Graduating master’s students must complete the Application to Graduate in the Banner web portal by April 17, as well as register to attend the Master’s Ceremony and other weekend events through the Tassel platform by April 27. Graduating students must complete these steps before they can register themselves or their guests for wristbands, which will grant them access to the Master’s Ceremony and other events at Commencement. Learn more on the Master’s Programs website. Important graduation deadlines can be found on the Registrar’s website.

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. Master's students may purchase keepsake regalia during Grad Fair or directly from the Brown Bookstore.

Concurrent undergraduate/graduate students may purchase and wear master's or undergraduate regalia.

Dual degree master's students should select only one hood color.

The Master’s Ceremony is not ticketed; however, all graduating master’s and professional students must register online in advance to receive scannable wristbands that will grant themselves and their guests access to the Master’s Ceremony, College Green area and key ceremonies and events throughout Commencement and Reunion Weekend.

View a list of events requiring 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 Master’s Commencement Ceremony celebrates the academic achievements of those graduating from Brown University master’s and professional programs. The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a procession to the College Green, with the ceremony starting at 4 p.m., and is expected to last 2.5 hours. Students should arrive for the lineup by 2:30 p.m. Master’s students are also encouraged to join the community-wide University Procession on Sunday.

The order of events during the ceremony is:

• Masters procession to the College Green
• Invocation
• Master’s student speaker
• Awards presentation
• Conferral of degrees
• Benediction

The Division of Master’s and Professional Programs has developed the following instructions to help you (graduating master’s and professional students) prepare to participate in the Master’s Ceremony on Saturday, May 23 on the College Green. Photos provide a visual guide to each step of the process. 

Throughout the Master’s Ceremony and procession to the College Green, as well as during the University Procession on Sunday, 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 Master’s 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 Saturday or have it readily accessible on your phone.

Arrive at Soldiers Memorial Gate by 2:30 p.m.

Make sure you are wearing your registered wristband on Saturday; it will grant you access to the Master’s Ceremony and the College Green area on both days of Commencement. Plan to arrive by 2:30 p.m. at the Soldiers Memorial Gate entrance on Thayer Street to line up for the master’s procession to the College Green. Staff members will scan your wristband as you enter. Remember to bring your Stage Pass (printed or on your phone). 

Your guests should arrive, wearing their registered wristbands to be scanned and seated before the master’s procession to the College Green begins. Additional guidance for guest entry will be provided before Commencement. Staff members will scan your wristband as you enter. Remember to bring your Stage Pass (printed or on your phone). 

Line up for the master’s procession to the College Green.

Staff members will help you line up for the master’s procession on either side of Simmons Quad, in order of program. Once everyone is lined up, you will proceed to the College Green and sit with other students in your program on the same side of the green.

Enter the College Green and take a seat.

Staff members will direct you to sit on the College Green with your degree group. There will be two main aisles used for seating. Please take a seat quickly so the ceremony can begin promptly. All chairs should be filled.

Rise as a group and approach the stage.

When it is time to receive degrees, staff members will direct you to rise with your degree group, by row, and move in a line up your side of the aisle. Please have your Stage Pass ready; a staff member will ask to see it and will also check your regalia. Staff members will guide you toward the stage and prompt you when it is time to ascend the outermost staircase at the front of the stage.

Receive your diploma cover.

A staff member will scan your Stage Pass on the stage.

When your name is called, walk to the Corporation member standing or sitting on the side of the stage where you ascended. Take a diploma cover from the Corporation member. 

With your diploma cover in your left hand, approach the dean on the same side of the stage and shake the dean’s right hand. You will pose for a quick photo with the dean, holding your diploma cover.

After the photo, you will descend the center staircase on your side of the stage.

Exit the stage and proceed to a photo tent.

After you exit the stage down the centermost staircase, a staff member will collect your diploma cover and direct you to a photo tent to the left or right of the stage. You will be given a sample diploma cover to hold for photos. Your official diploma and cover will be mailed in June. (If you are an October or February graduate, you should have already received your diploma and cover).

Have your photo taken.

Next, you will have your picture taken with a diploma cover at the photo tent operated by GradImages. You must register with GradImages in advance to receive photos taken during the ceremony.

Return to your seat.

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

Attend the University Ceremony on Sunday.

You are encouraged to participate in the University Procession and Ceremony on Sunday. Remember: You and your guests must be wearing registered wristbands to access the College Green area during Commencement. Guests will watch the Procession from seats on the green. 

Master’s and professional graduates participating in the University Procession are asked to report, wearing wristbands and full academic regalia, to Angell Street by 9:15 a.m., where they will join the Procession lineup. Master’s and professional graduates may arrive through either entrance on Angell Street, where staff members will check their wristbands, but the best location is at Prospect and Angell streets. The Procession will step off at approximately 9:45 a.m. The master’s division will process through the Van Wickle Gates and follow the Procession route. 

Guests may watch a livestream of the Procession from the College Green, or from one of the other livestream viewing locations listed on the Procession page. Wristbands are required to access all locations.

After the Procession, graduates and their guests are invited to the College Green for the University Ceremony, which will begin at around 1:15 p.m. Seating is limited, and specific seating is reserved only for students. Guests are welcome to watch the University Ceremony from other livestream viewing locations, listed on the Procession page. 

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 will display on a screen when their name is called during the Master's Ceremony. A second version of the slide, with an optional photo, 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 master’s and professional 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