Below you will find answers to common questions regarding your graduation celebration. You can click on the question below to get your answer.
FAQs
Students who are potentially eligible to graduate will receive an email invitation to Convocation with instructions regarding how to register. Visit the Ceremonies page for more information about registering.
If you are a past graduate and would like to request a walkthrough at a future ceremony, please visit the Walkthrough Info page.
There are no February convocation ceremonies. All February graduates will automatically be invited to the following convocation ceremonies that take place in the spring, typically in June.
The 2025 Spring Convocation ceremony schedule is now available on the Convocation Ceremonies page.
Students who are graduating with a double major will be invited to the ceremony of their first major. Please check the top of your most recent grade report to see which of your majors is first.
Except for handbags (must not exceed 6”x9”), bags are not permitted in convocation ceremonies.
You may give your bag to your guests for safe-keeping or use our complimentary bag check service.
Items not permitted on convocation grounds:
- Fireworks of any kind including, but not limited to, flares, smoke bombs, incendiary devices and pyrotechnics
- Alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs or harmful chemicals
- Aerosol cans or pressurized containers
- Professional camera equipment, including but not limited to, tripods, battery packs, large commercial video cameras
- Glass bottles or containers
- Noisemakers, including, but not limited to, bullhorns, whistles and horns
- Laser pointers
- Remote controlled aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems (drones)
- Hover-boards
- Selfie sticks
- Beach balls or other inflatable items
- Animals (excluding service animals)
- Weapons of any kind including, but not limited to, knives, pepper spray, stun guns, concealed weapons and firearms
- Any other object deemed unsatisfactory by the management of Sobeys Stadium are strictly prohibited on the Grounds.
Items not permitted for graduands to bring on stage:
- Personal effects or apparel such as bags, valuables, or jackets
Sobeys Stadium reserves the right to limit items that may be brought on the grounds. Please leave any unnecessary or prohibited items at home or in you vehicle.
All guests attending a convocation ceremony are required to have a ticket for entry. Tickets are barcoded and can only be used once. Each graduand will be able to claim up to 3 guest tickets. Availability of guest tickets may vary by ceremony and is dependent on capacity.
Children under the age of three (3) do not need a ticket and can accompany an adult, sharing their seat.
Please note:
Graduands do not require a guest ticket to attend their own convocation. The robe rental confirmation page acts as a student ticket to convocation.
No, there is no cost for guests' tickets. However, when you RSVP to attend the ceremony, students will be required to pay a fee for robe rental.
If tickets remain available after the RSVP deadline, graduands who have requested additional tickets through the online Extra Ticket Request Form may be granted extra tickets. The form is available in the RSVP portal and can only be completed after submitting an RSVP.
Only guests with tickets will be admitted. A request does not guarantee that you will be granted extra tickets. We recommend that you do not make plans until you have received a decision from the Convocation Office. Decision are typically made 1 week prior to your ceremony.
Please e-mail convo@yorku.ca or call the Convocation Office at 416-736-5325 to leave a voicemail.
We understand the importance of having your loved ones from overseas join you in celebrating your convocation. If you are an international student in need of a letter to invite your family or friends to attend the ceremony, you can request an "eligible to graduate" letter from the Request a Letter website. As well, consult the Government of Canada's Citizenship and Immigration website for full visa requirements.
For assistance or to request a special and personalized confirmation letter, please send an email to yuverify@yorku.ca.
Two weeks prior to convocation, graduating students who RSVP’d to attend convocation will receive an email invitation from our partner NameCoach to voice-record their name and provide the phonetic pronunciation of their name for their graduation ceremony.
A professional name reader will review submissions to help ensure that it’s announced/pronounced correctly at the ceremony.
Your official name is what appears on the screen and on your name card. If you want a different name read or don't want one of your middle names read for example, you could use a pen on site to revise directly on the name card and our professional name reader will review on site and seek any clarification if needed.
Most convocation ceremonies are webcast live and a link to the live feed will be available on the Convocation website. Please note that copies of the webcast will not be available after the ceremony is over.
Please note: in some instances (eg. places of business) you may not be able to obtain the live feed due to firewall or security restrictions. Please check in advance with your technical support.
Provided that your eligibility is received prior to the printing production deadline for convocation, you will receive the diploma/certificate you are entitled to on the day of your ceremony.
Those unable to attend the convocation ceremonies should refer to the Registrar's Office website to learn more about pick-up dates and location.
To inquire about having your diploma/certificate mailed, please contact diplomas@yorku.ca.
Refer to the Registrar’s Office website to learn more about diploma pick-up dates and location.
To inquire about having your diploma/certificate mailed, please contact diplomas@yorku.ca.
A professional photographer from Grad Images will capture photos of grads as they cross the stage and greet the chancellor. Photo proofs will be sent by email within a week after the ceremony. Visit the Photography & Videos page for more information.
Individual video clips of graduates crossing the stage are offered for purchase by StageClip. An email with a link to preview and purchase your video will be sent within a week after your ceremony. Visit the Photography & Videos page for more information.
Robe rental fees are not refundable, please contact the Convocation Office at convo@yorku.ca if you have additional questions.
Those unable to attend the convocation ceremonies should refer to the Registrar's Office website to learn more about diploma pick-up dates and location.
We will continue the practice of welcoming students, faculty and guests who identify as Indigenous, Metis or Inuit to wear traditional ceremonial dress. Use of custom or individualized stoles or pins is an opportunity that will be considered in the future.
To check your status and find more details, please visit the Graduation Eligibility and Status webpage. For additional clarification or if you have any questions, please contact the Degree Audit Office at degaud@yorku.ca. They will be more than happy to assist you further with any inquiries regarding your graduation status.
Please note that receival of an invitation to Convocation does not confirm your eligibility to graduate. If you have RSVP'd to attend convocation but are no longer eligible to graduate, you will be notified by the Registrar's Office and provided instructions on how to request a robe rental refund.
Graduation is the term used to acknowledge that you have met your degree requirements and you have been approved by Senate to graduate from the program. Convocation refers to the ceremony where the Chancellor confers the degree.
If you are currently in the final term of your program and anticipate graduating, it is essential to submit an application to graduate. To access detailed information about the application process, deadlines, graduation eligibility, and status updates, we encourage you to visit the Apply to Graduate webpage.
For more information on how to prepare for graduation, please visit the Preparing to Graduate webpage.
York University’s policy is to print the name of your degree on your diploma (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts with Honours).
Other academic information including "Specialized Honours" and your major will appear on your transcript.
To explore the list of academic honours bestowed upon graduating students by each Faculty, please click here. It is important to note that while not all academic honours are printed on the diploma, such as the distinction of being a Member of the Dean's Honour Roll, they will be duly recorded on your official transcript.
To prevent any delay in receiving your diploma, it is crucial to settle any outstanding financial obligations with York University. To ensure you have no outstanding balance, please follow these steps:
- Check Your Student Account to view your balance and make payments.
- Check your Library Account for outstanding fines.
- Contact Parking Services for outstanding parking violations.
Please e-mail convo@yorku.ca or call the Convocation Office at 416-736-5325 to leave a voicemail.