Berkeley Commencement

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.

Parking is limited in Berkeley, and we anticipate heavy traffic. We recommend you take public transit. 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. If you need to drive, you can purchase prepaid parking spots. Prepaid ADA parking will be available at a later date to groups with ADA tickets. Parking will sell out.

The gates to California Memorial Stadium will open at 8:30 a.m. Guests with premium tickets in the Stadium Club or the Field Club should enter through Gate 4 on the west side. Guests with tickets in other sections should enter through the gate listed on their ticket.

Guests with ADA tickets or who requested an accommodation for disability access should check in with event staff when they arrive at Memorial Stadium. We will do our best to accommodate your ADA guests and appreciate your patience and cooperation. If you are coming from the ADA-dedicated Stadium Garage, Gate 2 is the best entrance. Otherwise, Gate 6 is the best entrance. An ADA shuttle will run from the Underhill Garage to Gate 6 at the stadium where ADA golf carts will be available if you need assistance from there. We recommend arriving early.

Graduates will begin entering Memorial Stadium at 9 a.m. The ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. and last about 90 minutes. After Commencement, meet your graduate by the Campanile or on Memorial Glade to help keep the roads clear.

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.

Visit calbears.com for information on security screening, the clear bag policy, prohibited items (such as umbrellas and hard plastic bottles), and other event policies. Commencement follows the same code of conduct as football games in California Memorial Stadium.

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

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

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.

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.