Explore common questions about graduation ceremonies at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
General Questions Before Graduation Day
- When will the schedule with ceremony dates and times be available?
- Who do I contact if I want to have grad photos taken prior to graduation day?
- To attend graduation, my family needs a letter of invitation for their visa applications. Can you provide this?
- I am a person with accessibility requirements, who should I call?
- What is a procession number?
- Do I have to wear regalia?
- How do I rent regalia?
- Do my guests need tickets for convocation?
- Can I bring my pet to the ceremonies?
Enrolment Services and the Graduation Application Process Questions
- I’m not sure if I am graduating, who do I contact?
- I specified that I was going to attend my grad ceremony, but I wasn’t able to go. How do I obtain my diploma?
- I specified that I wasn’t going to attend my grad ceremony, but now I can. Is it okay if I go? Who do I contact?
- I have a double major- which group do I cross the stage with?
- My degree is listed wrong, what should I do?
- How do I know which ceremony I am supposed to attend?
Graduation Day and Beyond Questions
- What precautions are you taking to ensure everyone’s safety?
- What should I wear?
- How long do the ceremonies last?
- Are the ceremonies videotaped or photographed?
- I am a past graduate; how do I access my photos or my StageClip video?
If you have any other questions not answered here, please contact Ceremonies and Protocol.
Answers for General Questions Before Graduation
When will the schedule with ceremony dates and times be available?
The Spring Convocation Schedule was released in late March. You can find your ceremony date and time by visiting our Schedule page.
You can also find your Ceremony date and time in your SSC, under the Graduation tab.
Who do I contact if I want to have grad photos taken prior to graduation day?
You can contact a local company called Voth Photography who can take UBC grad portraits ahead of the graduation ceremonies. Portrait services by Grad Images will be available on the days of the ceremonies.
To attend graduation, my family needs a letter of invitation for their visa applications. Can you provide this?
UBC does not provide invitation letters, however you can write a letter yourself, inviting your family to come to your graduation. A template for a letter of invitation can be found on the Global Engagement Office’s website.
I am a person with accessibility requirements, who should I contact?
If you are a graduating student, faculty member or guest in need of captioning services for a ceremony, please contact the Disability Resource Centre at 250.807.9263 at least two weeks prior to your ceremony.
If you are a graduating student or faculty member who has physical accessibility needs/mobility issues, please email okanagan.ceremonies@ubc.ca by June 1.
If you have a guest who has physical accessibility needs, please complete our RSVP form here. Guests with accessibility needs will be provided accessible seating, to ensure we can provide accessible seating to all guests that require it, we limit guests with accessibility needs to bring one person to sit with them.
What is a procession number?
Your procession number tells you the order in which you will cross the stage. For each ceremony, the students are divided alphabetically by specialization (e.g. Anthropology majors before Economics majors) and then alphabetically by last name. Your procession number can be found on the Student Service Centre by viewing your grad application.
Do I have to wear regalia?
All graduates must wear academic regalia (gown and hood) to attend convocation ceremonies. The mortarboard hats for bachelors and masters students are optional. You can find more information about our regalia guidelines on our Graduation Gowns page.
How do I rent regalia?
Information about gown rental will be available on the Grad Gown page in April. If you miss the advance rental period, you can rent your regalia on-site before your ceremony. Please arrive 90 minutes before your ceremony start time. Rentals can be paid for by cash, credit or debit. For any other information regarding gowns, hoods, and mortarboards (hats) please contact the UBC Bookstore Okanagan at 250.807.9246 or ryan.hirowatari@ubc.ca.
Do my guests need tickets for convocation?
No. Guests do not require actual tickets to attend convocation. However, due to the seating capacity of the gymnasium, students may submit RSVPs for their guests starting in April. As a courtesy, please restrict the number of guests to no more than four to ensure that all graduates may have some guests in attendance.
No tickets will be issued for your guests. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information and to RSVP please visit Guest Seating.
Can I bring my pet to the ceremonies?
UBC Okanagan does not allow pets inside campus buildings or at outdoor events, with exception to service animals. For more information about the UBC Okanagan Pet Protocol please click here.
Answers for Enrolment Services and the Graduation Application Process Questions
I’m not sure if I am graduating, who do I contact?
For information relating to degree requirements please contact your faculty/school. Also, you can check your application status online through the Student Services Centre. Login, go to Graduation, on the left side menu click on Apply for Graduation, select the correct degree program, then hit the Get/Edit/View Application button.
I specified that I was going to attend my grad ceremony, but I wasn’t able to go. How do I obtain my diploma?
Please contact Enrolment Services at gradapps.okanagan@ubc.ca
I specified that I wasn’t able to attend my grad ceremony. Now I can. Is it okay if I go? Who do I contact?
You’ll be able to change your selection on the Student Service Centre (SSC) until June 1. If you miss the deadline and would like to change your selection to attending, email Enrolment Services at gradapps.okanagan@ubc.ca. If you haven’t ordered a gown and the rental deadline has passed, you can order and pay for one on the day of. For more information, please see Graduation Gowns.
I have a double major- which group do I cross the stage with?
We sort the majors alphabetically, so a double major in Biology and Physics would graduate with the Biology majors.
My degree is listed wrong, what should I do?
Contact the Graduation department of Enrolment Services at gradapps.okanagan@ubc.ca.
How do I know which ceremony I am supposed to attend?
Please visit your grad application information in the Student Service Centre.
Answers for Graduation Day and Beyond Questions
What precautions are you taking to ensure everyone’s safety?
Graduation ceremonies are being planned in accordance with public health guidance as well as UBC policies. Graduating students and guests are encouraged to review and adhere to UBC COVID-19 health and safety requirements, and Campus Rules. Campus rules may be updated from time to time, and further details will be shared in communications with graduating students and in these FAQ as we get closer to graduation ceremony dates.
What should I wear?
In advance of your graduation ceremony, you will have rented regalia. Prior to your ceremony, you will be picking up a loose-fitting, black (or doctoral), below-knee-length gown/regalia to wear over your clothes during the ceremony. The gown is warm, and it will cover most of your clothing, but your collar will be visible, as will your legs and feet, especially when you walk across the stage to receive your diploma. Handbags are not part of the academic regalia; if you must bring one, you can leave it at your seat in the Gymnasium. Some prefer to bring a very small one with a shoulder strap that can be worn underneath the gown.
How long do the ceremonies last?
Ceremonies run approximately 90 minutes, depending on the number of students graduating.
Are the ceremonies videotaped or photographed?
Yes, all ceremonies are videotaped and photographed. Please visit our archived webcast page approximately 3-4 weeks after Convocation to watch videos of the ceremonies online. Please visit Graduation Photos for more information about photography services available on your Convocation day.
After the ceremonies you will be given the opportunity to download a personalized video of your walk across the stage through StageClip.
I am a past graduate; how do I access my photos or my StageClip video?
If you have not received an email from GradImages or StageClip 2-3 weeks after the ceremonies, you can search for your photos and StageClip videos using the following:
Photos: Visit the GradImages website here and input your Last Name, School, and Year you graduated to search for your photos
StageClip Videos: All past graduate StageClip videos can be accessed at https://ubco.stageclip.com. Note: StageClip videos are only available for one year after your graduation date.