Visit the Department Graduations page to contact your department, school, or college directly.

Whether graduates attend the campuswide Commencement, department graduation, or both is up to them. We encourage them to coordinate with their friends and family.

Yes. Visit commencement.berkeley.edu on the day of the event, and you’ll see it on the home page.

If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.), or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please call 888.UNIV.CAL (888.864.8225) or email commencement@berkeley.edu seven to 10 days before the event.

Guests who require mobility assistance should enter Haas Pavilion at Entry 1. Accessible seats are located on levels 1, 3, and 4, and are first come, first served. Other guests in your party are welcome to sit in the bleachers behind the ADA area. We can only ensure one companion seat per disabled guest, and we will do our best to seat your entire party together.

Use #CalGrad in your social media posts, whether you’re a graduate sharing a favorite memory, a proud parent congratulating your child, or an alum offering sage advice. You can also upload photos and videos directly into the Social Media page.

An in-person, campuswide ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at California Memorial Stadium.

For information on security screening policies, including the clear bag policy and prohibited items, please review the Haas Pavilion Event Policies and California Memorial Stadium Event Policies. Common prohibited items include:

• banners, signs, or flags
• artificial noise-making devices
• balloons
• umbrellas
• hard plastic, glass, or metal bottles or cans
• open containers or alcohol
• professional cameras or cameras with lenses larger than six inches
• video cameras
• monopods or tripods

Commencement follows the same code of conduct as football games in California Memorial Stadium.

Yes. Commencement is free for graduates, but you must register. Eligible graduates will receive an email with an invitation to register for the 2024 Winter Commencement ceremony. During registration, graduates will have the opportunity to submit their name in the printed program and provide the phonetic spelling and recorded audio of their name pronunciation.

Yes. Guest tickets for the Class of 2024 Winter Commencement ceremony on December 21 are now on sale for $13 each. Graduates can purchase a total of 6 tickets for guests. All tickets are general admission. The ceremony will be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu. Please note that all tickets are now sold out.

Each eligible graduate can purchase up to six tickets. However, ticket availability is not guaranteed, as they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to purchase your tickets early.

We understand how disappointing this is. While students can purchase up to six tickets, we cannot guarantee ticket availability for everyone. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and we encourage early purchase. Due to fire code regulations, we cannot exceed the venue’s capacity once tickets are sold out.

Some graduates who initially purchased multiple tickets may find they have extras. You might try connecting with fellow students to see if tickets become available.

If you plan to participate in your department’s graduation ceremony in the spring, we strongly recommend purchasing tickets early to avoid this situation.

Graduates must register to participate in Commencement; the deadline to be listed in the printed program is November 22. Registration for the Class of 2024 winter ceremony will open in the fall. If you miss the print program deadline, you can still register for the ceremony, but your name won’t be listed.

No. The Office of the Registrar mails diplomas four months after graduation. (Visit their website for information on transcripts, diplomas, and other academic records.) Graduates receive a commemorative certificate at most department graduations.

Purchase your cap, tassel, stole, and gown — including an eco-friendly rental option — at the Cal Student Store. You may also dress in business casual or cocktail attire. (The university does not provide stoles, leis, and other items for the campuswide ceremony.) We recommend that you NOT wear high heels, as graduates will be seated in the steep stands.

No, there is no separate hooding ceremony for PhD graduates during the main Winter Commencement ceremony. PhD candidates will process with master’s and undergraduate students. For information about PhD hooding ceremonies or celebrations, please contact your department.

Graduate names are called during the winter ceremony only.

The spring ceremony is too large to call out every graduate’s name. However, many departments and student groups hold smaller, more personal graduations during the spring semester that may include the calling of names. Visit the Department Graduations page to contact your department, school, or college directly.

No. The Office of the Registrar mails diplomas four months after graduation. (Visit their website for information on transcripts, diplomas, and other academic records.) Graduates receive a commemorative certificate at most department graduations.

1. Become a member of the Cal Alumni Association (CAA). 2024 graduates are eligible for a complimentary one-year membership.
2. Check out other ways to engage with your UC Berkeley community all year long.
3. Review what you should do at Cal before you graduate.
   

Parking is limited in Berkeley. Haas Pavilion is a 10–15-minute walk from the downtown Berkeley BART station. If you choose to drive, visit the university’s parking and transportation website for details on available Cal lots and pricing.

ADA parking can be found on the street or in designated spaces in campus and public lots. All parking is first come, first served. Visit this site for ADA parking locations and other details.

Guests who need mobility assistance may be dropped off at the intersection of Bancroft Way and Dana Street. From there, it’s a short walk to the ramp at Gate 1, where you will be directed to the elevators reaching the ADA seating areas.

Yes. Guest tickets for the Class of 2024 Winter Commencement ceremony on December 21 are now on sale for $13 each. Graduates can purchase a total of 6 tickets for guests. All tickets are general admission. The ceremony will be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu. Please note that all tickets are now sold out.

Yes. All persons 24 months and older must have a valid ticket to enter the venue. Children under 24 months must be held in a lap to avoid interfering with other guests’ viewing of the ceremony.

There are several nearby hotels. Start planning your travel now.

One way you can recognize a graduate’s accomplishments is through the 2024 Graduate Tribute with a gift to the Cal Parents Fund, which supports undergraduate education and experience. The collective giving of graduates’ families helps lift up the next generation of Cal students.