Graduating students report to assigned room locations in White-Gravenor Hall or the Intercultural Center (ICC). (Allow time for transportation, traffic jams, parking, and walking to your lineup rooms.) Students should report to their assigned rooms no later than 7:30 a.m. You must have complete regalia to participate. Students receive instructions on regalia and room assignments in May.
Students are put in alphabetical order by their program, given hooding instructions, and given name cards at this time. Lineup commences shortly afterward.
All graduates participating in Commencement are required to wear the appropriate academic regalia – gown, hood, cap, and tassel. Standard regalia will be available for purchase in the University Bookstore.
You will receive instructions on how to wear your regalia as you line up for Commencement. You can also watch our quick video guide: “How to Put On Your Commencement Regalia”
Tickets are not required for the Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Healy Lawn; seating is available on a first come, first served basis starting at 7:45 a.m. Students will be informed during the spring semester if the public health situation necessitates changes to this policy.
Note that if the ceremony is held in McDonough Arena due to severe weather, tickets will be required. Ticket instructions are sent in emails from gradlife@georgetown.edu.
The 2026 Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be held outdoors in the event of rain. In case of severe weather such as electrical storms, the site for the ceremony is McDonough Arena. If there is a severe weather announcement, all graduates are to report directly to the white tent in front of McDonough Arena at 7:30 a.m. for the lineup.
In the event of severe weather, the University will make an announcement on the morning of commencement day on the Georgetown University Commencement page and students will be notified via email right away. Weather announcements will also be available through our University Weather line at 202-687-7669.
Note that if the ceremony is held in McDonough Arena, severe weather tickets will be required. Ticket instructions are sent in emails from gradlife@georgetown.edu.
Free accessible shuttle buses, wheelchairs and sign language interpreters are available. Instructions for making a request for accessibility needs are sent in emails from gradlife@georgetown.edu. Follow the link from the email to submit accessibility needs.
Parking is available in the Southwest Garage, accessible via Canal Road. Drivers MUST tell the parking booth attendant that they are here for the Graduate Commencement Ceremony; otherwise, the attendant will charge you and your guests for parking. Free accessible shuttle buses will be available to escort people from the parking facilities to the graduation site. Visit the Commencement Accessibility page for details.
Parking on and near the Georgetown campus is extremely limited. You are encouraged to take the Metro and transfer to free Georgetown University shuttles (GUTS) at either Dupont Circle (Red Line) or Rosslyn (Blue/Orange/Silver lines). The Georgetown Commencementwebsite provides some very important information about transportation and parking during commencement week. Please note that there is no overnight parking.
The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed on the Georgetown University Facebook page. Other livestreams will be announced in advance on social media.
We ask that you remind your family and guests that they MAY NOT approach the stage during any part of the ceremonies to take photos.
A professional photographer from GradImages will be taking pictures during the Graduate Commencement Ceremony. They will be contacting you directly by mail and email with your proofs. If you have any questions, please contact them directly at 800-261-2576.
The diploma dimensions are 17 inches (43 cm) wide by 14 inches (35.5 cm) high. The diploma is written in Latin; an English translation is provided with your diploma (example translation). Diploma frames are available at the Georgetown University Bookstore in the Leavey Center.
Note: BGE Ph.D. students graduate with the School of Medicine’s M.D. students on May 17. They do not participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 14.
Ph.D. Commencement Schedule
Time
Activity
10:30 a.m.
Graduating students report to assigned room locations in White-Gravenor Hall. (Allow time for transportation, traffic jams, parking, and walking to your lineup rooms.) Students should report to their assigned rooms no later than 10:45 a.m. You must have complete regalia to participate. Students receive instructions on regalia and room assignments in May.
TBD
Seating opens on Healy Lawn for families, friends and other guests. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
All graduates participating in Commencement are required to wear the appropriate academic regalia – gown, hood, cap, and tassel. Standard regalia will be available for purchase in the University Bookstore. Ph.D. graduate hood linings are Royal Blue.
Tickets are not required for the School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony on Healy Lawn; seating is available on a first come, first served basis starting at 7:45 a.m. Students will be informed during the spring semester if the public health situation necessitates changes to this policy.
The 2026 School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony will be held outdoors in the event of rain. In case of severe weather such as electrical storms, the site for the ceremony is McDonough Arena.
In the event of severe weather, the University will make an announcement on the morning of commencement day on the Georgetown University Commencement page and students will be notified via email right away. Weather announcements will also be available through our University Weather line at 202-687-7669.
Free accessible shuttle buses, wheelchairs and sign language interpreters are available. You can find more information on the Commencement Accessibility page.
Parking is available in the Southwest Garage, accessible via Canal Road. Drivers MUST tell the parking booth attendant that they are here for the School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony; otherwise, the attendant will charge you and your guests for parking. Free accessible shuttle buses will be available to escort people from the parking facilities to the graduation site. Visit the Commencement Accessibility page for details.
Parking on and near the Georgetown campus is extremely limited. You are encouraged to take the Metro and transfer to free Georgetown University shuttles (GUTS) at either Dupont Circle (Red Line) or Rosslyn (Blue/Orange/Silver lines). The Georgetown Commencementwebsite provides some very important information about transportation and parking during commencement week. Please note that there is no overnight parking.
The School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed on the Georgetown University Facebook page. Other livestreams will be announced in advance on social media.
The diploma dimensions are 17 inches (43 cm) wide by 14 inches (35.5 cm) high. The diploma is written in Latin; an English translation is provided with your diploma (example translation). Diploma frames are available at the Georgetown University Bookstore in the Leavey Center.
