We are thrilled to be celebrating our 2025 graduates in a commencement ceremony that will be alive with music and cheer as well as pomp and circumstance. Please stay tuned to this commencement page, as it will be updated frequently with helpful information. And please scroll down for a list of frequently asked questions, along with helpful answers.
Students should check their email for information about RSVP-ing. All eligible graduates will be contacted directly to complete a RSVP to attend the ceremony and update their mailing address. Please be sure to check that your email account is accurate in MyUCLA, and also check your email account’s SPAM folder frequently, to be sure you do not overlook these important messages.
Undergraduate Students
B.A. and B.M. graduates from Fall 2024 and Winter 2025, B.A. and B.M. candidates for Spring 2025 who have declared degree expectancy term for Fall 2024 through Summer 2025 in one of the School’s majors. All degree requirements should be accounted for Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 candidates.
Graduate Students
Masters and Ph.D. graduates from Fall 2024 and Winter 2025; Masters and Ph.D. candidates for Spring or Summer 2025.
Eligible graduates will be contacted directly by the Office of Student Affairs to register for commencement. Should you not receive a communication to walk in this year’s ceremony, please email OSA@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu.
Undergraduate Candidates
All undergraduate students begin at UCLA with a declared degree-expected term of two years from matriculation for transfer students, four years for first-year students. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within that time frame. Students who exceed the time-to-degree limit must petition with the school to change their degree-expected term. Students with time-to-degree related questions should contact your Academic Advisor.
Graduate Candidates
You should make an appointment to meet with your academic counselor to declare your candidacy.
Only undergraduate students may receive recognition of Honors (Latin Honors) in the Commencement program based upon your cumulative UC GPA at the end of Winter 2025. Current Latin Honors GPA thresholds can be found online here.
Commencement ceremony regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels) may be purchased online from Graduation Etc. For more information and to order online, visit the UCLA Store website then go to Graduation Etc. Additional information about this can be found on the UCLA Store website.
There is no rehearsal for the School’s Commencement. Students will be given instructions when they arrive at check-in on commencement day. You will be given a card with your name on one side and a photo form (to fill out) on the other. Please complete the address information before the Processional begins. Alphabetical or other order is not required. Please note that you should not bring anything with you that needs to be carried, like purses, jackets, etc. because there is nowhere to secure personal belongings at the venue. All items that you cannot personally carry should either be left in the car or with one of your family members.
All appropriate parking lots will be open during Commencement. UCLA Parking Services will staff lots according to ceremony times and locations. Parking Lot 2 is the closest parking lot to the School’s ceremony.
More information about Commencement Parking can be found at https://transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking/commencement-parking. The 2024 parking information, including pre-paid parking, will be updated in Spring Quarter.
Only students in appropriate academic attire will be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Graduates must check in by 2:30 PM at the Dickson Court South Check-In. The processional will begin at 4PM sharp. The program is expected to end around 6PM. NOTE: Please arrange to meet your guests in a specific location at the end of the ceremony. All Commencement venues have the authority to prohibit any other items deemed to be a security risk. Patrons will not be allowed to bring those items into the event venues
Pictures can only be taken from your seats. Access aisles must be kept clear for safety purposes. There will be an official photographer from Grad Images who will photograph each student as they come on stage. Your name card, which will be given to you at check-in, will be used to request proofs of your photo. There is no obligation to purchase any photos when you request a proof.
Immediately following the ceremony, the School of Music will host a reception for its graduates and their guests in Dickson Court South.
If you or your guests need an accommodation to be able to access the College Commencement ceremony, you must contact College Commencement on the Message Center (accessed through MyUCLA) and describe the accommodation. Your guests can also contact Message Center without a UCLA login. The campus does not provide transportation or wheelchairs for any guests once they arrive on campus (i.e., no shuttle from parking to the venue, etc.).
Official transcripts with graduation date included will be available for a fee within seven weeks after the end of your final term. You can order your transcripts through MyUCLA.
Diplomas will be available three to four months after the degree award date. The Registrar’s Office will send you information about obtaining your diploma in person (no fee) or by mail (with the appropriate fee) approximately seven weeks after the end of your final term. You may change your mailing address through MyUCLA. For diploma availability information, call the Diploma Hotline at (310) 825-8883. For more FAQs about diplomas, visit the UCLA Registrar’sOffice website.
