Spring and Summer 2023 candidates: apply for graduation by April 10, 2023 to be eligible for commencement!

PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony

The 2023 Commencement Hooding Ceremony for PhD and MFA candidates will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 9am in the Student Recreation Center. 

• Checklist for commencement for advanced degree candidates
• Master's degree candidates (other than MFA) will participate in the designated college ceremony
• Visit www.commencement.ucr.edu for more information

GRAD FAIR
Monday, April 17 - Wednesday, April 19, 2023
10am-4pm - UCR Bookstore

FACULTY
Learn more about faculty participation by visiting the Commencement Web Site
Confirm your participation and order regalia by April 21, 2023 here: https://myadv.ucr.edu/forms/faculty23

PhD Graduates and Candidates

• Step 1: Apply to Graduate

  Submit the Online Graduation Application via R'Web - see the chart of deadlines.

• Step 2: Confirm Your Research Advisor's Attendance

  Confirm your Research Advisor's attendance at the ceremony and ask them to confirm their attendance with the Commencement Office by April 21, 2023. 

  All PhD and MFA Candidates will be hooded by their research advisor on stage at the June 3, 2023 Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony.  If your advisor is not able to attend the ceremony, it is your responsibility to find someone else to hood you and report that information on your commencement RSVP (step 3).

• Step 3: Confirm Your Participation and Order Your Tickets

  If the Graduate Division has determined that you are eligible to participate in commencement, you will receive an email from the Commencement Office by April 17, 2023.  Follow the link in the email to confirm your participation.  Commencement registration for students opens on April 19, 2022. 

  If you believe you are eligible but have not received an email from the Commencement Office by April 17, 2023, please complete the following steps:

  1. Check your student profile in R'Web to verify that you have completed a graduation application.  If you have not, please do so right away.  Once you complete the graduation application, you should receive an email from the Commencement Office within one business day.
  2. If you have completed Step 1 and still have not received an email, please contact trina.elerts@ucr.edu.

Master's Graduates and Candidates

• Step 1: Submit the Application for Candidacy

  Submit the Application for Candidacy for the Master's Degree via R'Grad.  See the chart of deadlines.

• Step 2: Apply to Graduate

  Submit the Online Graduation Application via R'Web.  See the chart of deadlines.

• Step 3: MFA Candidates ONLY - Confirm Your Research Advisor's Attendance

  Confirm your Research Advisor's attendance at the ceremony and ask them to confirm their attendance with the Commencement Office by April 21, 2023.

  All PhD and MFA Candidates will have the opportunity to be hooded by their research advisor on stage at the Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 9am in the Student Recreation Center. If your advisor is not able to attend the ceremony, it is your responsibility to find someone else to hood you and report that information on your commencement RSVP (step 4).

• Step 4: Confirm Your Participation and Order Your Tickets

  If the Graduate Division has determined that you are eligible to participate in commencement, you will receive an email from the Commencement Office by April 17, 2023. Follow the link in the email to confirm your participation.  Commencement registration (Intent to Participate) for students opens on April 17, 2023.

  If you believe you are eligible but have not received an email from the Commencement Office please complete the following steps: 

  1. Check your Student Profile in R’Web to verify that you have completed a graduation application. If you have not, please do so right away. Once you complete the graduation application, you should receive an email from the Commencement Office within 1 business day. 

  2. If you have completed Step 1 and still have not received an email, please contact at trina.elerts@ucr.edu.

Additional Information

Watkins Commencement Award 

The Dr. Gordon and Anna Watkins Award was established in 1956 by the student body to honor UCR’s First Provost and his wife. It is presented to a graduating master’s degree or PhD student for outstanding campus and/or community service. A cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required at the time of application. A lifetime membership in the UCR Alumni Association and a $500 gift will be presented.  

The Watkins Commencement Award Application should be submitted by April 1st.  Self-nominations are acceptable. 

Previous winners were Roxana Coreas (PhD in Environmental Toxicology), Ryan Moruzzi, Jr. (PhD in Mathematics), Nicolette Rohr (PhD in History), Marcela Ramirez (PhD in Education), Jessica Tsai Wen (PhD in Bioengineering), Tanya Rawal (MA in Comparative Literature), Thanh Dinh (PhD in Plant Biology), and Blake Coffin (MBA).

International Students

International students who would like to invite family to attend commencement from overseas should use this template to write the invitation letter.  UCR does not issue commencement invitation letters.  For more details, please contact International Student Services.

Graduation Quarter Eligibility Requirements

If you graduated or will graduate in...

Summer 2022
1.  Contact Trina.Elerts@ucr.edu in order to be included on the eligibility list.
2.  Follow step 3 (PhD) or 4 (Master's) at the top of this page.  Eligible students will be sent an email with a customized link with RSVP information.

Fall 2022
Students who have not previously participated in commencement for their earned degree will be sent an email with a customized link with RSVP information on or around April 17, 2023.

Winter 2023
Students who have not previously participated in commencement for their earned degree will be sent an email with a customized link with RSVP information on or around April 17, 2023.

Spring 2023
Follow the steps at the top of this page.  Apply for graduation by 4/10/23 to be eligible for commencement.  Eligible students will be sent an email with a customized link with RSVP information on or around April 17, 2023.

Summer 2023
Follow the steps at the top of this page.  Apply for graduation by 4/10/23 to be eligible for commencement.  Eligible students will be sent an email with a customized link with RSVP information on or around April 17, 2023.

Fall 2023
Students graduating in Fall 2023 are NOT eligible to participate in the June 2023 ceremony.  Please plan to join us in June 2024.