The 2023 Commencement TikTok video is now available!
Participants: Fall '22, Spring '23 & Summer '23 graduates only (No exceptions will be made due to venue capacity).
DATE: May 16, 2023
TIME: 9:00 AM
LOCATION: Zellerbach Auditorium
Questions? english_advising@berkeley.edu . Email communication about department commencement will start going out last week of March 2023. Stay tuned for more information. *Note: This is the English department commencement webpage. If you are looking for the campuswide commencement, visit commencement.berkeley.edu and submit questions using the contact form. The ceremony will not be recorded.
RECEPTION
After the ceremony, graduates and their families are invited to attend the reception located in Lower Sproul.
REGISTRATION
Graduates with an expected graduation term (EGT) for Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 are on our list and do not need to register for the ceremony. If you recieve an email from english_advising@berkeley.edu about tickets that will be sent out late March, then you are on our list of registered students. If you have an EGT from those terms and do not revcieve the email, please reach out to us.
CAP & GOWN
Caps and gowns are available to purchase at the Official Cal Student Store (2560 Bancroft Way) and in the Graduation Department at Fall Rush (2470/2480 Bancroft Way). Cal Student Store Cap and Gown Pricing
GUEST TICKETS
Please see the email from english_advising@berkeley.edu about tickets that will be sent out late March. They will become available starting April 4th at noon. Students are able to purchase up to 5 tickets to invite family and friends. Graduates do not need to purchase a ticket for themselves.
HONOR CORDS
All English students who complete English H195A and H195B are eligible to purchase an Honor Cord from the Cal Student Store. If you did not complete the English Honor course sequence, you are not eligible. Semester honors/ Dean’s List/ GPA that is roughly equivalent to cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude does not qualify for the Honors cord.
FLOWER VENDOR
There is a flower vendor called The Commencement Group who will be the vendor at Zellerbach. They have bouquets and leis for pre-sale plus teddy bears, etc on site. Families can pre-order flowers here: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/uc-berkeley/ and pick up the order when they arrive at Zellerbach Auditorium the day of the ceremony.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
During commencements, student "S" permit areas will be open to the public at the hourly rate. Drivers must purchase parking from the "pay by space" dispensing machines. For more information about parking, visit the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Special Event Parking Website.
Please also consider avoiding parking stress by using the BearTransit shuttle service. Shuttle lines circuit the campus at approximately 12-24 minute intervals. View the BearTransit page for transit information, shuttle schedules and route maps.
DIPLOMAS
Diplomas for undergraduates will be mailed (usually 4-6 months after graduation) automatically to the diploma mailing address in Cal Central. Diplomas are distributed by the Office of the Registrar. Click here for more information.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area hotels fill up in May. If you have family or friends coming to your ceremony from out of town, suggest that they make reservations immediately. For information about local accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in Berkeley, refer to the Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau (external link) and the UCB Visitors Center.