Graduation and Convocation Frequently Asked Questions

In order to graduate in the current convocation ceremonies, you must complete all your program requirements by the end of the Winter 2026 term and your records must be in good standing.

All students' records must be in good standing by the deadline indicated on the Important Dates for Graduates timeline, (to be in good standing, you must not have any outstanding fees, fines or loans, including book and equipment loans on your account).

Check STU-VIEW to ensure your account is cleared of any holds that may prevent your graduation.

Full-time and part-time post-secondary and apprentice graduates who completed their program in Spring 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026 are eligible to attend the current convocation ceremonies, provided they did not previously attend a convocation for the same program.

To see your program's ceremony date and time, please see the convocation ceremonies schedule.

If you are a Full-time, Post-secondary or Apprenticeship student registered in the final semester of your program, and meet the requirements to graduate, you will be graduated automatically by the college.

If you are planning to attend your convocation ceremony, you must reserve your seats via your STU-VIEWaccount by the RSVP deadline.

If you are not attending your convocation ceremony your credential will be mailed to you by the date indicated on the Important Dates for Graduates timeline. Please note you are not required to inform us of your decision to not attend.

To ensure you receive all information or documents in a timely manner, please confirm the contact information (address, email, phone number) we have on file is up to date on STU-VIEW.

When possible, we will correspond with you through your George Brown e-mail. Please check this account frequently for updates.

If your credential was returned to the college by the post office, please contact the Academic Records Office at records@georgebrown.ca for assistance. Please note the college will only keep your credential on file until mid-August of the current convocation ceremonies year. Graduates who request to receive their credential after mid-August must request a replacement copy online at Academic Records and pay the applicable replacement fee.

All graduates must reserve their convocation tickets through STU-VIEW during the RSVP Window.

To attend the convocation ceremonies, you must reserve your seats by the RSVP deadline. You can RSVP even if you are unsure if you are graduating.

To complete the RSVP process, you are required to know your height for proper gown fitting and the total number of guests (maximum of 2) you would like to reserve tickets for.

Tickets are ONLY issued to confirmed graduates and will be emailed and available on STU-VIEW after the RSVP deadline. You may view the ticket issue date at RSVP for Convocation and Tickets.

All graduates may request up to 2 guest tickets. This ensures that our ceremonies remain within the venue's fire safety and capacity limits.

If you have unused guest tickets, these can be shared with your classmates after you receive your guest tickets. 

Additional tickets may be released at the end of May after the RSVP deadline has passed. You can indicate on your registration form if you would like to be notified if/when additional tickets become available, however, please note that we cannot make any guarantees unfortunately.

Graduates must present their Stage Pass to attend the ceremony. Stage passes will be released and available for download to your Smartphone at the end of May. If you will not have your phone with you on the day of the ceremony, please print out your Stage Pass ahead of time. Please note that device-sharing will not be permitted.

Follow these steps if you want to invite a family member from overseas to convocation:

• Write a Letter of Invitation: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a guide for you to follow. This is only a guide, you must write the invitation yourself and your letter must be written in English (In some cases, the letter may need to be notarized).

International Students – May request an optional Letter of Enrolment (if currently enrolled) OR Graduation letter (if program completed) from the International Office

Domestic Students – May request an optional Letter of Enrolment through records.georgebrown.ca, or optional graduation letter by emailing convocation@georgebrown.ca if they have graduated.

• Send the letters to your invited person. The person requesting the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), must include the invitation letter with their application to their local visa office.

See more information on how to write the invitation letter at  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

See more information for international students at International Graduating Students

To ensure a safe and smooth procession, graduates are discouraged from having any items in their hands as they cross the stage. Graduates are also encouraged to leave bags and personal belongings with their guests during the ceremony, other than small bags that can be safely worn under the ceremonial gown. Graduates may wear items of Indigenous, cultural, religious, community, or identity-based significance, provided such items do not create a safety concern, disrupt the ceremony, obstruct participation, or include discriminatory, harassing, hateful, threatening, or violent content.

Protocol – Convocation Regalia, Identity Expression, and Ceremony Expectations

Convocation is a formal academic ceremony and a significant milestone. George Brown Polytechnic recognizes that graduates may wish to express their identities, communities, cultures, faiths, histories, achievements, and lived experiences through what they wear at convocation.

Indigenous graduates [First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), and Métis peoples across Canada] are welcome to wear Indigenous regalia, attire, beadwork, ceremonial items, and other items connected to Nation, community, family, or cultural protocols, with or instead of the convocation gown.

