Prepare for your Convocation ceremony

• Mandatory first step: Apply to graduate

  Students must complete the application to graduate to initiate the degree audit process and be invited to participate in Convocation. This step is a requirement for graduation, regardless of your intent to attend Convocation.

  The deadline for spring semester graduates was June 22. The deadline for summer semester graduates was August 10. Students who missed the deadline have until Thursday, August 20 to submit a late application for a $50 fee. 

• Check the ceremony schedule

  Fall Convocation is scheduled for Thursday, October 15 at Regent Theatre.

  There will be two ceremonies:

  9:30 a.m. for graduates from the faculties of:

  • Education
  • Engineering and Applied Science
  • Health Sciences

  2 p.m. for the graduates from the faculties of:

  • Business and Information Technology
  • Science
  • Social Science and Humanities
• Register and claim guest tickets by Friday, September 18

  If you have applied to graduate, you'll receive an email from Tassel on behalf of the university on Thursday, August 13. You will be prompted to confirm whether you plan to attend, provide the phonetic pronunciation of your name and reserve your guest tickets.

  You will use your student number and network password to log into Tassel.

  Complete your registration and claim your guaranteed guest tickets by Friday, September 18.

  Tickets are required for all guests, regardless of age, to attend Convocation. Graduates are eligible to claim up to two guest tickets and may join a waitlist for additional tickets. If additional tickets are available following the graduate registration period, they will be distributed to the waitlist in late September.

  If you or your guest(s) require any accessibility accommodations to participate in Convocation fully, contact convocation@ontariotechu.ca.

• Rent a gown by Sunday, September 27

  Graduates are required to rent a gown through the Gaspard regalia rental website. Rent by Sunday, September 27 to save $25 and be entered into a draw for the chance to win an Ontario Tech prize pack.

  Graduates who miss the advance rental period will be required to pay an on-site rental fee of $65.

• Book graduation photos

  Capture your time at Ontario Tech with professional graduation photos. The graduation photo service is organized by the Ontario Tech Student Union (OTSU).

  Visit the OTSU grad photos web page for up-to-date information, frequently asked questions and to book your session.

• International students: Letter of invitation

  Inviting a friend or family member from outside of Canada to celebrate with you? You may need to provide them with a letter of invitation.

  The university does not provide these letters.

  Visit the International office's website for more information, guidance on how to write a letter of invitation and to download a sample letter for Convocation. 

• What if I do not attend Convocation?

  If you are not attending your Convocation ceremony, indicate this on the Tassel registration page to stop registration reminder emails. 

  You may pick up your parchment beginning Thursday, October 22 from the Office of the Registrar, located in the Software and Informatics Research Centre (north Oshawa campus).

  If you're unable to pick up your parchment and would like your parchment couriered, complete the request for parchment to be couriered form.

Attending Convocation

Information for grads

• Review safeguarding and assurance guidelines

  To ensure that all Convocation attendees have the best possible experience, review the safeguarding and assurance guidelines, including the code of conduct, and rules and procedures that apply to all graduates and guests.

  Key points include:

  • No large bags (e.g. knapsacks, duffels and totes).
  • No signs, noisemakers or flags.
• Plan your route and parking

  Ceremonies will take place at our downtown Oshawa campus' Regent Theatre.

  The parking options around Regent Theatre include on-street parking (time limits) and city-operated lots. Visit the City of Oshawa's downtown parking options website for available lots, rates and instructions.

  Notice: Construction is ongoing on Simcoe Street South. Plan extra travel time and follow posted detour signage. For details, visit the Metrolinx press release.

• Arrive 90 minutes before the ceremony

  Arrive at Bordessa Hall, 55 Bond Street East, 90 minutes before your ceremony to check in.

  Bring your UCard (digital or physical) or government-issued photo ID to check in for the ceremony, pick up your academic regalia and obtain your degree parchment. Graduates without proper identification will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.

  Only bring essentials (e.g. photo ID and a form of payment if you didn’t pre-rent your gown) to participate in your ceremony. Personal belongings cannot be left in the gowning room or carried in the procession to the ceremony location.

• Check-in and pick up your gown

  In the Bordessa Hall lobby, you will pick up your participation card and be directed to pick up your academic regalia (gown, hood and cap) before lining up for the procession into the ceremony.

  If you did not rent your gown in advance, you will line up for an on-site rental. The on-site rental fee is $65.

• Participate in the ceremony

  The graduate procession will begin moving to the ceremony location approximately 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

  Each convocation ceremony is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long, depending on the number of graduates in attendance.

  Please note: Out of respect for all graduates and guests, all attendees are expected to remain for the entire ceremony.

• Return your gown and pick up your parchment

  Within one hour of the end of your ceremony, return your gown to Bordessa Hall. Unreturned or damaged gowns and hoods will be charged to you by Gaspard.

  Once you've returned your gown, you will receive your official degree parchment.

Information for guests

• Obtaining guest tickets

  Tickets are required to attend Convocation. Everyone who attends (regardless of age) must have a ticket.

  Graduates are eligible to claim up to two guest tickets and may join a waitlist for additional tickets. If additional tickets are available following the graduate registration period, they will be distributed to the waitlist in late September.

  Only graduates can request tickets. They must be claimed through the ceremony registration process and distributed to guests. All guests must present their ticket (digital or printed) upon arrival at the theatre to be scanned for entry.

• Plan your arrival and ceremony timing

  Ceremonies will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Guests should arrive at the venue at least 45 to 60 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Seating is first-come, first-served, and no entry will be permitted during the Academic Procession.

  Each ceremony is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long, depending on the number of graduates in attendance. 

  Please note: Out of respect for all graduates and guests, all attendees are expected to remain for the entire ceremony.

  Before you arrive, review the safeguarding and assurance guidelines, which apply to graduates and guests.

  Some key points include:

  • No large bags (e.g. knapsacks, duffels and totes).
  • No signs, noisemakers or flags.
• Get directions and parking

  Ceremonies will take place at our downtown Oshawa campus' Regent Theatre.

  The parking options around Regent Theatre include on-street parking (time limits) and city-operated lots. Visit the City of Oshawa's downtown parking options website for available lots, rates and instructions.

  Notice: Construction is ongoing on Simcoe Street South. Plan extra travel time and follow posted detour signage. For details, visit the Metrolinx press release.

• Request accessibility support

  If you require an accessibility accommodation, please have your graduate contact convocation@ontariotechu.ca on your behalf to make arrangements.

• Purchase flowers, degree frames and merchandise

  The Campus Store will be on-site selling Ontario Tech merchandise and official degree frames, and the Ontario Tech Alumni Association will be selling alumni-branded merchandise. 

  Convocation Flowers will be on-site selling floral bouquets; online, pre-orders are available.