Candidates from the College, and all 11 divisions and schools are invited to participate in the ceremony.

No, candidates are not required to participate in the University-wide ceremony. Though not required, candidate participation is strongly recommended as this is where degrees are formally conferred by President A. Paul Alivisatos.  

Degree candidates will line up in a designated area within their respective division or school. Within that group, candidates may sit in any order during the university-wide ceremony.

Lineup Locations:
The College (Undergraduates):
Undergraduate degree candidates, or those receiving Bachelor degrees, will assemble in Bartlett Quadrangle.

Divisions and Schools:
All graduate degrees, master and doctoral, will assemble in Harper Quadrangle. 

University-wide Ceremony:
Tickets are not required to attend the University-wide Convocation ceremony, and all are welcome to attend.  

College Diploma Ceremonies (Undergraduates):
Tickets are not required for the College (undergraduate) Diploma Ceremonies. 

Division and School Ceremonies:
Tickets may be required for the smaller division and school diploma ceremonies.  You are encouraged to check with your respective Dean of Students office for details.

The University-wide Convocation ceremony is outdoors on the Main Quadrangle and will take place rain or shine, so we recommend all attendees come prepared for the weather. The ceremony may be shortened due to inclement weather.  In the event of extreme, threatening weather, appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of all degree candidates and guests.  Details will be posted on the Convocation website or announced broadly at the ceremony.

College Diploma Ceremonies (Undergraduates):
Graduates of the College and their guests are invited to attend a luncheon, Diploma Ceremony, and reception at various locations across campus. Graduates are honored individually through the presentation of diplomas. Please see location assignment and other details on the College Diploma Ceremony page.

Division and School Ceremonies:
Each division and school will hold their own ceremony or event.  Some may also provide lunches or receptions to graduates and their guests. Please see the individual division and school schedules for more details.

Guests who prefer an indoor location may view a live broadcast of the University Convocation ceremony in Kent Auditorium and Bond Chapel, which is located within the Main Quadrangles. Please note that seating is limited.  

Yes, the University Convocation ceremony will be broadcasted for all guests who are unable to attend in person. The viewing link will be shared on the convocation.uchicago.edu website closer to Convocation. 

Please visit the Accessibility and Accommodations page, where information about reasonable accommodations for candidates and guests can be submitted via the Accommodation Request Form. 

To participate in Convocation, degree candidates must have satisfied all curricular requirements and passed all prescribed examinations before the deadlines published by the Office of the University Registrar or have the approval of their area Dean of Students office.

For additional details, please refer to Office of the University Registrar.

To participate in Convocation, degree candidates must have satisfied all curricular requirements and passed all prescribed examinations before the deadlines published by the Office of the University Registrar or have the approval of their area Dean of Students office.

For additional details, please refer to Office of the University Registrar.

Be sure to check with your Dean of Students Office, Academic Advisor, and any organization of which you are affiliated with.

You should contact your Dean of Students office to see if you will be permitted to walk early. If not, you will need to return the following June.

There is one, annual Convocation each June. You may receive your diploma at the conclusion of the quarter in which you graduate. If you have additional questions, it is encouraged that you consult your division or school Dean of Students Office.

Support letters are not required for B1/B2 visa applications, but you can prepare an optional supplemental letter for your family and friends using this template on OIA’s website. You can also print out the official convocation details from the university website or print out a formal confirmation email you have received regarding convocation details.

cAlert is the University’s emergency notification system. In a life-threatening situation that requires immediate action, cAlert sends every member of our community a short message.

You may enroll in cAlert by texting "UChicagoConvo2025" to 226787 to receive SMS text message emergency alerts from the University of Chicago Department of Safety and Security. Following Convocation, all who signed up to receive cAlerts can text "stop" to 226787 to be removed from the system.