Graduate Studies Commencement 2025
Graduate Studies, together with the Graduate Council and the Graduate Student Association, will hold two Graduate Studies commencement ceremonies on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Master's Ceremony, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and MFA and Doctoral Ceremony from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the University Credit Union Center.
Guest Tickets
All registered students will receive up to four (4) guest tickets to attend the in-person ceremony. Guest tickets are managed by the Aggie Ticket Box Office. Ticket registration information is sent in the student confirmation email.
Additional Tickets
- Purchase additional tickets – available now
- The purchasing of additional tickets is being handled by Aggie Tickets
- Visit http://goagspromo.com/ and use special code: GSEXTRA2025 to access the special purchasing page
- Please note, tickets redeemed or purchased for a specific ceremony are only valid for THAT ceremony. Please make sure to confirm which ceremony you will be attending before redeeming/purchasing. Must be registered to be able to redeem
- For support regarding purchasing, please contact Aggie Tickets. They are open Monday through Friday (excluding University Holidays) from 10a-5p. They can be reached at (530) 752-2471 or at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu
- Join a waitlist
- Send us your desired amount of tickets, and your request will be logged into a waitlist
- Tickets in the waitlist are subject to availability and are not guaranteed
- Must be registered to request
- Decision waitlist tickets will be made after registration deadline – May 9
Ticket allocation is predetermined based on the anticipated graduate attendance for each ceremony, and capacity of the venue. Likewise, the amount of extra tickets available (if any) for distribution cannot be determined until after the close of registration and final approvals of any late registrations. If you have any questions, please contact the Commencement Coordinator at gradcommencement@ucdavis.edu.
Ceremony Details
Master’s Degree Ceremony
Date: Thursday, June 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: University Credit Union Center
University Credit Union Center Doors Open: 9:00 a.m.
Please allow for extra time as traffic is particularly heavy during commencement. Seating for guests is on the upper levels of the University Credit Union Center.
Student Line-Up: Students must assemble in Hutchison Field South by 9:00 a.m. in full regalia.
Please note, only graduates are permitted in the line-up area, this will be a good time to find a seat in the University Credit Union Center.
MFA and Doctoral Degree Ceremony
Date: Thursday, June 12
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: University Credit Union Center.
University Credit Union Center Doors Open: 2:00 p.m.
Please allow for extra time as traffic is particularly heavy during commencement. Seating for guests is on the upper levels of the University Credit Union Center.
Student Line-Up: Students must assemble in Hutchison Field South by 2:00 p.m. in full regalia.
Please note, only graduates are permitted in the line-up area, this will be a good time to find a seat in the University Credit Union Center.
Each ceremony is scheduled to be two hours in length. Other than bottled water, no food or drink is permitted inside the University Credit Union Center. However, due to the length of the ceremony, snacks can be brought in for children and elderly guests.
Family members and friends are welcome to take photographs of candidates before or after commencement. During commencement family or friends will be permitted to take photos from their seats or from the designated photo areas in the stands above the arena floor. Please be aware that only graduates are permitted on the floor of the arena and tripods are not allowed in the University Credit Union Center. ProPics will be taking individual photographs for each graduate after they walk off the stage.
- MFA and Ph.D. students are arranged by faculty presenter's last name. This organizational arrangement allows all graduating students to be presented and walk the stage with their chosen faculty member, who may be presenting several students. Please ask your graduate the name of their faculty presenter prior to the ceremony.
- Master’s students are arranged alphabetically by graduate program name.
Please understand that there may be unforeseen circumstances that may require last-minute changes on the day of the ceremony.
Parking
Parking is complimentary on the UC Davis campus with registration for all graduates and commencement guests in designated lots. To register, please click here.
Mobility and Accessibility Assistance
For guests who are attending commencement ceremonies in the University Credit Union Center and who need mobility assistance, UC Davis offers mobility assistance golf carts for passenger pick up and drop off near the Pavilion Parking Structure ONLY. Guests will be picked up/dropped off at the tent situated on Hutchinson Field just to the west of the bike path. Golf carts will take guests across Hutchinson Field to and from the SW entrance of the University Credit Union Center. There is no mobility assistance pick up and drop off in Lot 25 due to pedestrian safety concerns with golf carts utilizing the same bike/pedestrian path.
For guests who will be arriving with walkers or wheelchairs, you and your accompanying adult may move along the bike/pedestrian path and use the SE University Credit Union Center Concourse entrance. Please note that entrances have ramps that must be traversed. Please note that UC Davis does not provide wheelchairs or walkers nor personnel to assist with wheelchair movement. Service Animals are allowed at commencement ceremonies.
Doors open to the University Credit Union Center one hour before the ceremony start time. Special accommodation seating sections are available for guests with limited mobility or who use a wheelchair (who may also be accompanied by one other member of their party). University Credit Union Center staff can direct you to these sections. The limited mobility seating sections are located in Rows E & F in sections 207, 213, 220 and 226 for all ceremonies. The wheelchair-accessible sections and Special Assistance Seating are located on all four Concourse corners. The building elevator is located on the Concourse Level in the SW corner. Please plan to arrive at least one hour prior to the ceremony start time as mobility assistance and wheelchair-accessible seating are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
For those guests with limited/no hearing attending commencement in the University Credit Union Center, assisted listening devices may be picked up in the University Credit Union Center Guest Services Center (located at the NE Lobby corner in the University Credit Union Center) and/or sign language interpretation can be arranged if requested prior the ceremony.
Overnight Accommodations, Restaurants, and Fun
Make reservations early, especially if you prefer to stay in Davis, as local hotels will fill up fast. The same goes for some of the more upscale restaurants; save yourself the wait and make a reservation in advance. Please see the Yolo County Visitors Bureau for a listing of hotels, restaurants, and more. Sacramento is the capital of California and is located twenty miles from Davis. Please see their visitors' guide for more information.