University Commencement Ceremony
Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Student Lineup: 8 a.m.
It is during Commencement that each student's degree is officially conferred. All of Columbia’s undergraduate and graduate schools participate in this ceremony, which also includes awards to honorary degree recipients and outstanding Columbia faculty. Tickets are required for both graduates and their guests.
Register for Commencement Graduate & Guest Tickets
Important Registration Details
- Registration is open to all eligible October 2022, February 2023, and May 2023 degree candidates from all schools and colleges affiliated with Columbia University.
- October 2023 degree candidates are eligible through special approval from their GS academic advisor provided they applied for graduation by the March 15 deadline.
- October 2023 degree candidates are eligible through special approval from their GS academic advisor provided they applied for graduation by the March 15 deadline.
- Graduating students who wish to attend University Commencement are required to register online with their Columbia UNI email to obtain graduate and guest tickets
- If this is your first time logging in, please use your Columbia University email address and click the "Forgot password?" button to receive a confirmation email, create a new password, and get started
- Note: If you do not plan on attending the ceremony, you do not need to register
- When registering for tickets you may experience delays due to the volume of users on the website; please refrain from refreshing your internet browser and, if you are experiencing significant delays, try again at a later time—noting that Commencement tickets will not sell out and are already allocated to each student
- Undergraduate degree candidates will be allowed to request up to four (4) tickets for their guests
- Guest tickets are not first come, first served—all eligible graduates are able to register for their tickets any time before Thursday, May 11 at 12 p.m.
- Carefully consider how many guest tickets you will need prior to logging in to the system, as you will have only one opportunity to register and request tickets
- Once you log out, you will not be able to change your reservation or the amount of requested guest tickets; you will, however, be able to log in to view your registration and ticket requests, or to print or email your electronic tickets
- Once you log out, you will not be able to change your reservation or the amount of requested guest tickets; you will, however, be able to log in to view your registration and ticket requests, or to print or email your electronic tickets
- Your Commencement guest tickets will be available to you upon completion of registration
- Please choose only one option to receive your tickets (printing the tickets yourself or sending electronically for your guests to print)
- Each ticket has a unique QR code that can be scanned only once, and distributing your tickets via both options will cause confusion for guests when they reach the admission entrance; please make sure that each guest has one numbered ticket which contains a unique QR code
- Only the first guest arriving with that unique ticket will be allowed entry to the ceremony, and any additional copies of the same ticket will be turned away at the gates
- Only the first guest arriving with that unique ticket will be allowed entry to the ceremony, and any additional copies of the same ticket will be turned away at the gates
- Be sure to send or give your tickets to your guests prior to Commencement Day as it will be nearly impossible to navigate from upper (degree candidate procession area) to lower (guest seating area) campus on the day of the event
- Each ticket must be printed out in advance and will be scanned for admission into the ceremony—this will reduce lines at the general admission gates
- Each ticket must be printed out in advance and will be scanned for admission into the ceremony—this will reduce lines at the general admission gates
- Please note that University Commencement is held on Low Plaza and the processional route for students includes stairs
- Graduates and guests whose disabilities limit their ability to navigate the campus should contact Disability Services at 212-854-2388 (voice/TTY) or email [email protected] to arrange for accessible seating by Monday, May 1
Additional Information
Visit the Commencement website to learn more. If you still have questions, or encounter any technical difficulties when registering for your tickets, please reach out to [email protected].