Berkeley Commencement

An in-person, campuswide ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, 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 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 [email protected] seven to 10 days before the event. ADA guest tickets will be available for purchase.

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.

Download a copy or contact us to arrange to pick one up.

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

Yes. Commencement is free for graduates, but you must register. Registration for the Class of 2024 winter ceremony will open this fall.

Graduates must register to participate in Commencement and get listed in the printed program. Registration for the Class of 2024 winter ceremony will open in the fall, at which time we will communicate the deadline for getting listed. If you miss that deadline, you can still register for the ceremony, but your name won’t be listed.

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.

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.
   

Yes. Guest tickets for the Class of 2024 winter ceremony on December 21 will go on sale this fall. The ceremony will be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu.

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.