Master's Ceremony

Graduates who have applied to graduate will receive an email invitation to register for the Graduate School Convocation. 

Please note that registering to participate in the Graduate School Convocation ceremony does not confirm your eligibility to graduate or the conferment of your degree. You must complete all degree requirements before your degree is officially conferred and before you are eligible to participate in the ceremony.

To participate, you must complete the registration process outlined in the email. 

Upon registering, you will be able to claim your allotted number of digital guest tickets. For the master’s ceremony, each graduate will receive up to 6 tickets.

If extra tickets become available after the registration deadline on April 11, 2025, at 5 p.m., registered graduates will be notified by email with instructions on how to claim additional tickets.

Graduates are responsible for obtaining their guests' digital tickets. Tickets can also be printed if needed. 

All participants in the ceremony are required to wear regalia, which can be purchased through the University Co-op. 

Please be sure to place your order by the deadline specified on the University Co-Op website. 

If you are unable to purchase regalia, please contact the Graduate School Convocation team via email or reach out to the UT Outpost for assistance. 

The deadline to purchase master's regalia is April 18, 2025.

Master’s graduates will receive up to 6 tickets after registering. We ask that graduates only claim the number of digital guest tickets needed. 

Graduates MUST be registered for Convocation in order to claim tickets for your guests. 

Tickets are required for all guests (two years and older) attending the Graduate School Convocation ceremony. 

Graduates are responsible for claiming and emailing the tickets to their guests—guests cannot secure tickets directly. 

Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is not permitted. 

Tickets are free of charge. 

All tickets will be electronic. Guests should present tickets, preferably in electronic form, at the Moody Center.

Livestream
For any guest without a ticket, the ceremony will also be streamed online. We will post the link on the day of the ceremony.

Arrival at the Moody Center:

11:30 a.m.: Graduates check-in at the Moody Center loading dock. Graduates must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony.

Participation in walking across the stage during the ceremony is limited to graduates, except in cases where assistance is required, and an approved accommodation has been granted through the Office for Students with Disabilities.

Please plan for road closures and heavy traffic. There will be multiple ceremonies happening across campus. For the latest updates to campus parking, please visit the university commencement page. 

Regalia must be carried into the Moody Center, not worn. Do not bring your regalia on a hanger. During check in and security scanning, regalia must be shaken to demonstrate no prohibited items on person.

Graduates cannot bring personal items such as backpacks, purses or coats to the Moody Ceremony. There is no secure area in which to leave them. We recommended carrying cell phones and keys on wrist bands or clothing with pockets underneath regalia.

Comfortable shoes are recommended for all graduates: There are steep ramps and stairs along the graduate path.

The University arranges for professional photos of each graduate as they walk across the stage to receive congratulations during the ceremony. Graduates and their families have the option to purchase these photographs, but there is no obligation to do so. Photography provides complimentary color proofs to each graduate, which are sent to their permanent address within two weeks of graduation. In the event that you do not receive your proof or if you prefer to place your order by phone or email, please contact Flash Photography at 1-800-410-8070 or visit flashphotography.com.  

Parking 

Complimentary parking will be offered in all university parking garages and on most surface lots. The closest parking garage is the Manor Garage located at 2017 Robert Dedman Dr.

All campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators. An ADA shuttle will run from the East Campus Garage to the Moody Center. 

Drop-Off  

An ADA and mobility impaired passenger drop-off point is available in the roundabout on the northeast side of the Moody Center. From the I-35 frontage road, head west on Clyde Littlefield Dr., then south on Red River. Please notify personnel that passengers are ADA or mobility impaired. Please note, it is still a lengthy walk to access the Moody Center entrance. Wheelchairs or walkers are highly recommended.  

Rideshare 

Set your location as “Clyde Littlefield Rd. & Red River St.” Message the driver to inform police they are picking up for Moody Center’s “Member/ADA Drop Off”. 

Wheelchairs 

Mobility-impaired candidates or guests who cannot walk comfortably more than 5 feet are strongly encouraged to bring a wheelchair to the event. Local health supply rental companies can provide rental wheelchairs. 

The Moody Center has a very limited number of wheelchairs on hand at entry doors. Guests who require additional assistance because of a limitation in mobility can request a wheelchair transport from the entry doors of the arena to their seating location. A Guest Services member will escort guests to their seat and arrange a pick-up time to escort them for their departure if desired. This service is available on a first come, first served basis and may be requested from any team member at the entry doors. Please note that arena wheelchairs cannot be left with guests during the event. 

Elevators are available to guests with disabilities. Check with a Moody Center Guest Services member for assistance. 

Seating 

There are many options for wheelchair-accessible and low-mobility seating. These sections are compatible: 106, 107, 110, 115, 117, 118, 207, 210, 215. As tickets are unassigned, these sections are also on a first-come, first served. Please reference this map for location specifics.  

Assistive Listening Devices 

Assistive Listening Devices are available and complimentary to guests for all arena events. Headsets and receivers can be checked out at the Guest Services booth on the Main Concourse. 

After the Ceremony

Procedures for guests and graduates after the event are as follows.

Graduates will exit first and then guests will be released. Exit the east exit and graduates will re-join friends/family on the Moody Center east plaza (marshals and ushers will be on hand to direct crowds). Guests and graduates for the following ceremony will be arriving and queuing up for entry and check-in as the Graduate School Convocation ceremony is letting out. We request that all graduates and guests avoid the west side of the Moody Center when exiting. You may want to consult the Moody Center Map and come up with a strategic meetup location away from the west side of the venue.

