2025 Commencement Ceremonies
There are three celebrations taking place to congratulate you! The UC Berkeley wide Commencement Ceremony, the Berkeley Public Health (BPH) Commencement, and the Berkeley Public Health Celebration! Please see more information about each event below:
Public Health Commencement Ceremony
The Commencement Ceremony will be webcast live on the day of the event. The recording will also be archived online for future viewing on the Berkeley Public Health YouTube channel. More details to come.
Berkeley Public Health Celebration
Date and Time: TBA
More information coming soon.
Parking
During Commencements, parking is very limited at UC Berkeley. Public parking will be available at attendant-controlled lots for TBA. Parking is credit card only.
The following parking options will be available on the day of commencement and pre-commencement celebration:
Foothill Lot: The lot is located on Cyclotron Road, east of Highland. From the Foothill Lot parking, it will take about 15 minutes to walk to the Greek Theatre. From the Alumni House, it will take about 20 minutes to walk back to the parking lot.
Upper Hearst Structure The parking structure is located at the corner of Hearst Ave and Gayley Rd. From the Upper Hearst Structure, it will take about 10 minutes to walk to the Greek Theatre. From the Alumni House, it will take about 20 minutes to walk back to the parking structure.
Underhill Garage The parking garage is located at the corner of Haste St. and College Ave. From the Underhill Garage, it will take about 10 minutes to walk to the Greek Theatre. From the Alumni House, it will take about 15 minutes to walk back to the parking garage.
Stadium Parking Garage (3rd Party Managed with different rates). The parking garage is located on Gayley Rd, in front of the Hass School of Business. From the Upper Hearst Structure, it will take about 5 minutes to walk to the Greek Theatre. From the Alumni House, it will take about 10 minutes to walk back to the parking structure.
If you pay for parking at a UC Berkeley lot and move your car to another lot after the ceremony, you do not have to pay again. The only exception is the Stadium Parking Garage which is not a UC Berkeley lot.
Parking Accessibility
All designated Disabled spaces and non-reserved spaces will be available at the above parking options and rates to disabled patrons with certified handicapped placards or license plates on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no designated parking lot or special rates for Disabled Placard holders.
Livestream
BPH Commencement: For those not able to join us in the Greek, BPH Commencement 2025 will be livestream on Monday, May 19, 2025 | 2 PM (PST). You may share the link with anyone who wishes to watch the event via livestream. More information to come.
Mask Requirement
Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, indoors — regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.. Visit the UC Berkeley FAQ for more public health recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The campuswide commencement involves all majors offered at UC Berkeley. The School of Public Health (SPH) commencement is more personal. Unlike the campuswide commencement, each SPH graduate will walk across the stage to receive a commemorative scroll while his/her/their name is read.
Public Health Commencement:
A link to register and purchase tickets will be emailed and posted to the Public Health Commencement website as soon as it becomes available. Graduates can receive up to 4 free tickets upon completion of the Public Health exit survey and may purchase an additional 6 guest tickets for $10 each. If you need more than 10 tickets, please reach out to bph-commencement@berkeley.edu. We will do our best to accommodate additional requests for tickets. Graduates must register to participate in commencement, but do not need to purchase a ticket for themselves.
Campuswide commencement:
Each graduate can purchase a maximum of 4 guest tickets. All guest tickets are reserved seating and range from $10 to $15 each. Register for the campuswide commencement and purchase tickets here. Please note that all sales are FINAL and there are no refunds. No exceptions. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu.
Yes, children/babies must each have their own ticket in order to be admitted to the event.
If you would like to participate in the School of Public Health Commencement Ceremony, please visit: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/student-life/commencement/
All School of Public Health Online MPH students graduating are eligible to participate in the School of Public Health Commencement Ceremony, this includes students who completed their capstone (Comprehensive Exam) in Fall and Spring or will be completing their capstone in Summer.
The ceremony lasts about two and a half hours and includes a keynote speaker, student speaker, graduate procession and reading of names, and the official conferring of degrees by the Chancellor.
Graduates will start gathering for the procession at least one hour prior to the ceremony start time. If you would like to sit with your friends during the campuswide ceremony, stand in line together during the procession, as seating is unassigned. Graduates sit together with their program at the SPH Commencement. Be patient and follow staff instructions until all graduates are seated.
We encourage you to take public transportation. If you choose to drive, please consult the campus map for directions. You may park in the surrounding area and private lots on a first-come, first-served basis, charges and hours vary.
Reserved parking is not available for commencement. If you choose to drive, please consult the campus map for directions. Parking is available in the campus parking lots on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also park in the surrounding city parking lots. Rates and hours may vary.
No, the diploma will be mailed to your address listed in CalCentral approximately three-and-a-half months after the ceremony. Visit the registrar’s office for more information. If you need evidence of degree completion sooner, you may request a Certificate of Completion.
Berkeley Public Health wants to make the Commencement ceremony accessible to you and your guests. If you or friends/family members attending the ceremony require accommodations, please fill out the Special Seating Request Form. For questions, please contact bph-commencement@berkeley.edu
Parking and Transportation accessibility information.
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Julie Moss, (OOMPH DSP liaison) at juliecmoss@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
You can order regalia at Cal Bookstore.
The Public Health hood is a “salmon pink” and the tassel is “blue and gold.”
Students are responsible for providing their own regalia, if they would like to wear it for their ceremony. Regalia is not required. Caps and gowns may be purchased from the Cal Student Store. For more information regarding caps and gowns, graduation announcements, and ordering yearbooks, please visit the Cal Student Store website or the brick-and-mortar store at 2495 Bancroft Way. Store hours are Monday through Friday 9 am–6 pm., Saturday 10 am– 6 pm, Sunday 11 am–5 pm
Watch short videos on how to wear academic regalia on the Berkeley Engineering YouTube channel.
Students are responsible for providing their own regalia, if they would like to wear it for the Commencement Ceremony. Regalia is not required. Caps, gowns, diploma frame, and other graduation items can be purchased from the Cal Student Store. You can pick-up your regalia at the Cal Bookstore or have it mailed to you directly.
Contact the Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
You are advised to email: oomph_prog_mgr@berkeley.edu for more detailed information.