Graduates are expected to wear the official academic regalia provided for their ceremony, including the gown and hood. Graduates may also wear items of personal, cultural, spiritual, religious, community, or identity-based significance, provided these items are consistent with the respectful, inclusive, and celebratory purpose of convocation.

Graduates are asked to ensure that any additional items:

• Do not interfere with the visibility or proper wearing of the academic gown or hood;
• Do not obstruct another graduate’s participation, movement, visibility, or experience;
• Do not create a safety concern for the graduate, other participants, guests, or ceremony staff;
• Do not disrupt the orderly conduct of the ceremony;
• Do not include hate symbols, discriminatory content, harassment, threats, or messaging that targets or demeans individuals or groups protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Do not promote violence or deny the dignity, safety, or belonging of others.

Large banners, oversized flags, objects, or items that may obstruct the ceremony, impede movement, or create safety or operational concerns may not be permitted.

If questions arise about a proposed item, the Polytechnic will consider the context, including the purpose of the item, its connection to identity or belonging, ceremony safety, potential disruption, and the Polytechnic’s obligations to uphold human rights, freedom of expression, inclusion, and respectful participation.

Graduates who have questions about regalia, accommodation needs, or other circumstances that may require individual consideration are encouraged to contact the convocation team in advance. Requests will be reviewed in a timely, respectful, and individualized manner and, where appropriate, consultation may occur with relevant College departments to ensure compliance with applicable policies, human rights obligations, and accessibility requirements.

George Brown Polytechnic is committed to ensuring convocation remains a dignified, inclusive, and welcoming ceremony where graduates can celebrate their achievements, identities and communities, while fostering a sense of belonging for all participants.

To ensure a safe and smooth procession, graduates are discouraged from having any items in their hands as they cross the stage. Graduates are also encouraged to leave bags and personal belongings with their guests during the ceremony, other than small bags that can be safely worn under the ceremonial gown. Graduates may wear items of Indigenous, cultural, religious, community, or identity-based significance, provided such items do not create a safety concern, disrupt the ceremony, obstruct participation, or include discriminatory, harassing, hateful, threatening, or violent content.

Protocol – Convocation Regalia, Identity Expression, and Ceremony Expectations

Convocation is a formal academic ceremony and a significant milestone. George Brown Polytechnic recognizes that graduates may wish to express their identities, communities, cultures, faiths, histories, achievements, and lived experiences through what they wear at convocation.

Indigenous graduates [First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), and Métis peoples across Canada] are welcome to wear Indigenous regalia, attire, beadwork, ceremonial items, and other items connected to Nation, community, family, or cultural protocols, with or instead of the convocation gown.

Graduates are expected to wear the official academic regalia provided for their ceremony, including the gown and hood. Graduates may also wear items of personal, cultural, spiritual, religious, community, or identity-based significance, provided these items are consistent with the respectful, inclusive, and celebratory purpose of convocation.

Graduates are asked to ensure that any additional items:

• Do not interfere with the visibility or proper wearing of the academic gown or hood;
• Do not obstruct another graduate’s participation, movement, visibility, or experience;
• Do not create a safety concern for the graduate, other participants, guests, or ceremony staff;
• Do not disrupt the orderly conduct of the ceremony;
• Do not include hate symbols, discriminatory content, harassment, threats, or messaging that targets or demeans individuals or groups protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code;
• Do not promote violence or deny the dignity, safety, or belonging of others.

Large banners, oversized flags, objects, or items that may obstruct the ceremony, impede movement, or create safety or operational concerns may not be permitted.

If questions arise about a proposed item, the Polytechnic will consider the context, including the purpose of the item, its connection to identity or belonging, ceremony safety, potential disruption, and the Polytechnic’s obligations to uphold human rights, freedom of expression, inclusion, and respectful participation.

Graduates who have questions about regalia, accommodation needs, or other circumstances that may require individual consideration are encouraged to contact the convocation team in advance. Requests will be reviewed in a timely, respectful, and individualized manner and, where appropriate, consultation may occur with relevant College departments to ensure compliance with applicable policies, human rights obligations, and accessibility requirements.

George Brown Polytechnic is committed to ensuring convocation remains a dignified, inclusive, and welcoming ceremony where graduates can celebrate their achievements, identities and communities, while fostering a sense of belonging for all participants.