Commencement ceremony

All university degrees are formally conferred during the Commencement ceremony on Old Campus. During the ceremony, the dean of Yale College and deans of the Graduate and professional schools formally present their approved candidates to the president. The president, in turn, confers the degrees and admits new graduates to each degree’s “rights and responsibilities.” Student marshals from each residential college and school accept symbolic diplomas from the president on behalf of their colleagues. The provost presents the candidates for honorary degrees, a tradition that began in 1702.

The ceremony lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Tips for Guests:

The gates to Old Campus open at 8:00 a.m. Please refer to signage on Old Campus and the seating chart in your program when deciding where to sit.

The University commencement is a joyus and celebratory event with over 19,000 people attending, we encourage our guests to find seats near a large screen to have the best view of the platform.