Commencement

Guide for Graduating Seniors

Get information about participating in Commencement and Reunion Weekend as a graduating senior, including how and when to wear regalia, participate in the College, University and departmental ceremonies and include guests in the celebration.

Receiving Your Degree

Graduating seniors for May 2025, including those who completed requirements in Summer 2024 or December 2024, must complete the Application to Graduate. If you are receiving multiple concentrations or specific interdepartmental concentrations, you will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar in late January, to your brown.edu email address, with instructions on choosing a ceremony location. Important graduation deadlines can be found on the Registrar's website. Visit the College website for information about general undergraduate degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

Wearing Regalia

Graduating seniors must wear regalia for the Baccalaureate Service (gown only) on Saturday and the Commencement ceremonies (cap and gown) on 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. Remember to hang regalia beforehand to avoid that “just out of the package” look. 

If you are unable to pick up your regalia during Grad Fair, you can purchase keepsake regalia from the Brown Bookstore. 

More information regarding regalia is available on the Brown Bookstore website.

Inviting Guests to Commencement

The University and College Commencement ceremonies on Sunday are not ticketed. Students are advised to bring no more than four to five 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. 

Due to limited seating capacity, only seniors are allowed into the church for Baccalaureate on Saturday. All guests and family members are invited to watch the ceremony from Front Green, where the event is livestreamed. 

Lining Up for Procession

Details about the lineup for the Commencement Procession and other directions will be posted closer to Commencement.

Additional Guidance

Departmental Ceremony

Graduating seniors are encouraged to attend their departmental ceremony on Sunday. All departmental ceremonies are held after the University ceremony concludes.