Prepare for your convocation ceremony

• Apply to graduate
  Students must complete the application to graduate to initiate the degree audit process. This step is a requirement regardless of your intent to attend convocation.
• 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 website for up-to-date information, FAQs and to book your session.
• Check the ceremony schedule
  • Wednesday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. – Education
  • Wednesday, June 5 at 2 p.m. – Health Sciences
  • Thursday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m. – Science
  • Thursday, June 6 at 2 p.m. – Engineering and Applied Science
  • Friday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. – Business and Information Technology
  • Friday, June 7 at 2 p.m. – Social Science and Humanities
• Register to attend your ceremony and claim guest tickets

  Students who have applied to graduate will receive an email from MarchingOrder on behalf of the university in mid-March to register for Convocation. You will be prompted to register to attend, provide the phonetic pronunciation of your name and reserve your guest tickets. Returning users may login in at ontariotechu.marchingorder.com.

  If you require any accessibility accommodations to participate in convocation or for a guest to attend convocation, please contact us at convocation@ontariotechu.ca.

• Rent a gown
  Graduates are required to order a gown to participate in the convocation ceremony. Visit the Regalia Rental website powered by Gaspard to rent your gown.
• Letter of Invitation (International Students)

  If you would like to invite a friend or relative to visit you in Canada to attend your convocation ceremony, you may need to send them a letter of invitation. We do not provide these letters; you must write the letter yourself. You can find more information on the International Student Services website.

• What if I do not attend convocation?

  If you are not attending your convocation ceremony, you may pick up your parchment beginning Monday, June 17 from the Office of the Registrar located in the Software and Informatics Research Centre (north Oshawa campus location).

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

Attending convocation

Information for grads

• Arrive 90 minutes before the ceremony

  Arrive at the Science Building, East Atrium, 90 minutes before the start of your ceremony. Check-in with your student ID or government-issued ID and get your participation card.

  Free parking is available in Founders Lot 2. Overflow parking is available in the campus parking lots north of Conlin Road: Founders Lot 3, Founders Lot 4 and Founders Lot 5. An accessible drop-off location is on Avenue of Champions.

• Check-in and pick up your gown
  After picking up your participation card, you will be directed to pick up your regalia and line up for the procession.
• Participate in the ceremony

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

  The duration of each convocation ceremony is approximately 1 and a half to 2 hours, depending on the size of your faculty. Out of respect for all ceremony attendees, graduates and their guests are expected to remain in their seat for the duration of the ceremony.

• Celebrate at the reception

  Alumni Receptions will begin immediately following the ceremony at Shawenjigewining Hall.

  Snap some pictures and introduce your guests to classmates and professors.

• Return your gown
  Return your gown to the Science Building, East Atrium, within one hour of the end of your ceremony. Gaspard will charge students for goods not returned or goods returned damaged.

Information for guests

• Guest tickets

  Tickets are required to attend convocation. All guests over the age of two require a ticket.

  Graduates are eligible to claim up to two guest tickets and may join a waitlist for additional tickets. Additional tickets will be distributed if they are available to the waitlist in late May.

  Only graduates can request tickets. They must be claimed through the ceremony registration process. Graduates will then distribute the ticket(s) to their guest(s), and all guests must present their ticket upon arrival to be scanned for entry.

• Arrival and ceremony duration

  Ceremonies will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the Graduate Procession entering the ceremony location. Guests are encouraged to arrive between 30 to 60 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Tickets are required for general admission and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

  The duration of each convocation ceremony is approximately 1 and a half to 2 hours, depending on the number of graduates from the faculty. Out of respect for all ceremony attendees, graduates and their guests are expected to remain in their seat for the duration of the ceremony.

• Parking
  Free parking is available in Founders Lot 2. Overflow parking is available in the campus parking lots north of Conlin Road: Founders Lot 3, Founders Lot 4 and Founders Lot 5. An accessible drop-off location is on Avenue of Champions.
• Accessibility

  Convocation is outdoors on Polonsky Commons, located at the university’s north Oshawa campus location. The ceremony will take place under a tent, rain or shine. Please view the campus map to familiarize yourself with the location of the ceremony as well as parking, accessible drop-off location and the restrooms.

  If you require an accessibility accommodation, please email convocation@ontariotechu.ca.

• Flowers and merchandise
  • The Campus Store will be on-site selling Ontario Tech merchandise as well as official degree frames. 
  • The Ontario Tech Alumni Association will be on-site selling Ontario Tech Alumni merchandise.
  • Convocation Flowers will be on site selling floral bouquets. Online pre-orders are available.