Parking
Complimentary parking will be offered in all university parking garages and on most surface lots. All campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators. 

For information about UT Austin parking garages and surface lots available for parking, please refer to the university Commencement Weekend Parking page.

An updated Security and Attendee Protocol is in place for all Commencement events. Please follow the safety procedures to ensure a seamless graduation experience.

Review the Moody Center Arena Guide for more venue policies and a list of prohibited items.

Doors open for guests at the Moody Center West Plaza at Noon on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The ceremony will begin promptly at 1 p.m.

Please plan for road closures and heavy traffic. There will be multiple ceremonies happening across campus. For the latest updates to campus parking, please visit the university commencement page. 

Moody Center concessions will be open for guests.

Graduates MUST be registered for Convocation in order to claim tickets for your guests. 

Tickets are required for all guests (two years and older) attending the Graduate School Convocation ceremony. 

Graduates are responsible for claiming and emailing the tickets to their guests—guests cannot secure tickets directly. 

Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is not permitted. 

Tickets are free of charge. 

All tickets will be electronic. Guests should present tickets, preferably in electronic form, at the Moody Center.

Procedures for guests and graduates after the event are as follows.

Graduates will exit first and then guests will be released. Exit the east exit and graduates will re-join friends/family on the Moody Center east plaza (marshals and ushers will be on hand to direct crowds). Guests and graduates for the following ceremony will be arriving and queuing up for entry and check-in as the Graduate School Convocation ceremony is letting out. We request that all graduates and guests avoid the west side of the Moody Center when exiting. You may want to consult the Moody Center Map and come up with a strategic meetup location away from the west side of the venue.

1. Will my name be read out loud?
Yes, during the ceremony, the names of attending graduates will be read aloud. Additionally, doctoral graduates will be hooded by their dissertation supervisor or dean. All graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage.

2. Are extra tickets available?
Convocation tickets will be released in phases. After all graduates have registered to participate and claimed their initial allotted number of guest tickets, any additional tickets available will be communicated via email to all registered participants on approximately April 11, 2025.

3. What if I forget to register for convocation by April 11, 2025? 
Contact the Graduate School at GS.Commencement@austin.utexas.edu.

4. May I participate in the ceremony if I do not complete all requirements for my degree during the spring semester? 
No, participation in the ceremony requires the completion of all degree requirements, including the dissertation defense and submission of final paperwork, by the end of the spring semester.

5. May I participate in convocation if I completed all my degree requirements in a previous semester? 
Yes, graduates who have completed all degree requirements in a previous semester are welcome to participate in Convocation. Please ensure to register for the ceremony by April 11, 2025.

6. Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?
No, diplomas will not be distributed at the ceremony. Approximately six weeks after the graduation date, your diploma will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your University of Texas at Austin directory information. If you prefer to pick up your diploma in person, please contact the Texas One Stop at 512-232-6988 to make arrangements or visit their office in Room 1 of the Main Building. To verify or update your address, please click here.

7. What should I bring to the ceremony?
Personal items such as backpacks, purses, or coats cannot be brought into the venue, and there is no secure area available for storage. To ensure convenience, we recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wristbands or utilizing clothing with pockets beneath the regalia.

8. Which colors should I choose for my academic hood and tassel?
The University Co-op has charts to determine the colors of your college or school. The University of Texas at Austin uses the “Academic Costume Code and Ceremony Guide” by the American Council on Education. Click here to view the chart.

9. My family can’t make it to the ceremony. Can they watch it online? 
Yes, we will be live streaming the ceremony, allowing your family to participate remotely. On the day of the event, the Graduate School will provide a link to view the ceremony on our website.

10. How can I find hotels for my guests? 
The Austin area offers an abundance of lodging options for visitors. Visit Austin has information to help you plan your trip. Note that Commencement brings thousands of visitors to the city; we recommend making lodging plans sooner rather than later.

11. Where can I get graduation announcements?
Invitations and announcements may be ordered from the University Co-op.

12. I am an international student and I need a letter signed by the Graduate School to assist my family in obtaining a visa to attend my graduation ceremony. How do I get this?
To obtain a letter signed by the Graduate School to assist your family in obtaining a visa for your graduation ceremony, please complete the online form. Once submitted, the Graduate School will process your request and provide you with the necessary letter.

13. Will my guests need to print their digital tickets?
Guests have the option of printing their digital tickets and bringing them to the ceremony, or can save the digital version on a mobile device. Staff will scan the QR code on each ticket for entry.

14. Am I required to attend the Graduate School Convocation ceremony?
No, students have the option for which ceremonies they attend. As a reminder, the University’s colleges and schools will host individual convocation ceremonies. Some departments within the larger colleges and schools may host individual ceremonies based on the size of their graduating class. There will also be the University-Wide Commencement Ceremony where deans of each college and school will recognize graduates as a group.

The University-Wide Ceremony will be held May 10, 2025, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Separate procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate and for guests attending the university-wide ceremony. 

The University-Wide Commencement Ceremony is hosted by the President and is the formal ceremony at which graduates of all colleges and schools at UT Austin are recognized as a group. The ceremony includes remarks from university leadership, the student body president, and the commencement speaker, as well as the official conferral of degrees by the university president. The ceremony begins with a procession of all graduates, followed by faculty and university leadership. It concludes with a fireworks display.