Graduating doctoral students must complete the Application to Graduate in Self-Service Banner by April 18, 2025, as well as register to attend the Doctoral Ceremony and other weekend events through the Tassel platform by April 29, 2025. This secondary registration process will open in late February; you will be notified via email. See additional information about receiving your doctoral degree on the Graduate School website. Important graduation deadlines can be found on the Registrar’s website.

Receiving Your Graduate Degree

Regalia (cap or tam, gown and hood) must be worn for the Procession and Commencement ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday. Commissioning students and those with military service have the option to wear formal military attire in place of the cap and gown if they so choose and if permitted according to their status with the military. More information regarding the purchase and rental of regalia will be available on the Brown Bookstore website in late January.

The Doctoral Ceremony is not ticketed. Students are advised to bring up to four guests each; seating is first come, first served. Some departmental ceremonies do ticket, so it is important to confirm this with your department in advance. During the registration process in Tassel, you will have the opportunity to share email addresses for your guests, so that they will receive information about Commencement and Reunion Weekend.

Graduating doctoral students should complete the 2025 Award Form by May 1, 2025, to submit awards and honors received while a doctoral student at Brown, which will be included in the Commencement program. Diploma name, degree and program are submitted as part of the Application to Graduate process.

Doctoral graduates are asked to report to Waterman Street by 9 a.m. Lineup begins at Faunce Arch, facing west, on the north side of Waterman Street. Academic regalia is required to participate in the University Procession and the Doctoral Ceremony.

Doctoral graduates march through the Van Wickle Gates and take an immediate right onto Prospect Street and right again on Waterman Street. They take a left onto Thayer Street and process to Pembroke Field for the Doctoral Ceremony.

The Doctoral Ceremony celebrates the academic achievements of those graduating from Brown University doctoral programs. The order of events during the ceremony is:

• Invocation
• Doctoral student speaker
• Awards presentation
• Conferral of degrees
• Benediction

Because there is no formal rehearsal, the Graduate School has prepared guidance for students to prepare for and participate in the ceremony on Sunday, May 25. Please review the following instructions to understand how to participate. Videos provide a visual guide to each step of the process. Questions about Commencement for doctoral students should be sent to gradschool-commencement@brown.edu.

Graduating students and guests with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the office of Student Accessibility Services directly prior to Commencement and Reunion Weekend.

Access Stage Pass

Graduating doctoral students must access their Stage Pass for the Doctoral Ceremony by logging into Tassel (see the personalized email scheduled for Monday, May 19). Students should either print the Stage Pass (recommended) or prepare to have it readily accessible on their phone at the ceremony.

Proceed to the ceremony location

Graduating students and faculty participating in the Doctoral Ceremony will continue on to Pembroke Field during the University Procession on Sunday morning. The Doctoral Ceremony will begin directly following the University Procession. Graduates should make sure to have their Grad Pass and ID with them when they line up for the Procession.

Take your seat at the ceremony

Upon arrival at the ceremony location, graduating doctoral students will be directed where to sit. Students should take a seat quickly so the program can begin promptly.

Rise as a group, then approach and ascend the stage

When directed, students should stand by row and move in a line to the stairs at the left side of the stage. The student’s doctoral hood should be draped over their left arm. Shortly before the student reaches the left staircase they will have their Grad Pass scanned.

The student’s name will be announced on stage as they reach the top of the stairs. When their name is called, the student should cross to the middle of the stage to the Corporation member, shake the Corporation member’s hand with their right hand, and take a diploma cover from the Corporation member with their left hand.

Complete the hooding ceremony

The student will continue across the stage and stop in front of the two deans in charge of hooding. They will hand their unbuttoned hood to one of the deans and turn to face the audience. The dean will place the hood over the student’s head so it drapes down their back.

Exit the stage

After the student’s photo is taken, they will continue to the right side of the stage (facing the audience), exiting down the stairs on that side. The student then will return the diploma cover to the person waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

October or February doctoral graduates will continue straight to the photo station as directed.

May doctoral graduates will continue straight to the photo station as directed, then go backstage to pick up their personal diploma cover.

Students should bring their Brown ID for proof of identification.

Return to your seat

Students should return to their original seat to watch the remainder of the ceremony, which includes the benediction, singing of the Alma Mater and recessional. Students are asked not to leave early, out of respect for other graduating students and their guests.

Make your way to the University Ceremony

After the ceremony concludes, students and their guests are invited to make their way to the University Ceremony taking place on College Green. The president will preside over this ceremony, conferring honorary degrees as well as symbolic degrees. On College Green there is limited seating reserved for doctoral graduates as well as simulcast options for guests.

Departmental ceremonies are held after the University Ceremony. Doctoral students should check in with their program beforehand to see if they should attend the departmental ceremony or if their program is hosting an alternative event for doctoral students.

Graduate slides with the name, degree and program of the graduating student display on a screen when their name is called during the Doctoral Ceremony. A second version of the slide, with an optional photo, can also be shared or downloaded through the virtual ceremony webpage (search by name or degree to view other members of Brown’s graduate Class of 2025). A link will be provided the week of Commencement. All slide information is submitted through the Tassel platform when graduates complete their ceremony registration.

Graduating doctoral students may sign up with GradImages to have photos taken during the ceremony. 

Sign up for GradImages