Graduating Students

Faculty of Arts and Science 

Students in the Faculty of Arts and Science who expect to graduate at the end of a given session, must indicate their intent to graduate through ACORN. Prospective graduands can find Instructions for Graduating Students on the Faculty of Arts and Science website. 

University of Toronto Mississauga 

Students at the University of Toronto Mississauga can find Graduation and Convocation information on the University of Toronto Mississauga website. 

University of Toronto Scarborough 

Students at the University of Toronto Scarborough can find Graduation information on the University of Toronto Scarborough website. 

School of Graduate Studies 

Please visit the School of Graduate Studies website for details. 

Professional Programs 

Please contact the Registrar’s Office in your program for details. 

Your diploma will feature your name listed in ACORN and it’s important that it is correct. 

We recommend that the name displayed on your diploma is your legal name as future employers, licensing bodies, or other educational institutions may require proof the documents match.  

• Log into ACORN, select the Graduation & Convocation tab and review your “name on diploma” 
• If your name is missing accents or you do not want a period to be inserted after an initial, complete the Accents on Diploma form
• For all other changes, reach out to your Faculty or College’s Registrar’s Office  
• The deadline to submit your form or complete your name change for  Convocation In Absentia 2026 in March is Monday, February 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM ***The form for those graduating in Spring 2026 (June) will be active in early March***
• Fees will apply for any name changes received after the deadline 

• Make sure that you don’t have any outstanding balances.
• While you will be able to attend Convocation, as per the University of Toronto Policy on Academic Sanctions for Students Who Have Outstanding University Obligations your diploma will be held until your account is reconciled and you have shown proof of payment to your Registrar’s Office.

• Find your ceremony date and time (you may only attend the ceremony at which your degree is being conferred)
• Rent or purchase your academic regalia between October 1 and October 13 from our supplier Harcourts

Only graduating students who are attending their ceremony are eligible to receive a maximum of two guest tickets, if ordered during the RSVP period. Please note that guest tickets cannot be guaranteed if you miss the RSVP deadline.

• Order tickets for your guests (dates for Spring 2026 TBA) 
  • Select the Graduation & Convocation tab on ACORN 
  • Use your gown rental ID from your Harcourts confirmation to process your order 
  • Indicate if you or your guests require an accessibility accommodation 
    • Graduating students needing accessibility arrangements will be contacted by the Office of Convocation after the RSVP deadline has passed
  • Graduating students do not require a ticket to attend their own convocation ceremony 
  • Tickets can be downloaded beginning TBA. Extra tickets, if available, will also be available to download at this time. If you do not receive all of the extra tickets you requested it means we are at capacity and do not have any additional tickets remaining.
• All guests require a ticket to attend convocation which must be requested by a graduating student 
  • Children less than 24 months of age do not require a ticket if they do not sit in a seat and are accompanied by an adult guest with a ticket 
• Tickets are only available for guests of students who are attending their convocation ceremony 
• There is no charge for convocation tickets  
• Tickets are not transferable, and the sale of convocation tickets is strictly prohibited 

If tickets become available because members of the graduating class are not attending their convocation, they will be released to those who have replied via our online form indicating that they will be attending.  

• You can request extra tickets via the online RSVP and Ticket Request form available through ACORN (dates for Spring 2026 TBA).
• Confirmation of your allotment of extra tickets (if requested and granted) will be available through ACORN (dates for Spring 2026 TBA)
• Extra tickets are NOT allotted on a first come, first served basis. Everyone who requests non-guaranteed extra tickets during the RSVP period has equal access to any available non-guaranteed extra tickets. Non-guaranteed extra tickets are allotted via a random algorithm after the RSVP deadline. 

One of the most significant moments of your convocation ceremony is having your name read aloud when you cross the stage. It is highly important that your name is pronounced accurately, and you are the best person to provide this guidance. 

• Watch your University of Toronto inbox for an email from our partner, Namecoach (no-reply@name-coach.com)
• Follow the link and voice-record your name and/or provide the phonetic pronunciation of your name by the deadline. (dates for Spring 2026 TBA)
• On the day of your ceremony, you can also make minor changes to your name on the presenter card that you will be given to help the reader pronounce your name or announce your preferred name. Your presenter card may also have notes written in red to help the reader with pronouncing all or part of your name. 

