Parents' Council Graduation Resources

Registrar Graduation Overview

As they approach graduation, students should make sure the degree is in order, records are up-to-date, and a degree-expected term is identified. This webpage includes helpful information to ensure students take the necessary steps to have their degrees awarded upon their final quarter at UCLA.

A Guide to Graduation

The Center for Academic Advising in the College created a brief video summarizing degree requirements needed for students to graduate from the College of Letters & Science. The video covers Latin Honors, how students can receive their diploma, membership to the UCLA Alumni Association and more. There is also a Graduation Checklist which succinctly outlines key steps your student should complete as they prepare to graduate.

Commencement 2026 Overview

Commencement is the ceremony that takes place for students who are graduating. This webpage includes information for the main 2026 Commencement ceremonies, which are scheduled for Friday, June 12 and includes three distinct College of Letters & Science commencement sessions to accommodate graduates and their families (11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.). In addition, there are ceremonies for the departments in which students are graduating and professional school ceremonies.

College-Specific Ceremonies

On Saturday and Sunday of Commencement weekend, UCLA Departmental Graduations are held at various locations across campus, most of which are outdoors (so be prepared with water, sunscreen, and/or a light jacket!). In general, these events can accommodate more guests, making it easier to add additional family members to the celebration.

Commencement Tickets

In the spring, students will receive an email with instructions on how to order Commencement tickets, which will be available for both the main and departmental ceremonies via MyUCLA. Tickets to the College Commencement Ceremony can be REQUESTED starting Thursday, April 30 at noon through Sunday, May 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Eligible graduates can indicate their preference of times (11 a.m., 3 p.m., or 7 p.m.) and request one FREE graduate ticket and up to four FREE guest tickets.

Lodging

It is highly recommended to book your lodging for commencement weekend early, as local hotels fill up. See below for an interactive map with local accommodations (click on the blue location icons for hotel information):

Parking

Purchase in advance: To skip long lines at the self-service pay stations on campus, it's recommended to purchase your parking permit ahead of attending the Commencement ceremonies. Students and guests attending the 2026 Commencement ceremonies can buy parking permits online through the Bruin ePermit Event Parking Portal starting in the spring (date TBD).

High demand: Commencement parking spaces fill up quickly in the parking structures and vehicles are parked on a first come, first served basis. Plan your commute accordingly and arrive to campus at least 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. When you arrive, you may be redirected to an alternate parking area, in which case no additional permit is needed.

Parking Availability: The parking structures that will be open commencement weekend will be listed below when they become available. A printable campus parking map can be found here.

• Friday, June 12: TBD
• Saturday, June 13: TBD
• Sunday, June 14: TBD

Navigating Campus

Utilize UCLA campus maps for commencement programming locations and more:

• You can search for buildings, parking structures and more with this interactive map.
• There are a variety of campus maps that you can print and carry with you throughout the weekend.
  • This accessibility map includes accessible paths throughout campus.

Weekend Meals

It is highly recommended to make reservations for commencement weekend meals early, as local restaurants in Westwood fill up. There are, however, many options throughout the surrounding area as well.

Sustainability

Graduation is a time of celebration. However, many products use to celebrate (e.g., confetti, glitter, etc.) litter the campus with trash that is difficult to clean up and contribute to pollution far from campus. This webpage includes some swaps to make Commencement weekend magical without making a mess.

Cap, Gown, and Sash (Commencement Regalia)

Your student can order their commencement attire (i.e., "regalia") via the UCLA Store. They will need to purchase a cap and gown for Commencement, but sashes are optional. It is recommended to purchase these ahead of time to avoid the rush at the end of the academic year.

Graduation Photos

Graduating from UCLA is an important milestone for students and they can remember their accomplishments for years to come with a graduation portrait. Students can book an official UCLA graduation portrait with BruinLife Photo Studio (located on campus). For all sessions, they provide the cap, gown, tassel and Class of 2026 sash.

Announcements

Students can signal the culmination of their academic career with press printed graduation announcements from BruinLife.

UCLA Yearbook

Students can purchase the 2026 BruinLife Yearbook which includes Student Life, Academics, Events, Athletics and the 2026 Graduating Class.

UCLA Alumni Association

Students are already a part of the UCLA Alumni Association and can begin leveraging the programming and resources to build out their network and prepare for life after graduation. As a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, the Association offers career programming, lifelong learning opportunities and connects alumni with Bruin networks worldwide.

Career Center

Students have full access to the UCLA Career Center for up to three months following their graduation. This includes career advising, drop-ins and appointments with Career Center staff. After three months, students can utilize Alumni Career Engagement for career services and support (encourage them to check out the "New Grad" page for more information).

UCLA ONE

UCLA ONE is the official online networking platform for Bruins. Encourage your student to join today to begin making valuable connections with UCLA alumni, browse job and internship opportunities and get professional development support.