Berkeley Commencement

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

Students have worked very hard to get to this moment and family members and friends have traveled from afar to celebrate this important milestone. We would also like to remind us that many of our seniors did not get the chance to have an in-person high school commencement. With this spirit in mind, we request that you please silence your cell phones, stay in your seats, and keep the aisles clear. For this event specifically, time, place, and manner policies apply that are aligned with our Berkeley principles of community. You may not engage in any action that disrupts the event or prevents the speakers from being heard during the campuswide Commencement within California Memorial Stadium. This includes, but is not limited to, shouting over speakers, speaking out of turn, blocking others’ view of the event, disrupting official activities, and specifically displaying banners and signs that block others’ view of the event.

Individuals who are disruptive will be asked to leave. Those individuals may be ejected from the event or have other actions taken, and campus members may be referred to the appropriate disciplinary process.

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.

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.

Yes, registration is required to participate in Commencement, even though it’s free for graduates. Registration information and instructions will be sent via email on March 18. Sign up for email updates to be notified when registration opens.

Yes. Each graduate can purchase a maximum of four guest tickets. All guest tickets are reserved seating and range from $15 to $75 each. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu.

Graduates need to be at Witter Rugby Field (near Gate 8) at 8:30 a.m. You will begin entering California Memorial Stadium at 9 a.m., and the ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.

Graduates who require disability access can be dropped off at Underhill Garage, where an ADA shuttle will take them to Gate 6 at the stadium. ADA golf carts will also be available at the stadium if you need assistance there.

If you would like to sit with your friends during the ceremony, stand in line together, as seating is unassigned. Please be patient and follow staff instructions.

The ceremony lasts about 90 minutes and includes the keynote speaker, student speaker, and the official conferring of degrees by the Chancellor.

You will receive an email reminder about this deadline. Even if you miss the deadline for the printed program, you can still register and participate in the ceremony, but your name won’t be listed. Please note that this year, we’re going green with print-on-demand and digital-only programs!

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.

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.

Commencement follows the same code of conduct as football games in Memorial Stadium. Visit calbears.com for info on security screening, clear bags, prohibited items, and other event policies.

What graduates can bring:

— Your phone.

— Your ticket, which was emailed as a PDF and says “GRADUATING STUDENT” on it. Email ato@berkeley.edu if you can’t find your ticket.

— Your regalia or other preferred attire. Prepare for the weather, and wear flat shoes.

— An empty soft plastic bottle to refill.

What guests can bring:

— Your tickets, which were emailed as a PDF to the individual who purchased them. Email ato@berkeley.edu if you cannot find them. The Cal Athletics Ticket Office, near Gate 2, will open at 7:30 a.m.

— Visit calbears.com for info on umbrellas, hard plastic bottles, and other prohibited items, as well as info on security.

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.

If you are a current student who plans to participate in the campuswide Commencement on May 17, 2025, and would like to receive emails about registration, guest tickets, and more, first check all email inboxes, including your spam and promotions folders, for emails from “commencement@our.berkeley.edu” or “commencement@berkeley.edu.” If you haven’t received an email from this address, fill out this form to make sure you’re included. This email list is for graduates only and will be deleted after Commencement. Parents and other guests, please contact your student directly for details about the day.

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.

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.
   

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.

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

Please be aware that parking is very limited in Berkeley, and we anticipate heavy traffic. We strongly recommend taking public transit to the ceremony instead of driving. Visit 511.org or call 511 for train, bus, and other options. Information about shuttle service, road closures, and more is posted on the parking and transportation website. ADA parking is still available to groups with ADA tickets.

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.

One way you can recognize a graduate’s accomplishments is 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.

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.