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Graduation


The culmination of a student's successful studies.
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Information on this page will assist students in making sure that all final stages proceed smoothly. Unless otherwise noted, information on this page applies for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Last Updated: August 1, 2023, 10:42 AM ET

Opportunities to Complete Degree Requirements

There are 3 opportunities to complete degree requirements:

    • By the end of April (June Convocation)
    • By the end of August (November Convocation)
    • By the end of December (March Convocation)

Undergraduate Students

If you will be completing the requirements for your degree by the end of August 2023, you will be considered to have completed degree requirements by end of August (students will be rolled into a non-degree status upon completion of their BI degree requirements), and must convocate in November 2023 with an in-person convocation ceremony as per the Office of Convocation website.

Students completing their final requirements do not need to signal to the Faculty as checks will be done internally. Students will be messaged 2 months prior to the end of their final term to signal that we are aware they are ready for graduation.

Graduate Students

If you will be completing the requirements for your degree by the end of August 2023, you will be considered to have completed degree requirements by end of August  (i.e. unable to take further courses in subsequent terms), and must convocate in November 2023 with an in-person convocation ceremony as per the Office of Convocation website.

Students completing their final requirements must signal to the Faculty by submitting the Intent to Convocate Form during their final session in preparation to convocate and to be reviewed for graduation eligibility.

Details about graduation and convocation, e.g., ceremony dates and tickets, are available from U of T’s Office of Convocation.

Continue to check your University of Toronto email account. Promptly follow-up on instructions you may receive from the Faculty, the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) or the Office of Convocation.

Convocation Checklist

Please read the following information / timeline thoroughly and follow-up with the required steps / checklist in a timely manner:

Step 1: Submit Intent to Convocate Form

Undergraduate Students

This step / form is for graduate students only. No action required.

Graduate Students

Students must submit an Intent to Convocate Form (Microsoft Forms) during their final session in preparation to convocate and to be reviewed for graduation eligibility. The form will be available during the following time periods:

    • March 1st to April 1st for a June Convocation (end of April degree completion)
    • August 1st to September 1st for a November Convocation (end of August degree completion)
    • November 1st to December 1st for a March Convocation (end of December degree completion)

Even though you may still be currently wrapping up your final course(s) this summer term, do not wait until your summer grades are available on ACORN (July 19, 2023 for F-section, May-June courses and September 13, 2023 for all other summer courses) to submit the form.

Upon submission of your form, iSchool Student Services will review your program and academic record, and submit a degree recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Students will receive an email from iSchool Student Services once the degree recommendation have been submitted.

Step 2: Check Fees

Undergraduate Students

Check your online invoice on ACORN for any unpaid fees.

Graduate Students

Check your online invoice on ACORN for any unpaid fees.

See below for more details:

    • All of our Master’s students pay a Minimum Degree Fee (MDF). It represents the minimum amount of tuition that every student must pay upon completion of their program prior to graduation.
      • The Minimum Degree Fee is equivalent to two years of full-time academic/program fees.
      • For students who have already paid the Minimum Degree Fee, please disregard any fees invoice posted to ACORN.
    • For Full-Time (FT) students who have completed their Master’s degree in less than 2 years, or Part-Time (PT) students who completed their degree in less than 6 years:
        • You will most likely receive a Balance of Degree Fee to pay off closer to the date of the convocation.
        • The Balance of Degree fee covers the remaining Minimum Degree Fee.
        • Check your ACORN invoice closer to the date of convocation and pay the Balance of Degree fee once posted, if applicable.

If you are completing your program in August:

    • Student Services will submit your Degree Recommendation to SGS by the end of September.
    • Fees for future terms (if MDF paid in full) will be removed around October.

If you are completing your program in December:

    • Student Services will submit your Degree Recommendation to SGS by the end of January.
    • Fees for future terms (if MDF paid in full) will be removed around February.

If you are completing your program in April:

    • Student Services will submit your Degree Recommendation to SGS by the end of April.
    • Fees for future terms will not have been posted to ACORN.

