Frequently Asked Questions

When you log into the registration site you will see the day and time of your convocation. 

Potential graduates can check their status by logging into Student Center. Go to the Academics tile and choose Graduation to see your current Graduation Status and potential convocation date.

Note: Degree conferred will not appear on an Official Transcript until your convocation.

Potential graduates can check their status by logging into Student Center. Go to the Academics tile and choose Graduation to see your current Graduation Status.

Note: You must be in Program Complete to register for convocation and order guest tickets.

Depending on your ceremony, each graduate is eligible for 2-4 complimentary guest tickets. Ticket numbers are based on the number of students graduating in each ceremony. 

All guests, including children, attending the convocation ceremony will require a ticket.

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Undergraduate, Professional, Certificate and Diploma Students

You must apply to graduate by the deadlines below:

• Spring Convocation (June): Opens March 1, deadline is April 30
• Autumn Convocation (October): Opens July 1, deadline is September 8
• In-Absentia February Convocation: Opens November 1, deadline is January 22

Graduate (School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) Students

You must also apply by the deadlines below:

• Spring Convocation (June): Opens January 1, deadline is April 30
• Autumn Convocation (October): Opens May 1, deadline August 31
• In-Absentia February Convocation: Opens September 1, deadline is December 31

If you were unable to attend your convocation and have graduated in the previous 2 years, you are eligible to request to participate in either the June or October in-person ceremonies as a 'walk on' to cross the stage wearing your academic regalia in celebration of your milestone. 

There will be a limited number of walk-on spots for each ceremony and registration is required.

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We encourage graduates with permanent or short-term disabilities who require special arrangements to participate in their Convocation ceremony to fill in this survey two weeks or more before your ceremony once the conferral of degree or award of diploma is confirmed.

You will be contacted regarding your responses on the form and provided more information to make the day as smooth as possible for you. Western strives to provide an inclusive environment and we will work to ensure that each graduate is able to participate in a way that acknowledges equality, inclusiveness, and celebration.

Please note:

1. While the Convocation ceremony takes place in Alumni Hall, other events of the day including parking, regalia pickup, Alumni reception, etc. are in various locations across campus. Review the Convocation Day Student Checklist for more information.
2. Accessibility Services at Western has helpful resources, including campus maps and building floor plans.

You can preorder your Academic Regalia at buildagrad.ca/Western during posted times. If you do not order regalia by the preorder deadline, you can still rent regalia the day of your ceremony for an extra charge. Rental preorder dates will be posted on the Photo and Academic Regalia page. For further details, please contact the Dellelce Family Bookstore.

You are more than welcome to wear your traditional Indigenous Regalia at your convocation ceremony we just ask that you notify the Convocation Coordinator (convosec@uwo.ca) of your intent to do so.

Attending graduates will have their portraits taken at Convocation, and Western will provide a 5x7 photograph free of charge after the ceremony. Please visit Photo and Academic Reglia for step-by-step instructions on how to preorder your photo.

Mortar board graduation hats are available for purchase at the bookstore but are not part of your regalia rental. They are a nice accessory for photos after your ceremony but they are not permitted as you cross the stage at convocation.

You can order your diploma frame through the Dellelce Family Bookstore.

Visit the IESC website for more information on how to invite your family.

No. The Order of Convocation dictates the date and time of your graduation ceremony. If you would like to attend your graduation you must attend the ceremony at the date and time specified. You may attend other ceremonies as a guest of another graduate provided that they are able to provide you with a ticket that will permit you entrance into their ceremony.

Out of respect for everyone involved in the ceremony, it is expected that all grads and guests remain in their seats until convocation has been dismissed by the Chancellor.

The 10:00am ceremony generally does not run past 12:00pm, and the 3:00pm ceremony generally does not run past 5:00pm.

Convocation ceremony attendance is determined by Faculty and Degree awarded as a result ceremonies will vary in size. The estimated maximum number of attendees including graduates and guests is 1700.

Convocation ceremonies are recorded and a live webcast of each ceremony is available online here. Convocation videos will be posted on Western’s YouTube channel 6-8 weeks following the ceremony and will be available online for a year.

During the ceremonies, photographers from Western will be taking photos which may be used by the University for promotional or archival purposes. The photos taken during Convocation may or may not include your recognizable image. Visit the Convocation Day Photography and Video page for more information.

No, signs, banners, and flags are not permitted in Alumni Hall.

Western encourages all students to celebrate their Convocation day with friends and family however, only those individuals eligible to graduate are permitted to cross the stage. Equally, we ask that your family remain in the seating reserved for guests.

