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Eagerly awaiting your convocation date to arrive? Check out our detailed what to expect on the day of your ceremony section to get prepared! |
Information on this page is for Durham ceremonies. If you are a student attending a Peterborough ceremony, please visit the Peterborough 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
- 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 11, 2023 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 contact registrar@trentu.ca.
Graduate-level students: trentu.ca/graduatestudies/graduate-program-degree-completion or contact graduate@trentu.ca.
2. Get Grad Photos Done
Graduation photos are a wonderful memento of your years of hard work.
You can take your own photos. Contact the Trent Durham Student Association (TDSA) to borrow regalia at admin@mytdsa.ca.
There is a contract in place with New Paramount Studios for graduations portraits. Call the toll-free: 1-877-677-1930. They usually offer sessions on campus.
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.
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
Durham convocation ceremonies take place in the Tribute Communities Centre, which is a very large venue, so there is no set limit of number of guests per graduates. While there is plenty of seating, having a large party sit in one row together is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests do not need to register and there are no tickets. An electronic invitation is available for graduates to download and use, if they please.
For more information on inviting International guests go to Guest Information.
5. Arrive at Least One House Before Your Ceremony
Arrive to the Tribute Communities centre at least one hour before your ceremony with your student card.
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 Tribute Communities Centre.
- Enter through Gate 1, go down the stairs in the middle of the foyer, and head to the right following signs for student check-in and gowning (Rink 2).
- Once in Rink 2, 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, the other end of Rink 2 will have volunteers ready to help you get your gown and hood. You do NOT need to rent these for your ceremony, they are provided for you.
- Once gowned, volunteers will begin to line students up in the student procession.
- The student procession will leave Rink 2, led by volunteers, for the ceremony in Rink 1.
- 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.
- Return your gown to Rink 2 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 Rink 2 (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?
You must complete the Application to Graduate to graduate, and receive confirmation from the Registrar’s Office, to graduate. If you are unable to attend Convocation, you will be granted a degree in absentia. Please email registrar@trentu.ca prior to Convocation to arrange to pick-up your degree or have it mailed.
You can obtain your Degree Certificate by visiting the Office of the Registrar after convocation with your student ID card; or sending a written request via your myTrent email account to registrar@trentu.ca. In the subject line, please note the term you graduated (January, Fall, Spring) and follow this example: “MAIL DEGREE – SPRING". In your email please include your name, student ID number, and full mailing address.
Take note that degrees will only be held for a period of two years, after which you must request and pay for a replacement degree. In addition, your degree and official transcripts will not be released if you have an outstanding balance owing to the University or have outstanding Library fines.
Although all degrees from the previous Fall and January are available at the Spring Convocation Ceremonies, they are also available after Senate meets, in the Fall and January for pick up or mailing for students who don’t wish to attend or wait until the Spring Convocation Ceremonies. Spring graduates may pick theirs up at Convocation or in person by email request after the week of Convocation.
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 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 kmaina@trentu.ca.