Convocation

All students and alumni of Arts and Sciences programs who meet the criteria below are eligible to participate in both GSAS Convocation and University Commencement. 

PhD/DMA students

You are eligible to participate in both the May 2025 Doctoral Convocation and the May 2025 University Commencement if:

• Your degree is conferred in October 2024 or February 2025, or
• You successfully defend your dissertation on or before Friday, May 16, 2025, or
• You are scheduled to defend no later than Wednesday, May 21, 2025, and your Application for the Dissertation Defense form has been approved by GSAS

If you are planning to participate in GSAS Convocation and University Commencement in 2025, you must verify your eligibility and register for GSAS Convocation by Monday, March 31, 2025.

MA students

You are eligible to participate in both the May 2025 Master’s Convocation and the May 2025 University Commencement if:

• Your degree is conferred in October 2024 or February 2025,
• You expect your degree to be conferred in May 2025 and you file an application for the MA with the Registrar, or
• You expect your degree to be conferred in October 2025 and you submit a program-approved Graduation Ceremonies Participation Petition to the GSAS Office of Student Affairs by April 1, 2025. (Note: This petition form does not substitute for the mandatory application for the MA degree, which you must still file with the Registrar by its deadline for the October degree conferral.) Please note: The names of students whose degrees will be conferred in October 2025 will be printed in the Convocation booklet in May 2026

If you are planning to participate in GSAS Convocation and University Commencement in 2025, you must verify your eligibility and register for GSAS Convocation by Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Note: Participation in GSAS Convocation and University Commencement does not constitute conferral of a Columbia degree.

If you are planning to participate in GSAS Convocation and University Commencement, you must verify your eligibility and register by Monday, March 31, 2025. GSAS uses this registration information to identify students who are eligible to access the ticketing system and to send you important details regarding GSAS Convocation, including how to ensure that your name is pronounced correctly during the Convocation ceremony.

• Verify your eligibility and register for GSAS Convocation here.

For more information about ticketing, please visit the GSAS Convocation FAQ and consult the Ticketing & Registration dropdown.

Yes. Please refer to the Convocation FAQ page and consult the Regalia dropdown tab for more information.

Name cards are required for GSAS Convocation and are used to announce your name as you cross the stage. After you register for GSAS Convocation (see above), you will be able to provide notes on the proper pronunciation of your name. Professional photographers will also use these name cards to identify the student in each photograph.

You may pick up your name card in person in 107 Low Library Wednesday to Friday 9:15 am–5:45 pm the week prior to Convocation. If you are unable to collect your name card in advance, or have forgotten or lost your name card, you may obtain a copy at the designated table in Lerner Hall on the day of Convocation. Please note that you will receive instructions on how to confirm that your name is correct and to provide a preferred name or pronunciation notes before April 15, 2025. Any graduate who does not have a preprinted card with their preferred name when approaching the stage at Convocation will have their name read by a live reader, and their name will not appear on the jumbotron screens or the video of Convocation.

Diplomas will be mailed following graduation to the "Diploma (DP) Address" that is on file, based on each graduate’s degree conferral date. Verify or update your DP address on Student Services Online (SSOL). Please contact [email protected] with any additional questions.

A professional photograph of each degree recipient will be available for purchase from Island Photography, the official event photographer. Island Photography will contact graduates via email in the days following Convocation. To ensure that you receive your link to view and purchase your photograph, please click on the relevant link below to register with Island Photography:

• Doctoral graduates register here [link to come].
• Master’s graduates register here [link to come].

GSAS Convocations will be livestreamed by the University at this link on the University Commencement website.