Information on this page is for Peterborough ceremonies. If you are a student attending a Durham ceremony, please visit the Durham Convocation site.
Make sure you have everything in order, to graduate this year:
- Apply to Graduate
- Get Grad Photos Done
- RSVP to Your Convocation Ceremony
- Invite Your Guests & Tell Them the Inclement Weather Plan
- Arrive at Least One Hour Before Your Ceremony
- What to Expect on the Day of your Ceremony
- Unable to Attend Convocation?
- Check Out Your Alumni Perks
1. Apply to Graduate
You will not graduate and receive your degree/diploma/certificate unless you complete the Application to Graduate.
Graduation means successfully completing the requirements of your program. You must meet both the general university requirements and your specific program requirements, which are in the Academic Calendar. To ensure that you are on track to graduate, start with the Do It Yourself Degree Check, then connect with an Academic Advisor.
Undergraduate students must have applied by APRIL 5, 2024 for their names to appear in the convocation listings (printed program or document on the website).
You can only complete the undergraduate Application to graduate once. For a helpful guide, please click here to view a short video on how to Apply to Graduate.
If you have any changes after completing it, or for more information: trentu.ca/registrar/records-registration/graduation or contact registrar@trentu.ca.
Graduate-level students: trentu.ca/graduatestudies/graduate-program-degree-completion or contact graduate@trentu.ca.
To ensure your name is read correctly as you cross the stage at Convocation, you must provide the pronunciation. Most of the ceremony name announcers speak English as their first language; if you think the announcer will mispronounce your name, please write your entire name phonetically in the Application to Graduate. Please see this helpful guide on how to break your name down for Convocation.
2. Get Grad Photos Done
Graduation photos are a wonderful memento of your years of hard work.
You can take your own photos. The Conference & Hospitality department rents both undergraduate & graduate regalia (gowns & hoods) for photos, they are bookable through Conferences Marketplace website. Contact conferences@trentu.ca with any questions.
Miranda Studios is a local Peterborough business that offers in-studio or on-campus appointments all year, and has a full supply of Trent regalia and props. Book an appointment: (705) 742-8338; email info@mirandastudios.ca; web site: www.mirandastudios.ca. She takes bookings for photos with family in regalia before or after ceremonies and takes photos of every student as they cross the stage, so your guests can sit back and enjoy your moment and not worry about getting the perfect photo. Proofs of those photos will be sent to you shortly after the ceremony with the option to purchase.
Take a look at the Official Trent Convocation Academic Regalia document to see what regalia you will be wearing during the Convocation ceremonies, and to know which regalia to request from Conference if taking your own photos.
3. RSVP to Your Convocation Ceremony
Please complete the RSVP form by May 26th, 2023. Email convocation@trentu.ca with any questions.
You MUST complete the RSVP form in order to attend your Convocation ceremony. This will let us know which ceremony you are attending if you are a Durham student or have a joint major/specialization, as well as confirm which ceremony is for your program.
4. Invite Your Guests & Tell Them the Inclement Weather Plan
It is not necessary for guests to have invitations to attend Trent's convocation ceremonies. An electronic invitation is available for graduates to download and use, if they please. Each graduate may bring six (6) guests to watch them if the ceremony is held outdoors in good weather. There is no shade for students and very little for guests, so please come prepared for the weather. Sunscreen and a hat are strongly recommended.
In the case of inclement weather, the call to move Peterborough ceremonies indoors will be made 1 hour prior to the ceremony's start. Ceremonies will move indoors to the Athletics Centre gymnasium, and there is a limit of three (3) guests to watch the graduate. Additional guests may watch the ceremonies live streamed in a number of locations around campus: Stohn Hall in the Student Centre, Wenjack Theatre in Otonabee College, Champlain College Lecture Hall Room 307, and the Bata Library Theater Room. All seats are on a first-come, first-served basis, they are not assigned. Please determine which guests will go to the gym prior to the ceremony.
For more information on inviting International guests go to Guest Information.
5. Arrive at Least One Hour Before Your Ceremony
Arrive to the Student Centre with your student card. After the ceremony take photos with your family and friends, then return your regalia and pick up your degree in the Student Centre.
Please leave bags or large purses with your family as there is no room for them on the stage. It is not safe for children to be on the stage so please ensure your guests can care for them.
6. What to Expect on the Day of your Ceremony
- Arrive at least one hour before your ceremony to the Student Centre.
- There will be a check-in table with staff from the Registrar's Office. They will ask to see your student ID and give you your name card - hold onto this, you must have this card to walk across the stage!
- Once you have checked in, you will enter TSC 2.02 for gowning. Volunteers will help you get your gown and hood. You do NOT need to rent these for your ceremony, they are provided for you.
- Upon exiting the gowning room, there will be a table with water bottles and green ribbons.
- Water bottles are given to you, so you have cool water to drink during the often-hot ceremonies.
- You can choose to take the green pledge and wear a green ribbon during the ceremony: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work."
- You will then line up in the student procession on the second floor of the Student Centre. There will be volunteers who will help organize you.
- The student procession will begin, and you will head to University Court, Bata Podium. Please note that this is quite a long walk - so please wear comfortable shoes!
- In the case of inclement weather, you will be given disposable ponchos with hoods to cover you during the quick walk from the Student Centre to the Athletics Centre. You will have time once inside the Athletics Centre to remove the poncho before entering the ceremony. Note that only three (3) of your guests can attend in the gym.
- Once on the stage, you will be directed to line up and hand your name card to a marshal. You cross the stage when you hear your name called.
- After the ceremony you can take photos will your family and friends on campus or in front of backdrops in the Student Centre.
- Return your gown by 12:30 p.m. after the morning ceremonies and by 4:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremonies.
- Pick up your degree and alumni gift in the Event Space (you must return your gown first).
Please leave bags or large purses with your family as there is no room for them on the stage. It is not safe for children to be on the stage so please ensure your guests can care for them.
7. Unable to Attend Convocation
Rather than emailing the Office of the Registrar directly, students should complete the Degree Mailing Address form that is available under the Academics tab of the myTrent portal.
Students that graduate in the Spring (following the Winter term), can pick up their degree certificate at their Convocation ceremony from the Office of the Registrar (student or government ID necessary to pick up). Degree certificates will be mailed to those that completed the Degree Mailing Address form in the weeks following the ceremonies (if they did not pick up during Convocation).
Students that graduate in the Fall (following the Summer term) or the Winter (following the Fall term) are asked to complete the Degree Mailing Address form. Degree certificates are then mailed to these students a few weeks after their degree is conferred by the University Senate. Alternatively, they can wait to pick up their degree certificate at the next Convocation ceremonies.
We ask that students do not complete the Degree Mailing Address form until after they receive confirmation that their degree has been conferred by the Senate of the University.
Degree certificates will only be held for a period of two years, after which students must request and pay for a replacement degree certificate. In addition, their degree certificate and official transcript will not be released if they have an outstanding balance owing to the University or have outstanding Library fines.
Graduate Students please contact graduate@trentu.ca about obtaining your degree parchment.
8. Check Out Your Alumni Perks
You're a Trent Alumni Now! Visit trentu.ca/alumni for information on the benefits, services, programs and events offered to you for free!
NOTE: Convocation ceremonies are public events that are recorded in various ways including webcast, video and photography. The ceremonies will be live streamed on trentu.ca during Convocation and will be available to view after Convocation for the benefit of friends and family who are unable to attend in person. These images and recordings may be used for official purposes, such as promoting Trent University. If you have any questions, please contact convocation@trentu.ca.