Updates for Spring 2025 Graduates

Although it may seem early, NOW is the time for Spring 2025 graduates & their families to begin planning for spring graduation and commencement ceremonies!

Please scroll down or click the links below for important updates and information related to: 

graduation updates for research students

purchasing regalia

planning for spring ceremonies
 

Spring 2025 Graduation Updates for PhD, MA, and MS students

Sign up for May 2025 graduation for PhD, MA, and MS students is open! Students planning to graduate this spring should take time now to review all requirements and deadlines. 

• April 23 is the final ay to apply for spring 2025 graduation 

• Research Master's programs (MA & MS only):

  • through May 5: schedule a thesis deposit appointment

  • Review all resources and requirements for graduating research master's students 
     

• PhD programs 

  • Schedule a dissertation deposit appointment 

    • through April 6, schedule regular deposit here 
    • April 7-May 5:  schedule peak period deposit appointment here (formatting appointment required at least one week prior to deposit)
      **The last day to sign up for a deposit appointment is April 23

  • Get formatting support (required before all peak deposit appointments):

    • In-person: Thursdays from 3pm to 5pm at the Graduate Student Center | 3615 Locust Walk | Third Floor, Room 301

    • Virtual: use the "schedule a formatting appointment" link on the Grad Degrees contact page 

  • Review all resources and requirements for graduating PhD students 

Visit the Graduate Degrees website for more information, including graduation checklists, deposit instructions, and to review the dates and deadlines on the May 2025 graduation calendar. 

Questions about graduation requirements and policies for PhD and research master’s degree students should be directed to the Graduate Degrees office. Questions about graduation requirements and policies for students in other degree programs should be directed to the corresponding program and school administrators.
 

Purchasing Regalia for Graduate & Professional Students

Standard Regalia (black cap & gown)
Masters and PhD candidates who plan to participate in Commencement have a few options for purchasing standard (black) regalia

• Purchase regalia online now and have items shipped to your home (shipping fees apply). The final deadline for online purchases is March 21: we recommend submitting orders earlier to allow for any potential shipping delays or disruptions.  

• Purchase and pick-up caps & gowns, as well as other items such as diploma frames, class rings, and gifts at the Penn Bookstore on March 19-21. Graduates will be able to purchase and pick up their Commencement regalia on the second level of the Penn Bookstore near the textbook department during the store’s normal operating hours. Use this opportunity to try on your gown, ask staff members questions, and get excited for the big event! 
   

Special Instructions for Doctoral Students: Traditional vs Custom Doctoral Gowns

• Most graduates choose traditional doctoral regalia. Traditional regalia includes a black robe (with adornments that correspond to colors associated with your degree) along with a mortar board, and tassel. You can pick up your traditional regalia package at the Penn Bookstore during Grad Fair or order online by March 29, 2025.
   
• Custom Regalia is typically chosen by Doctoral candidates who plan to frequently participate in academic ceremonies requiring such unique attire in the future. Many universities will purchase custom regalia for new faculty for use in official ceremonies, so graduates may also opt to delay purchase until after graduation.  
  • Please keep in mind you are not required to purchase custom regalia and, with few exceptions, graduates most often choose traditional doctoral regalia. Custom regalia robes are red and blue, individually sized, and made of lightweight wool blended fabric with lined bell sleeves. If you plan to wear Custom Doctoral regalia, please note that the order date is much earlier as these items are made-to-order.
  •  If you plan to purchase Custom Doctoral regalia, you should order it online by March 7 and have it shipped directly. More information on ordering your regalia is available on Grad Express.
     

Costs for regalia (Cap, Gown, Hood & Tassel) vary by degree level and type:

• Master’s: $105.00 plus tax
• Doctoral traditional: $126 plus tax
• LLM,LLCM, ML:  $117 plus tax
• DMD, DScD (with tam): $186 plus tax
• Custom Doctoral: approx. $915 plus tax

Questions should be directed to the Campus Express team, within the Division of Business Services. 

Additional Information and Resources for Spring 2025 Ceremonies

Ceremonies

• University Commencement: The University of Pennsylvania's 269th Commencement ceremony will be held on Monday, May 19, in Franklin Field. 
  • This University-wide ceremony features the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, and remarks by the Commencement speaker. Students in undergraduate and professional degree programs are seated and have degrees conferred by their individual schools. PhD students across all nine PhD-granting schools are seated together and have their degrees conferred by the Office of the Provost.
     
• School Graduation Ceremonies: In addition to the University-wide Commencement, each School conducts its own ceremony. Most ceremonies are scheduled during the period of May 14-19.
  • Dates, locations, and speakers vary by school and division.  Visit the School Ceremonies webpage and check with program staff for more information about participating in these ceremonies.
    
    
    Summer graduates: Students graduating in summer 2025 can participate in spring ceremonies, depending on your school policies and guidelines.  However, all degrees conferred after May 2025 will be listed in the 2026 University Commencement program.
     

Guests & Family

• Philadelphia has a large number of colleges & universities, so hotels and home rentals fill up very quickly for this time of year. We recommend making hotel/accommodation reservations as early as possible. More information to help guests plan their visit can be found here.
• Those unable to travel to Philadelphia can view the official livestream of the Penn Commencement Ceremony.
   

Invitations, Diploma Frames, and more

• Grad Fair at the Penn Bookstore is being held March 19-21.  Masters and PhD candidates who plan to participate in Commencement can acquire their caps and gowns, as well as purchase other items such as diploma frames, class rings, and gifts to celebrate this momentous occasion.

  Graduates will be able to purchase and pick up their Commencement regalia on the second level of the Penn Bookstore near the textbook department during the store’s normal operating hours. Use this opportunity to try on your gown, ask staff members questions, and get excited for the big event! 

  In addition to picking up your regalia, 2025 graduates are encouraged to visit Grad Express where you can find explore a variety of resources and benefits to take advantage of both before graduation and in post-grad life, such as special alumni discounts, setting up an alumni email account, last-chance educational discounts on computer products, and more. On Grad Express you can order diploma frames, class rings, and announcements to commemorate your achievement.  Grad Express also contains information about what to do if you are unable to visit the Penn Bookstore during Grad Fair to obtain your regalia.