Your Convocation Ceremony

All Convocation ceremonies at the University of Toronto take place at Convocation Hall. The Office of Convocation and Convocation Hall are located on the St. George Campus, on King's College Circle. Both are conveniently located in the heart of Toronto. It’s important that you arrive on time and we recommend reviewing the transit and parking options well ahead of your ceremony day.

  • All candidates must wear academic gowns and hoods. Most gowns, except for doctoral gowns, 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.
  • 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.
  • While stoles are sometimes worn as an expression of one's culture or heritage, they are not part of the University’s approved academic regalia and may not be worn during the convocation ceremony. They may, however, be worn under your gown and hood during the ceremony, and after the ceremony has concluded be made visible outside Convocation Hall while celebrating with your friends and family.

  • If an Indigenous graduand wishes to wear their traditional Indigenous regalia in place of the academic gown, they are very welcome to do so. In this context, Indigenous peoples include the First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), and Métis peoples of Canada. In any event, the academic hood – the colour and style of which corresponds to the academic degree earned— must be worn. The hood is the recognition of the graduating student’s academic success and a critical part of the academic tradition. It signifies admission into a community of scholars, and as such must be worn with one’s traditional Indigenous regalia or academic regalia. 

  • Arrive 90 minutes prior to your ceremony.
  • Collect your regalia - location for Spring 2025 to be announced
  • Proceed to the Marshalling area to collect your marshalling card and to assemble for the procession.
  • All graduating students must be in the Marshalling room at least 75 minutes prior to the ceremony.
  • Guests should proceed to Convocation Hall to be seated. All guests require a ticket. Make sure to download your tickets beginning May 15 at 3:00 PM.
    • Graduating students do not require a ticket to attend their own convocation ceremony
    • Tickets are issued only for guests of graduating students who will attend their ceremony
    • Tickets are NOT TRANSFERABLE and cannot be sold
  • 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 when directed.
  • Stand on the X 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 Tent 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.

Note: as e-tickets can only be ordered and printed through ACORN, graduating students must have ACORN access. ACORN access requires a valid UTORid as well as a valid UTmail email address. For best results, please use Google Chrome to access ACORN.

The University of Toronto respects your privacy. Convocation ceremonies and related events are public and recorded in various ways including webcast, video and photography. These images and recordings may be used for official purposes, such as promoting the University of Toronto. If you have any questions, please contact us through our web form and select Convocation Photography & Privacy as the request type.

Graduated Recently?

If you did not attend Convocation, you may obtain your diploma in person at the Office of Convocation or you can arrange to have your diploma delivered.