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Commencement

Find information about Commencement, including tips for students and their guests, the schedule, ordering tickets and regalia, and more.

Commencement is the culmination of all your efforts to earn a graduate degree and will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Commencement week provides multiple opportunities for celebration, including a Dean’s Reception, Harvard’s Commencement Exercises, the Diploma Awarding Ceremony, and the Luncheon and Champagne reception.

Are you a November 2023 graduate, or anticipating a March 2024 or May 2024 degree? Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Register to Participate in Commencement Activities: You must complete a registration to participate in Commencement activities and order your tickets! This is a separate process from applying for your degree. Registration and ticket ordering will launch on April 1 and remain open through April 28. You will receive an email from our office announcing when registration is open and available to you. 
    • Questions about Commencement-related events and activities? Please check the Commencement Events page for more information. 
    • Questions about how to retrieve your tickets after they are ordered? Please check the Commencement Tickets page for more information.  
  2. Secure Academic Regalia: Academic regalia is required for Commencement activities. Regalia ordering will be available via the Harvard COOP beginning on January 15, 2024. Please note: The ordering process and deadlines are different depending on the degree you are receiving. Please read the Academic Regalia carefully for details on how to secure your regalia.
  3. Picking Up Your Tickets: The tickets you ordered through registration will be available for pickup between May 17 and May 22 in the Graduate Student Lounge located in the Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS in Lehman Hall. Tickets are also available for pickup on Commencement morning, May 23, beginning at 6:00 a.m. at the Harvard Griffin GSAS Info Tent located at 33 Oxford Street in front of Maxwell Dworkin. All tickets must be picked up in person by the graduate themselves. No exceptions. For a full schedule of ticket pickup, please visit the Commencement Tickets section.
Events Calendar