Berkeley Commencement

Yes. Commencement is free for graduates, but you must register. The deadline to ensure your name is included in the commemorative program (April 12) has passed. If you miss that deadline, you can still participate, but your name won’t be listed. Please contact us if you do not receive an email.

Yes. Each graduate can purchase a maximum of four guest tickets. All guest tickets are reserved seating and range from $10 to $15 each. As of March 12, we are sold out of club tickets. 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.

The deadline to register and be included in the commemorative program was November 22nd. If you registered by this date, your name will be listed. If you missed the deadline, you can still register to participate in the ceremony, but your name won’t be included in the program.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you are a current student who plans to participate in the campuswide Commencement on May 11, 2024, 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.