2023 Commencement

How to Graduate

Follow the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences instructions to apply for your degree. Doctoral students may also consult Dissertation, Doctoral Project, and Thesis Information & Templates and Submission of Dissertation or Doctoral Project instructions.

You must apply to graduate by February 1, 2023, if you wish to have your diploma available at the May ceremony and have your name and graduation information appear in the Commencement Book.


Class of 2023 Commencement Events

Tuesday, May 16
DISCO Grad: Disability Community Graduation Celebration

Wednesday, May 17
Multicultural Celebration

Thursday, May 18
Ph.D. and Doctoral Hooding Ceremony & Reception

Friday, May 19
Graduate School Commencement Ceremony

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Biomedical Graduate Education Commencement Ceremony for Master’s and Ph.D. Graduates
Location: Healy Lawn
(Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena)

TimeActivity
7:00 a.m.Graduating students report to assigned room locations in White-Gravenor Hall and 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. The assigned rooms will be announced in late April/early May.

Students are put in alphabetical order by their program, given hooding instructions, and given name cards at this time. Lineup commences shortly afterward.

You can prepare by watching our quick video guide: “How to Put On Your Commencement Regalia”
8:30 a.m.Graduating students process in formation to Healy Lawn (Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena).
9:00 a.m.Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Biomedical Graduate Education Commencement Ceremony begins.

Logistics & More Information

Please note that this information may change to reflect updates from the Office of the President or the Office of the Provost.

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.

To find the color to order for your academic regalia, please refer to the Academic Regalia page on the Graduate School website.

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”

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 School 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 Accessibility Information 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 Line). The general Georgetown University Commencement website provides some very important information about parking and transportation during commencement week. Please note that there is no overnight parking.

Tickets are not required for the Commencement Ceremony on Healy Lawn; seating is available on a first come, first served basis. 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 the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) (gradlife@georgetown.edu). Follow the link from the GSAS email to claim the severe weather tickets.

Tickets are required for the Ph.D. and Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

Free accessible shuttle buses, wheelchairs and sign language interpreters are available. Instructions for making a request for accessibility needs are sent in emails from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) (gradlife@georgetown.edu). Follow the link from the GSAS email to submit accessibility needs.

The 2023 Graduate School 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, sever weather tickets will be required. Ticket instructions are sent in emails from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (gradlife@georgetown.edu).

The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences 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 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 list of student lineup rooms will be available in late April/early May. Students will be reporting rooms and locations in either White-Gravenor Hall and Intercultural Center (ICC).

All commencement participants are to report to their assigned room no later than 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023.

The diploma dimensions are 17 inches (43 cm) wide by 14 inches (35.5 cm) high. The diploma is written in Latin; English translation is provided with your diploma. Diploma frames are available at the Georgetown University Bookstore in Leavey Center.

More questions? Please visit our BGE Commencement FAQ.