Prepare for your convocation ceremony

• IMPORTANT

  PLEASE NOTE: IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN CONVOCATION, YOU MUST APPLY TO GRADUATE AND REGISTER TO ATTEND THE 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
  Ceremony schedule details will be released in March 2025.
• 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.

  Note: if you require any accessibility accommodations to attend Convocation, please contact us at convocation@ontariotechu.ca.

• Rent a gown
  Graduates are required to order a gown through the Gaspard regalia rental website by Tuesday, May 13.
• 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 16 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 90 minutes before the ceremony to the Science Building, East Atrium to check in. 

  You must show your student card 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.

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

  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

  On arrival to the Science Building, East Atrium, you will proceed to pick up your participation card, your academic regalia (gown, hood and cap) and line up for the procession. If you did not rent your gown in advance, you will line up for an on-site rental (a $55 on-site rental fee applies).

• 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 and a half 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.

• Celebrate at the reception

  Alumni Receptions will begin immediately following the ceremony at Shawenjigewining Hall and surrounding open space.

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

• Return your gown
  Return your gown to Shawenjigewining Hall at the Alumni Receptions, 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.

  Guests will enter the venue space by one of the entrances into the tent at least 30-minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

• 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 to the tent between 45 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.

  To ensure that all Convocation attendees have the best possible experience during the ceremonies, please review the safeguarding and assurance guidelines including the code of conduct, 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.

  The duration of each convocation ceremony is approximately 1 and a half to 2 and a half 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 located at the university’s north Oshawa campus location under a floored tent on Polonsky Commons. 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.