Graduation

Important things to know to make sure you are ready for the big day.

Participating in graduation ceremonies vs. actual graduation

• Keep in mind that participating in a graduation ceremony does not mean you have graduated!
• You officially graduate once all your requirements have been completed and your degree has been posted.
• Students who participate in the graduation ceremony will receive a diploma cover. All students receive a diploma in the mail once the degree has been posted.

Make sure you will fulfill all graduation requirements.

• University Core requirements
  • General Education
  • Religious Education
• Requirements in a major (and in any minors or secondary majors, if applicable)
• Minimum university requirements
  • 30 residency hours
  • 120 total hours
  • 0 GPA (cumulative and BYU GPAs)

If you have questions about any of these requirements, please schedule an appointment with your advisor.

Be aware of important deadlines

A current list of deadlines for upcoming graduation dates, including applications dates, may be found at the BYU Graduation page.

• You will periodically receive e-mail with important information about graduation. If the e-mail address listed for BYU is not correct, you will not receive that information.

All students who wish to graduate must apply online. You MUST have a current ecclesiastical endorsement on file in order to apply.

To apply for graduation, log in to Route Y and then scroll over the “School” tab. When the drop-down menu appears, please select “Apply for Graduation.”

Application Deadlines

April Graduation—15 November
June Graduation—15 February
August Graduation—15 April
December Graduation—15 September

In addition to applying online, all students must schedule a graduation clearance meeting with an academic advisor in order for their application to be approved. During this meeting, an advisor will review your progress report to ensure that all requirements have been meet. Students are encouraged to sign up for their graduation clearance meeting during their second to last semester.

Participation in Graduation Ceremony

Any student wishing to participate in the Kennedy Center graduation ceremony must complete a Qualtrics RSVP request. Students who have applied for graduation online will have an RSVP sent to their e-mail at the beginning of March. If you do not receive the RSVP, please contact the Advisement Center, (801)422-3548.

The Kennedy Center holds graduation ceremonies once a year, in April. All students graduating from the Kennedy Center, regardless of their graduation date, are invited to participate in our April ceremony. Depending on when your graduation date is, you may want to participate in the ceremony before or after your official university graduation. Please meet with an advisor to see what option would work best for you.

If you wish to have a spouse for immediate family member participate with you in the Kennedy Center ceremony, please indicate so in your RSVP. If you want to walk in convocation exercises in another college, contact that college’s advisement center to make arrangements.

Changing your Graduation Date

If you need to change your graduation date, once you have already completed the graduation clearance meeting, please contact our office, (801) 422-3548, to set up an appointment to meet with your academic advisor.

Click here to apply online or for further graduation details click here.

Commencement Exercises

Commencement is held twice a year, in April and August. BYU commencement takes place the day prior to convocation exercises. All graduates of the university are invited to attend commencement. Commencement begins with a processional, during which graduates in cap and gown march into the Marriott Center. Graduates and guests are addressed by a prominent keynote speaker during these exercises. Students’ names are not read during commencement.

Convocation Exercises

Convocation is held once a year, in April.Convocation exercises are divided into colleges. During convocation, students’ names are read and graduates receive a diploma cover. Diplomas are mailed to graduates 6–8 weeks after their official graduation date from the university.

Any student wishing to participate in the Kennedy Center Convocation must complete the Qualtrics RSVP request. The RSVP will be sent to your e-mail. If you have completed the graduation application online, but have not received one, please contact the Advisement Center, (801)422-3548.

Cap and Gown

​Students may order caps & gowns online. Cap and gown pick up and return will take place at the BYU Store. Please see the alumni web site for complete cap and gown information.

May I walk in a ceremony if I am not graduating at that time?

Yes, remember that walking in a ceremony does not mean you have graduated. Since the Kennedy Center only holds convocation ceremonies once a year, in April, all graduating students are invited to participate. Depending on when you are scheduled to graduate, you may want to walk either before or after you officially graduate. Contact the Advisement Center to see when would be the best time for you to walk.

May my spouse or sibling walk with me in the ceremony?

Yes, immediate family members are invited to walk with Kennedy Center graduates. Just make sure and include their information in your Qualtrics RSVP response. If you have questions, please contact the Advisement Center.

I need to move my graduation to another date. Can I do that?

It depends; you will need to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. You may do this by contacting the Advisement Center, (801) 422-3548.

I missed the graduation application deadline. May I still apply?

Though applying by the deadline will make things easier for everyone, the answer is usually yes. However, the closer it gets to graduation, the less likely we will be able to accept your application past the deadline. Complete the online application form for whatever application date is available and then schedule an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to see if your date can be moved back. To schedule an appointment call (801) 422-3548.

Will my name be on the program?

Please be aware that only the names of December and April graduates will be listed in the April commencement and convocation programs. June and August graduates participating in the April ceremony may request that an August University Commencement program with their name listed be mailed to their house. This request can be made through the Qualtrics RSVP form.

What information is on the diploma?

• The university’s name and location
• Student name (as specified on the graduation application)
• Degree: BA, BS, BM, BFA, MBA, MS, MA, PhD, JD, etc.
• Name of major
• Date the degree was awarded
• Signature of the president of the Board of Trustees and the BYU president
• University seal
• University Honors/Latin Distinction

Remember the diploma arrives in the mail three to six weeks after official graduation. Students participating in the graduation ceremonies will receive an empty diploma cover.

Will my double major or my minor show on my diploma?

No, only your primary major will appear, but both majors will be reflected on your official university transcript.

Answers to many other commonly asked questions maybe found at the general Graduation FAQs page provided by the university.