Graduation and Convocation

Is “applying to graduate” and “registering to attend Convocation” the same thing?  

No. These are two separate processes.

To Graduate: For information on applying to graduate, please visit the Graduation tabon the Registrar’s Office web page. 

To Attend Convocation: During the specified timeframe announced on MUN Newsline, the Convocation web pageand in your @mun.ca email, log on to Memorial Self Serviceto register to attend Convocation.  

Applying to Graduate

How do I apply to graduate with my degree?  

Note that “applying to graduate” and “registering to attend Convocation” are two separate processes. 

You can apply to graduate through Memorial Self Serviceby submitting an Application to Graduatelocated under the Graduation and Convocation menu. Please visit the Graduation tab on the Registrar’s Office web page for more information and the appropriate deadlines 

Attending Convocation

Who can attend Convocation? 

While Convocation is reserved for degree graduates, our university celebrates the achievements of all students. Diploma and certificate graduates may be recognized by their faculty or through other special gatherings.  

See below for more frequently asked questions:

You will need to log onto Memorial Self Service to register to attend Convocation before the relevant deadline. Even if your graduation status is pending, you should go ahead and register to attend convocation. 

The deadline to register for Spring 2025 Convocation is May 6, 2025. Registering by the deadline ensures that you pay the reduced gown rental fee ($50) and receive your guest tickets. 

If your application is still pending, you should still register to attend convocation. Note that your tickets and registration will not be finalized until you are deemed eligible to graduate. If you are deemed ineligible for convocation, you will be refunded the rental fee. 

If you miss the deadline to register to attend convocation, email convocation@mun.ca.  Late registrants will be required to pay the on-site gown rental fee of $80 and cannot be guaranteed guest seating, although all efforts will be made to provide them. 

Log onto Memorial Self-Service to view your Convocation ceremony information (see sample image below.) You would have received a confirmation email from Gaspard confirming your gown and hood rental, as well. 

 

 

 

Depending on the Convocation schedule, graduates receiving two degrees may attend the respective Convocation session and cross the stage for each degree, whether the degree is awarded at the same session or different sessions. If your degrees are being awarded at different sessions and you decide to only attend one of those sessions, information on how to receive your other parchment is mailed to you from graduation@mun.ca to your @mun.ca email prior to Convocation. Options normally include pick-up in person from the Registrar’s Office or having it mailed to you. 

Every effort will be made to include your certificate or diploma parchment with your degree, if time and resources permit. Otherwise, you can choose to pick it up or have it mailed to you. 

Degree parchments are held at the Registrar's Office for one week after Convocation for pick-up. The Registrar's Office will then begin a mail-out and the parchment will be sent to your permanent address, which you can verify or update via Memorial Self Service. Information on how to receive your parchment will be mailed to you from graduation@mun.ca to your @mun.ca email prior to Convocation.  

If registration is still open, you can update your status through Self-Service to indicate you won’t be attending. You may also request a refund for your academic dress rental by contacting Gaspard. After registration closes on May 6, please reach out to convocation@mun.ca for further assistance. 

Yes, graduates may defer their attendance at Convocation to one of the next two Convocation ceremonies. 

To request a deferral, you must do so while registration for your assigned Convocation is open. Log into Memorial Self Service, navigate to Graduation and Convocation, select Convocation (degrees only), and then choose "I wish to defer my attendance to a future Convocation period." 

Once you have submitted your deferral request, it will remain on file until you are ready to attend. You do not need to submit the request again. However, please note that you must attend Convocation within the next two available ceremonies, as further deferrals are not permitted. 

After you have deferred your attendance at Convocation, you can register to attend one of the next two Convocation ceremonies by returning to Memorial Self Service during the registration period for the Convocation you wish to attend. The registration dates will be posted on the Convocation webpage (St. John’s and Corner Brook tabs). The dates of future Convocation ceremonies are currently available on the webpage and the registration period for each is normally within 6-8 weeks prior to each date. When you determine which ceremony you wish to attend, you are advised to check the Convocation website frequently so that you are aware of the upcoming registration periods. 

The experience for deferred graduates will be exactly the same as it is for all graduates attending Convocation, except since deferred graduates will have already received their parchment, they will not receive another one backstage at Convocation. Deferred graduates attending a future session do not need to bring their parchment to the ceremony. 

For questions, contact convocation@mun.ca. 

For students completing their program requirements by the end of the fall semester, your program will be awarded at an in absentia graduation in February. There is no Convocation ceremony in February. Parchments for graduates will be available for pick up from the Registrar’s Office or can be mailed to you. If you want to cross the stage at Convocation, students who graduate in February normally attend the Spring Convocation ceremony. You will be assigned to the upcoming Spring Convocation ceremonies and will have the option to postpone attendance, if you wish, by registering at Memorial Self-Service when the announcement is made to register to attend Convocation.  

Although you will have already received your parchment in the mail, your experience at Convocation will be the same as it is for all graduates. No distinction is made on stage for those who are graduating during that Convocation and those who had graduated at a previous time. The only difference is that you will not receive your parchment at Convocation (given out backstage after crossing the stage) as you would have already received it following the in absentia graduation in February.