Graduating doctoral students should ensure they have completed the essential steps to participate in Commencement weekend listed on the Receiving Your Graduate Degree webpage on the Graduate School website. Graduating students must complete these steps before they can register themselves or their guests for wristbands, which will grant them access to the College Green area during Commencement.

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 is available on the Brown Bookstore website.

The Doctoral Ceremony is not ticketed; however, all graduating doctoral students must register online in advance to receive smart wristbands that will grant themselves and their guests access to the College Green area and key ceremonies and events throughout Commencement and Reunion Weekend, including the Doctoral Ceremony, Procession and University Ceremony on Sunday.

View a list of events requiring smart wristbands, as well as step-by-step instructions and the wristband registration link, on the Wristband Registration page. Students are encouraged to register by Friday, May 1 to ensure they can print and distribute wristbands in advance of the weekend. Wristbands can be printed at the Grad Fair on May 7 and other designated times and locations. 

Wristbands are nontransferable and must be registered and printed by the graduating student. All guests are subject to security screening and bag checks. 

Students are advised to register up to eight guests each; seating is on a first-come basis. Some departmental ceremonies do ticket, so it is important to confirm this with your department in advance. 

Visit the Event Access and Ticketing page for more information about Commencement access.

Guidance for International Guests

International students who want to invite family members to attend Commencement can find information about obtaining a visitor visa on the International Student and Scholar Services website.

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

• National Anthem
• Invocation
• Doctoral student speaker
• Awards presentation
• Conferral of degrees
• Benediction
• Alma Mater

Because there is no formal rehearsal, the Graduate School has developed the following instructions to help you (graduating doctoral students) prepare to participate in the ceremony on Sunday. 

Throughout the University Procession and Doctoral Ceremony, please be respectful of fellow graduating students by keeping the line moving and allowing each person to have their moment on stage.

Prepare your Stage Pass.

If you plan to participate in the Doctoral Ceremony, you must have a Stage Pass. Log into your Tassel account in advance and either print your Stage Pass (recommended) and bring it with you on Sunday or have it readily accessible on your phone.

Proceed to the ceremony location.

Graduating students and faculty participating in the Doctoral Ceremony will walk to Pembroke Field during the University Procession on Sunday morning. The Doctoral Ceremony will begin directly following the University Procession. Make sure you are wearing your smart wristband and have your Stage Pass with you when you line up for the Procession. 

May graduates: You will need a photo ID to receive your diploma cover.

Take your seat at the ceremony.

At the ceremony location, staff members will direct you where to sit.

Rise as a group, then approach and ascend the stage.

When directed, you will stand with other students in your row and move in a line to the stairs at the left side of the stage. Your doctoral hood should be draped over your left arm. Shortly before you reach the left staircase your photo will be taken and a staff member will scan your Grad Pass.

Your name will be announced on stage as you reach the top of the stairs. When your name is called, cross to the middle of the stage to the Corporation member. Shake the Corporation member’s hand with your right hand, and take a diploma cover from the Corporation member with your left hand.

Complete the hooding ceremony.

Continue across the stage and stop in front of the two deans in charge of hooding. Hand your unbuttoned hood to one of the deans and turn to face the audience. The dean will place the hood over your head so it drapes down your back. Smile for a photo once your hood is in place.

Exit the stage and have your photo taken.

After your photo is taken, continue to the right side of the stage (facing the audience), exiting down the stairs on that side. Return the diploma cover to the person waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Your official diploma and cover will be mailed in June. (October and February graduates will have already received theirs.)

October or February doctoral graduates: Continue straight to the photo station as directed.

May doctoral graduates: Continue straight to the photo station as directed, then go backstage to pick up your personal diploma cover (photo ID required).

All graduating students must register with GradImages in advance to receive photos taken during the ceremony.

Return to your seat.

Return to your seat to watch the remainder of the ceremony, which includes the benediction, singing of the Alma Mater and recessional. Please do not leave early, out of respect for other graduating students and their guests.

Make your way to the University Ceremony.

After the Doctoral ceremony concludes, you and your guests are invited to make your 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. There is limited seating reserved for doctoral graduates on the College Green.

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

Graduating students who require accessibility accommodations for Commencement should contact Student Accessibility Services at 401-863-9588 or SAS@brown.edu as soon as possible.

Guests of graduating students who require accessibility accommodations for Commencement should complete the Guest Accessibility Accommodation Request Form by May 1.

Visit the Accessibility Accommodations page for additional information.

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 and dissertation, can also be shared or downloaded through the virtual ceremony webpage. (A link will be available the week of May 18.) Students must submit slide information through the Tassel platform when they complete their ceremony registration.

Graduating doctoral students must register with GradImages in advance to receive photos taken during the ceremony. Students will receive proofs of both on- and off-stage poses. They will receive one free photo and can purchase additional photos through the GradImages website.

Register with GradImages