Step 3: Check Name, Gender, and Address

Undergraduate Students

The name on your diploma will appear as it is recorded in ACORN.

    • Verify that the spelling of your name and gender is correct as it appears in ACORN.
    • The deadline for name changes for June 2023 graduation: the deadline has been extended to April 19, 2023.

Request for name and gender changes must be emailed to Student Services with your request and attach any official documentation (e.g. driver’s license, passport photocopy, name change certificate) with the correct name you wish printed on your diploma. Requests must be received by…

    • …April, for the June convocation ceremony
    • …September, for the November convocation ceremony
    • …February, for the March convocation in absentia

Graduate Students

The name on your diploma will appear as it is recorded in ACORN.

    • Verify that the spelling of your name and gender is correct as it appears in ACORN.
    • The deadline for name changes for June 2023 graduation: the deadline has been extended to April 19, 2023.

Submit the School of Graduate Studies Name or Gender Change form via the SGS portal. This is to change misspellings, the addition or deletion of a name, and the changing of a last name (due to marriage / divorce, adding a middle name, spelling corrections etc.). Request for name and gender changes must be received by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) by…

    • …April, for the June convocation ceremony
    • …September, for the November convocation ceremony
    • …February, for the March convocation in absentia

Adding Accents or Special Characters to Your Name

Submit the NAME ON DIPLOMA form by email to convocation.office@utoronto.ca by April 19, 2023. This is to add/delete accents or special characters only. You may simply take a photo of the completed form with your phone and email that to the Office of Convocation at the above email address.

Helpful Tip: If you will be travelling for school or work, make sure the name on your diploma matches the name on your passport.

Please note that name changes requested after the April 19, 2023 deadline may be accommodated (for a fee) but are not guaranteed. Please contact us at convocation.office@utoronto.ca to review your situation.

If you have questions, please review the Graduation & Convocation pages or the FAQ section on the Office of Convocation website. If you still have questions, email us.

Step 4: Degree Recommendations

Undergraduate Students

No action required. Students completing their final term are not required to signal to the Faculty, as checks will be done internally.

Students will be messaged 2 months prior to the end of their final term to signal that we are aware they are ready for graduation. The Office of Convocation will then follow up with email information on ordering your gown / hood and RSVP-ing / ordering guest tickets closer to convocation.

Graduate Students

All Degree Recommendations will be submitted by the Faculty to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) by April 21, 2023. You will receive a notification email to your UTmail+ account from the Faculty, via the convocation.ischool@utoronto.ca email address. This is your official notice / confirmation that you will be graduating.

The Office of Convocation will email information on ordering your gown / hood and RSVP-ing / ordering guest tickets closer to convocation.

Confirmation of Degree / Status Letter(s)

Students may need a Confirmation Letter of their status at the University and Faculty. Please review the types of letters available and process to request a confirmation letter.

Step 5. Wrapping Up at the Faculty

Alumni Career Services

Recent graduates can continue to take advantage of career services offered by the Careers Office, Faculty of Information.

Stay Connected

Stay connected to the Faculty of Information community via the Faculty of Information Alumni Association (FIAA).

Key Fobs

Please return your key fob to Mailbox #B72 (2nd Floor, Bissell Building), or at the Inforum / Learning Hub’s front desk (4th Floor, Bissell Building). You can also mail us your key fob to the following address:

Facilities Coordinator
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Claude Bissell Building
140 St. George Street
Toronto, ON M5S 3G6

NOTE: Students who started in Fall 2015 and onward did NOT pay a key fob deposit and therefore will NOT receive any money back. Those who paid $20 for a replacement key fob also will not receive a refund for the replacement fee.

Building and Lab Access

If you still require building and lab after graduation, access please contact inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca.

Lockers

If you have a rented locker, please be sure to clear all items and remove your lock from the locker by your convocation date. Once your locker has been cleared, please let us know (along with your locker number and full name) at inquire.ischool@utoronto.ca.

