Undergraduate Commencement Celebration

The 2024 Psychology Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 15th at 8am in Pauley Pavilion.

Congratulations on your imminent graduation! We want you to be able to share this wonderful event with your friends and family, and for the day to run smoothly. The following should answer most of the questions you might have about graduation day, so please read the information below carefully.

For students inquiring about ordering guest tickets for the ceremony, please contact the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office on Message Center for more information. All ticket orders must be submitted by Monday, June 10th.

Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science Majors

What’s the difference between “graduating” and “walking through commencement ceremonies”?Students can graduate (that is, have completed all requirements for their degree and have stopped taking classes) during any quarter of the year. Then, several months after they have declared their degree expected term (through MyUCLA), they will be issued a diploma from UCLA. Commencement ceremonies, however, occur only once per year and you are invited to walk through these ceremonies whether or not you are actually graduating in Spring Quarter (see below for details). This is the time for you to be publicly recognized by the university and your friends and family for your scholastic achievements. Participating in any commencement activities does NOT guarantee that you will actually earn a degree. You should consult a UCLA college and or departmental counselor for detailed information on satisfying degree requirements.
Where can I get info on the College of Letters and Science Graduation Ceremony?For information regarding the Letters & Science Ceremony, please visit www.college.ucla.edu/commencement/help
/contact.  The Letters & Science Graduation Ceremony has different regulations from the Psychology Undergraduate Celebration as to who can attend, and how many guests you can invite. Please contact Letters & Science for details on the Letters & Science Graduation Ceremony. Please read below for details on the Psychology Celebration.
When and where and how long is the Psychology Undergraduate Commencement Celebration?The undergraduate ceremony will be on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. in Pauley Pavilion. Graduates should arrive an hour before the Graduation Ceremony and proceed to the Registration Table to pick up their name card.
Who may participate in the celebration?Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science majors who graduated in Fall 2023 and Winter 2024, and degree candidates for Spring and Summer 2024 may participate.
Do I need a student ticket to attend the ceremony?Yes, students will need a ticket to enter Pauley Pavilion. Please refer to the information regarding checking in below.
Can I participate in the June 2024 commencement ceremony if I am not finishing my degree between Fall 2023 and Summer 2024?Please see the College’s information about Special Inclusion Petitions (SIPs). Note that Fall 2024 graduates who wish to participate in the June 2024 commencement ceremony should submit their automatically-approved Special Inclusion Petition through the commencement ticket portal on MyUCLA.
When will I receive information about the celebration?At the beginning of May, information regarding the Psychology Department Celebration will be emailed to all students who currently receive information from the Psychology Department listserv.
Do I need tickets to bring guests to the celebration?Each graduate will be allowed a limited number of guest tickets. Four will be complimentary. You may purchase additional tickets for $20 each (charged to your BruinBill). You will need to indicate your participation, reserve your complimentary tickets and purchase any additional tickets on the MyUCLA ticketing system. All ticket sales are final and no refunds can be issued.

All tickets for the Psychology Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will be virtual tickets. You will receive email messages from tickets@cto.ucla.edu that contain links for you to receive your tickets.  You will receive one message per ceremony for each of your graduate tickets and one message per ceremony for your guest tickets. Be sure you check the email account you have in MyUCLA, and check that email account’s spam folder for your ticket messages.
What will I do after arriving at the ceremony location?When you first arrive at the commencement ceremony, you will need to stop at the Registration Table which will be located near the tennis courts on the west side of the building. Here you will pick up your name card. After you pick up your card, you will proceed to the line to enter Pauley. Graduates do not have to line up in any particular order. At that time, your family members and friends should find seats for themselves. Please note that no bottles, beach balls, helium balloons, silly string, etc. will be allowed, and all persons entering the ceremony will be checked.
Will my guests be allowed to bring bags inside Pauley Pavilion?All guests will be required to use clear bags when entering Pauley Pavilion. Please be sure to communicate this guidance to any guests that may be attending the ceremony.
What will happen during the celebration?The graduates will sit in a designated section in no particular order. You will then be directed to step forward and give your name card to the announcer to have your name read. You will then walk across the stage. An individual photo of each graduate will be taken during the celebration as well as a group photo will be taken at the end of the celebration.
Will I receive my diploma during the celebration?Your diploma will not be handed to you at the celebration, but will be available from the Registrar’s Office a few months after you graduate from UCLA.
Can pictures be taken at the celebration?Family members and guests will not be allowed near the graduate section to take pictures, but they will be able to take photos from their seats. Grad Images will be taking an individual photo of each graduate as well as a group photo at the end of the celebration. These photos will be available for purchase from Grad Images. Within two weeks after the celebration, Grad Images will be sending information to each graduate indicating how the pictures can be purchased from them.
Should I wear my cap and gown to the graduation event?Yes! Please make sure to wear your cap and gown to the Psychology Department Undergraduate Commencement Celebration. Graduation Etc. will begin taking orders for caps & gowns, announcements, diploma plaques and frames, Alumni Association memberships, and graduation gifts the beginning of March. Visit them online at www.uclastore.com or call 310.825.2587.
Will there be a rehearsal for the Psychology Commencement Celebration?No rehearsal will be held.
Will provisions be made for my physical disabilities or those of my guests?If you have a disability that will limit your mobility inside Pauley or if you have guests with disabilities, contact the Psychology Advising Office via Message Center so we can be prepared for your participation in the ceremony. The department can provide information about parking and other assistance at Commencement. Sign language interpreters are available upon request. The best parking for Pauley are Lots 7 and 8. Guests with wheelchairs, disabilities or strollers are encouraged to arrive early as seating is not reserved.
How do I purchase my cap and gown?Graduation Etc. will begin taking orders for caps & gowns, announcements, diploma plaques and frames, Alumni Association memberships, and graduation gifts. Visit them online at www.uclastore.com.
Where can I get information about parking for graduation?Current UCLA permit holders may park at their assigned spot during commencement without additional costs. You can pre-purchase parking passes for your guests. The UCLA Central Ticket Office will sell Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits beginning in May ($14 per permit). The UCLA Central Ticket Office is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday.
Where can I find other commencement information, e.g., directions to UCLA, campus maps, hotels, etc.?Check out the UCLA Commencement Website at www.commencement.ucla.edu