Student Checklist - Convocation

Information on this page is for Peterborough ceremonies. If you are a student attending a Durham ceremony, please visit the Durham Convocation site.

Apply to Graduate
Get Grad Photos Done
RSVP & Book Your Guest Tickets
Arrive at Least One Hour Before Your Ceremony
What to Expect on the Day of Your Ceremony
Unable to Attend Convocation?
Check Out Your Alumni Perks

1. Apply to Graduate

You will not graduate and receive your degree/diploma/certificate unless you complete the Application to Graduate.

You are able to graduate after successfully completing the requirements of your program. You must meet both the general university requirements and your specific program requirements, which are outlined in the Academic Calendar. To ensure that you are on track to graduate, start with the Do It Yourself Degree Check, then connect with an Academic Advisor.

Undergraduate students must have applied by APRIL 4, 2025 for their names to appear in the 2025 convocation listings.

You can only complete the undergraduate Application to Graduate once.
For a helpful guide, please refer to the How to Apply to Graduate instructional video.
If you have any changes after completing it, or for more information please visit the the Registrar's Office Graduation page or contact The Registrar's Office (registrar@trentu.ca).

For more information on applying to graduate as a Graduate-level student, please refer to the Registar's Office Graduate Program & Degree Completion page, or contact Graduate Studies (graduate@trentu.ca.).

To ensure your name is read correctly as you cross the stage at Convocation, you must provide the pronunciation. Most of the ceremony name announcers speak English as their first language; if you think the announcer will mispronounce your name, please write your entire name phonetically in the Application to Graduate. Please see this helpful guide on how to break your name down for Convocation.

2. Get Grad Photos Done

Graduation photos are a wonderful memento of your years of hard work.

You can take your own photos. The Conference & Hospitality department rents both undergraduate & graduate regalia (gowns & hoods) for photos, they are bookable through Conferences Marketplace website. Contact conferences@trentu.ca with any questions.

Miranda Studios is a local Peterborough business that offers in-studio or on-campus appointments all year, and has a full supply of Trent regalia and props. Book an appointment: (705) 742-8338; email info@mirandastudios.ca; website: www.mirandastudios.ca. She takes bookings for photos with family in regalia before or after ceremonies and takes photos of every student as they cross the stage, so your guests can sit back and enjoy your moment and not worry about getting the perfect photo. Proofs of those photos will be sent to you shortly after the ceremony with the option to purchase.

Take a look at the Official Trent Convocation Academic Regalia document to see what regalia you will be wearing during the Convocation ceremonies, and to know which regalia to request from Conference if taking your own photos.

3. RSVP & Book Your Guest Tickets

You MUST complete the RSVP form in order to attend your Convocation ceremony. The RSVP form will be available in the spring.

Tickets are required for guests attending the Peterborough ceremonies and are booked by the students through the RSVP form. Should the convocation ceremonies move to the gym due to inclement weather conditions, only 4 guests per graduate can enter by showing tickets in the student's name.

After booking the tickets, you will receive a confirmation email with QR codes for each guest. Please either forward this email to your guests or print a copy and get it to them before the day of the ceremony. The QR code will be scanned to validate tickets so your guests can enter the gym.

If the ceremonies proceed outdoors, there is no limit to the number of guests that can attend.

4. Arrive at Least One Hour Before Your Ceremony

Arrive at the Student Centre with your student card. Please leave bags or purses with your family as there is no room for them on stage. It is not safe for children to be on stage, so please ensure your guests care for them.

5. What to Expect on the Day of Your Ceremony

Arrive at least one hour before your ceremony to the Student Centre.
- There will be a check-in table with staff from the Registrar's Office. They will ask to see your student ID and give you your name card - hold onto this, you must have this card to walk across the stage!
Once you have checked in, you will enter TSC 2.02 for gowning. Volunteers will help you get your gown and hood. You do NOT need to rent these for your ceremony, they are provided for you.
Upon exiting the gowning room, there will be a table with water bottles and green ribbons.
- Water bottles are given to you, so you have cool water to drink during the often-hot ceremonies.
- You can choose to take the green pledge and wear a green ribbon during the ceremony: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work."
You will then line up in the student procession on the second floor of the Student Centre. There will be volunteers who will help organize you.
The student procession will begin, and you will head to University Court, Bata Podium. Please note that this is quite a long walk - so please wear comfortable shoes!
- In the case of inclement weather, you will be given disposable ponchos with hoods to cover you during the quick walk from the Student Centre to the Athletics Centre. You will have time once inside the Athletics Centre to remove the poncho before entering the ceremony. Note that only three (3) of your guests can attend in the gym and they must have tickets.
Once on the stage, you will be directed to line up and hand your name card to a marshal. You cross the stage when you hear your name called.
After the ceremony you can take photos will your family and friends on campus or in front of backdrops in the Student Centre.
- Return your gown by 12:30 p.m. after the morning ceremonies and by 4:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremonies.
Pick up your degree and alumni gift in the Event Space (you must return your gown first).

Photos taken by Miranda Studios as you cross the stage will be sent to your Trent email over the next few weeks post convocation. In that email, there will be a link to your proofs and options to purchase them.

6. Unable to Attend Convocation

If you are unable to attend convocation, you can obtain your Degree Certificate by:

Visiting the Office of the Registrar after convocation with your student ID card; or

Sending a written request via your myTrent email account to registrar@trentu.ca. In the subject line, please note the term you graduated (January, Fall, Spring) and follow this example: “MAIL DEGREE – SPRING". In your email please include your name, student ID number, and full mailing address.

Students that graduate in the Spring (following the Winter term), can pick up their degree certificate at their Convocation ceremony from the Office of the Registrar (student or government ID necessary to pick up). Degree certificates will be mailed to those that completed the Degree Mailing Address form in the weeks following the ceremonies (if they did not pick up during Convocation).

Students that graduate in the Fall (following the Summer term) or the Winter (following the Fall term) are asked to complete the Degree Mailing Address form. Degree certificates are then mailed to these students a few weeks after their degree is conferred by the University Senate. Alternatively, they can wait to pick up their degree certificate at the next Convocation ceremonies.

We ask that students do not complete the Degree Mailing Address form until after they receive confirmation that their degree has been conferred by the Senate of the University.

Degree certificates will only be held for a period of two years, after which students must request and pay for a replacement degree certificate. In addition, their degree certificate and official transcript will not be released if they have an outstanding balance owing to the University or have outstanding Library fines.

Graduate Students please contact graduate@trentu.ca about obtaining your degree parchment.

7. Check Out Your Alumni Perks

You're a Trent Alumni Now! Visit trentu.ca/alumni for information on the benefits, services, programs and events offered to you for free!

NOTE: Convocation ceremonies are public events that are photographed, recorded, and livestreamed on trentu.ca/live. By attending, you are providing consent that Trent University may use your likeness in any future Trent materials without compensation. If you have any questions, please contact convocation@trentu.ca.