What you are wearing underneath your gown will show (less for doctoral gowns), so don't be afraid to dress up. Suits or sports jackets and ties, dresses and dress pants are all good choices. When considering footwear, know that you will be going up and down stairs next to the stage and high heel shoes may be unsafe.

Please note that in Alumni Hall, bags are allowed to a maximum size of 12” x 12” x 6”. Medical and diaper bags are subject to search.

It is not appropriate to carry flowers, purses, or other articles in the convocation ceremony. Graduates are asked to please leave personal belongings with relatives before entering the line-up location, or leave belongings with an attendant at the line-up location.

Parking will be available in the South Valley and Huron Flats lots.

A shuttle service will be provided for both areas and will run until 6:00 p.m.  Parking will be free of charge on a first-come first-served basis.  Accessible parking is available in the Weldon parking lot. To see a map of these locations click here.

For additional information, please visit the Arrival and Assembly page.

We encourage graduates and their families to arrive two hours before their ceremony to allow enough time to park, pick-up Academic Regalia, and find your line-up location

All graduates MUST report to their line-up location no later than the times listed below:

• Morning Ceremony: 8:45 a.m.
• Afternoon Ceremony: 1:45 p.m.

If you have already applied to graduate and would like to withdraw your application it is recommended that you first contact your home faculty Academic Counselling office for direction. The contact information for each Faculty can be found here.

Please note that there are a large number of volunteers supporting each convocation ceremony so if you have an emergency or require additional support, please reach out to one of the many volunteers and they will assist you with your questions or engage the appropriate personnel to offer support.

See our Official Western Letters page for full details on ordering an Official Western Letter including fees and processing time.

Western degrees will be conferred and graduation "awarded" status will be reflected in your letter on the day of convocation for Spring graduates. You can order an Official Western Letter on your Student Center under View and Order Documents > Order Official Western Letters. 

See the Official Western Letters page for full details on ordering an Official Western Letter including fees and processing time.

Your transcript will show "program complete" once Degree Conferred appears on your Web Academic Report (Unofficial Transcript).

Western degrees will be conferred and graduation "awarded" status will be reflected on official transcripts on the day of your convocation.

This year, you will receive your diploma parchments following your convocation ceremony. Your pick-up location was included in an email communication from the Office of the Registrar with convocation details.

For those convocating in the morning ceremony, you will be able to pick up your degree beginning at 11:00 a.m.

For those convocating in the afternoon ceremony, you will be able pick up your degree beginning at 3:00 p.m.

We will remain open for degree pick-up until 6:00 p.m. Students will not be able to pick up their degrees prior to these times.

You will be required to provide your Western ONECard to pick up your parchment.

If you are unable to pick up your degree on the day of your ceremony it will be available for pickup in person from Student Central after 3 business days following the date of your scheduled ceremony alternatively you can request diploma mailing through Student Center account using the following steps:

• Log into your Student Center account
• Click on the Academics tile
• Click on the Graduation tile
• In the menu on the left-hand side you will see the Diploma Mailing option

Students who pre-registered for a photo will receive an email from GradImages after Convocation with a Promotional Code and Customer Number to log in with.

Students who did not preregister for a photo can go to www.gradimages.ca to contact the Customer Service Team for a Promotional Code. In either case, please visit Retrieving Your Photo for step-by-step instructions.

Academic Regalia must be returned by 6:00 p.m. the same day as your ceremony. The drop-off location will be provided in an email sent to your @uwo.ca email address. 

Absolutely! Western Alumni will be celebrating our newest alumni with complimentary photos with instant downloads.

Following the ceremony, visit free photography stations around campus. Locations are announced at regalia and degree pickup locations, and the end of your ceremony.

Yes. If you are unable to pick up your degree on the day of your ceremony it will be available for pickup in-person from Student Central after 3 business days following the date of your scheduled ceremony.

Please visit Degrees/Diplomas for more information.

There will be a limited number of walk-on spots for each ceremony. Check back one month before the ceremony you want to attend.

Yes, members of Faculty, Senate, the Board of Governors, and Emeritus/a Professors should email convosec@uwo.ca if they wish to participate in the Academic Procession.

At Convocation, faculty members at Western and other recognized universities will be permitted to hood immediate family members, and doctoral supervisors will be permitted to hood their doctoral candidates, provided that arrangements are made with the Secretariat by contacting convosec@uwo.ca at least one week before the relevant Convocation ceremony.

Academic Regalia is provided to all members of faculty when joining the academic procession. It is not provided for use during a faculty awards ceremony. For information about ordering your Regalia, please contact  convosec@uwo.ca.

Staff are welcome to volunteer to serve as an usher during a convocation ceremony. Please review the information on the Volunteers webpage for more information.