An alternate viewing venue will be available during all ceremonies. The venue, located directly south of Convocation Hall in the Sanford Fleming building, Room 1101, is fully accessible and will broadcast the livestream. 

Ceremonies will be webcast and can be viewed on the Convocation Hub. The video will only be live on the website once the ceremony has started.  

• Spring 2025 Ceremonies 
• Fall 2024 Ceremonies 
• Spring 2024 Ceremonies 
• Fall 2023 Ceremonies 
• Spring 2023 Ceremonies
• Archived Ceremony Videos 

• Select the Graduation & Convocation tab on ACORN 
• RSVP “not attending” (dates for Spring 2026 TBA)

Review options to get your diploma.

• All candidates must wear academic gowns and hoods. Most gowns, except for doctoral gowns which are clasped at the top and worn open, have a zippered front and normally fall to just below the knee. This is your celebration, please dress accordingly! Don’t forget your footwear – there will be long periods of standing and walking. 
• Note that pins, sashes, stoles, cords, hats, buttons, flags, signs, and other accessories are not part of the University of Toronto academic regalia and cannot be worn or carried into Convocation Hall.
• Plan for the weather. Many aspects of the event take place outdoors: your arrival, the procession to Convocation Hall, after the event, etc. If you choose to wear a coat over your gown or use an umbrella for the procession into Convocation Hall, you will need to store the items under your seat in the Hall. 
• Regretfully, there is no coat check at either the marshalling area or Convocation Hall.

• Arrive 90 minutes prior to your ceremony. 
• Guests should proceed directly to Convocation Hall to be seated. All guests require a ticket. 
• All guests – including children – must remain in the guest seating area and are not permitted to accompany graduates to the marshalling area, the graduate seating area, or cross the stage with a graduate.
• Collect your regalia at the JJR Macleod Auditorium (1 King’s College Circle). 
• Proceed to the marshalling area in the Naylor Commons of the Medical Sciences Building to collect your marshalling card and to assemble for the procession.  
• All graduating students must be in the marshalling area at least 75 minutes prior to the ceremony.

• You will line up by number as indicated on your marshalling card. This is the order you will process into Convocation Hall and be presented to the Chancellor.  
• Make sure to stay in order so that you receive your correct diploma. 
• Keep your marshalling card safe and hand it to the Marshals when requested. This is the card that the Name Reader will use to announce your name so don’t fold or lose it. 
• The Student Marshals will lead you to Convocation Hall in order where they will help show you to your seat.

• Convocation begins with the arrival of the Academic Procession (faculty and staff) followed by the Chancellor’s Procession (Chancellor, President, senior administrators, honoured guests) including the Eagle Feather Bearer, Bedel who carries the University Mace, and Esquires who carry the University Staves. Please rise if you are able during these processions. 
• The Chancellor or their representative will invite everyone except those graduating to be seated. Remain standing. 
• The President or their representative will present all scholars to the Chancellor or their representative and ask that the degrees be conferred. This all takes place in Latin, but you will have a ceremony program with the language in English so can follow along. 
• After the conferral, you will sit down.  
• Following the Convocation Address given by an honorary degree recipient or guest speaker, the Marshals will start assisting graduates to cross the stage. 
• Follow the directions of the Marshals and make your way to the stage with your marshalling card when directed. 
• Stand in the taped square on stage until your name has been announced and then follow the red carpet off the stage. 
• Collect your diploma outside the seating area after signing for it. 
• Have your photo taken by our official photographer. 
• Continue to follow the Marshals and head back to your seat until the end of the ceremony. 
• Once all graduates have crossed the stage, the Chancellor will close Convocation followed by the singing of O Canada.  
• Follow the Marshals who will lead you outside where you can meet your guests.

• Meet up with your guests outside Convocation Hall and enjoy celebrating your big moment!  
• Visit the Alumni booth for your alumni pin and the Bookstore where you can purchase diploma frames and other memorabilia.  
• Return your regalia within 60 minutes of the end of your ceremony. 
• Take advantage of the full range of services offered by Alumni Relations for new graduates. 
• Revisit your special moment by accessing the webcast archive of your ceremony.