Retrieving Final Tests and Assignments

Please pick-up your graded final tests and assignments from the Inforum / Learning Hub’s front desk (4th Floor, Bissell Building) only if your instructor has emailed you to let you know they have left them at the front desk.

University of Toronto Email

After graduation, your student email address is automatically changed to your.name[at]alum.utoronto.ca. For more details, please visit the Alumni Services information page for Alumni Email.

Wireless Network

The University of Toronto does not offer access to its wireless network to alumni.

Faculty of Information Network

Access to the Faculty of Information network for students convocating in March and June will terminate some time in August. For those convocating in November, access will cease in December.

In preparation, we highly suggest that you make back-up copies of files stored on the Faculty of Information servers that you wish to keep and unsubscribe from any listservs / mailing lists you are subscribed to with your UTOR email account.

Returns & Retrievals

Return all Inforum / Learning Hub items that you have checked out to avoid fines. Resolve outstanding library fines at Robarts Library or online.

Borrowing Privileges

University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) borrowing privileges, including Inforum / Learning Hub technology loans, and remote access to library e-resources, will expire on October 1st (for all convocation periods). To continue borrowing from other U of T libraries, you can purchase a U of T alumni card. See the UTL Alumni Library Access webpage for more details.

Step 6. Grad Photos

There are several options with CanGrad to get your graduation portraits taken. All faculties with a composite have a portrait sitting fee of $ 35.00 (tax included) and is payable by cash or cheque.

    1. Book an appointment with CanGrad at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).
      • Date: April 27, 28 and May 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2023
      • Time: 10 AM–4 PM ET
      • Location: 63 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2Z9
    2. Book an appointment with CanGrad at the Faculty of Information:
      • Date: May 10, 2023
      • Time: 10 AM – 4 PM ET
      • Location: 140 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G6
      • Please include your degree with the preferred time on May 10 in your email. All emails will be answered in the order they are received.
    3. Contact CanGrad to book appointments directly:
      • Tel: (416) 253-6466
      • Email: mail@cangrad.com
      • Note: Please include your degree with the preferred day and time in your email. All emails will be answered in the order they are received.

Step 7: RSVP to the University of Toronto Convocation Ceremony & Faculty Reception

The University’s Convocation Office is responsible for scheduling and arranging convocation ceremonies for all graduands. Please check their website for the most up-to-date information on details and how to prepare for your convocation ceremony.

Ceremony

Please check the Office of Convocation website for the most up to date information.

    • Check their page Graduation and Convocation for the most up-to-date information and their specific deadlines for name changes, tickets, regalia etcetera.
    • Follow the Office of Convocation’s Graduation Checklist to ensure you have everything lined up for the big day.
    • Check the Office of Convocation’s Gowns & Hoods and RSVP and Guest Tickets pages to see when you can book your regalia, RSVP your attendance for the ceremony and request guest tickets online via ACORN.

Undergraduate Students — Spring 2023

Graduation with Ceremony:

  • The Chancellor will be conferring degrees to all Faculty of Information June 2023 grads in a in-person graduation and convocation ceremony:
    • Date: Friday, June 2, 2023
    • Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET
    • Location: Convocation Hall, 31 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1

Graduate Students — Spring 2023

Graduation with Ceremony:

  • The Chancellor will be conferring degrees to all Faculty of Information June 2023 grads in a in-person graduation and convocation ceremony:
    • Date: Friday, June 2, 2023
    • Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET
    • Location: Convocation Hall, 31 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1

Faculty Reception

Every June and November convocation cycle, the Faculty will also arrange a reception to honour the achievements of our graduands. Reception information will be shared as we get closer to the convocation date.

Details to come!

Continue to Learn!

Recent grads are eligible for the Alumni Benefit, including a one-course discount of up to $550 CAD for New Grads at UofT’s School of Continuing Studies.

Congratulations to all our graduands!
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