Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility to participate in the May 2024 All-University Commencement ceremony is limited to students who have graduated or will graduate during the 2023-24 academic year. This includes:

• Those who have earned degrees or advanced certificates of study in September 2023
• Those who have earned degrees or advanced certificates of study in January 2024
• Those who are candidates for a degree or advanced certificate of study in May 2024

Visit the Graduation Checklist on the Graduation and Diplomas page for additional eligibility information.

Candidates must apply to graduate to receive a Commencement invitation. Visit the Applying to Graduate page for instructions and important deadlines.

• May 2024 graduation application period: November 1, 2023–February 15, 2024
• September 2024 graduation application period: March 1, 2024–June 15, 2024

September 2024 candidates with up to two outstanding courses wanting to attend the May 2024 All-University Commencement ceremony must receive a Dean’s Exception from their school. To successfully receive a Dean’s Exception, follow the steps listed on the Dean’s Exceptions for Commencement page.

Graduation is the act of graduating once you have successfully completed your program of study and your degree has legally been awarded to you, or conferred. Some school ceremonies are also called graduations. Commencement is the university-wide event at which you celebrate the completion of your program of study.

If you or your guests need US visas to attend Commencement and/or your school ceremony, visit the Office of Global Services’ International Visitors page and see other recommended documentation for international visitors arriving for Commencement for instructions on requesting an NYU Commencement letter of invitation.

The All-University Commencement ceremony recognizes each year's graduates from all of NYU's schools. The program will include remarks by leadership and select student speakers, the awarding of honorary degrees, the presentation of student representatives from each school, the traditional Ceremony of the Torch, and the conferral of degrees. Before the ceremony begins, there will be a procession of faculty members and the platform party.

With over 22,000 candidates in the graduating class, individual candidate names cannot be read at All-University Commencement. Instead, a student representative from the graduating class at each school will receive a symbolic diploma on behalf of their classmates.

The All-University Commencement Exercises will be approximately 90 minutes to two hours long.

Academic attire is now available to order for home shipping for September 2023 graduates and January 2024 candidates. Spring 2024 candidates will be able to purchase academic attire when ordering reopens in mid March 2024.

Yes, all candidates must wear NYU academic attire to enter Yankee Stadium.

Commencement invitations with ticket ordering instructions will be emailed to all eligible candidates starting in mid-March 2024. Candidates are not automatically granted a ticket. All candidates must reserve a candidate ticket in order to enter Yankee Stadium. Candidates are also responsible for reserving tickets for their guests. No one will be allowed into the stadium without a ticket. Visit the Tickets page for details.

No. NYU strictly prohibits the direct or indirect sale or auction of All-University Commencement tickets. Tickets are free and available only to eligible candidates in the Class of 2024 and their guests. Ticket(s) may not be used for advertising, promotion (including contests, giveaways, or sweepstakes), or other trade or commercial purposes.  Students engaging in such activities, as well as any other activity that disrupts the administration of the ceremony and/or violates the Yankee Stadium Security Policies or any NYU student conduct policy, will be subject to NYU disciplinary sanctions, including without limitation the delayed issuance of a degree or diploma. The Yankees and NYU reserve the right to investigate violations of the License applicable to NYU's use of Yankee Stadium.

No. School ceremonies and All-University Commencement are separate events, and both require unique tickets. Visit the School Ceremonies page for information about your school-specific ceremony and how to reserve tickets.

Details about Latin honors, including the GPA cutoffs, are on the University Registrar's Graduation Honors page. The University does not distribute tassels or cords for Latin honors. Some schools might distribute cords for certain internal honors. Please reach out to your school with questions about departmental honors.

University Honors Scholars receive a certificate and a gold tassel that they may wear at Commencement and other graduation events. The University Registrar will contact any University Honors Scholars, typically in late April, with more details about their tassel and certificate.

Diplomas are mailed to graduates 6–8 weeks after graduation. Make sure to update your mailing address in Albert. For further information, visit the Paper and Electronic Diplomas page.

Keep your contact information up to date in Albert and through Alumni Relations at nyualumni.com/new-grads.

GradBot is an AI chatbot that can answer questions related to the All-University Commencement. Graduates and Commencement attendees can opt into GradBot to get Commencement information. GradBot will go live in mid-March. Details on how to opt into GradBot will be posted at that time.