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We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our third Berkeley MDes cohort at their commencement in December 2023. On this page you will find important resources and key dates for MDes Commencement events; check back for details as they are confirmed.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Date & Time |
Event |
Location |
|---|---|---|
Friday, DEC 15
|
MDes Graduate Exhibition Opening | TBA |
Saturday, DEC 16
|
UC Berkeley Campus Commencement | Haas Pavilion |
Sunday, DEC 17
|
MDes Commencement Ceremony | TBA |
Sunday, DEC 17
|
MDes Commencement Reception | TBA |
FAQ
How many guests can I have for MDes Commencement?
For the first round of guest registration, each MDes student may have up to 3 invited guests and can also request additional “waitlist” guest tickets. After November 15, any remaining open seats will be distributed to waitlisted guests.
We know that some students would like to invite more than 3 guests, but others will invite fewer. We hope that this two-stage process will allow us to accommodate every student’s guest priorities, while ensuring that we do not exceed the commencement venue’s capacity.
Will the MDes Commencement Ceremony be live-streamed or recorded for friends and family who cannot join in-person?
Yes; we will have a live-stream video of the MDes Commencement Ceremony on December 17th, and post the recording afterward. Please check this page again in December for the link. The Campus Winter Commencement will also have a live-stream and post-event recording (more information on the Campus Commencement FAQ).
What are the differences between the MDes, College of Engineering, and Campus commencement events?
The MDes Commencement ceremony is for only Master of Design graduates and their invited guests; the event features guest student speakers, student awards, and reading of graduate names. The program will hire a photographer to document program-specific commencement events.
The College of Engineering (COE) hosts a Master’s Commencement for Master’s students in all COE programs in the spring. The event features guest and student speakers, awards, and reading of graduate names. The graduate processional is organized by program; students in each program gather and walk into the venue together behind their program banner. The COE does not host a fall commencement, but fall semester graduates can participate in the COE commencement either in the semester prior to or after graduation (but not both).
Campus Commencement is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, in every school and college. Graduate names are not read at Spring Campus Commencement but they are at the Winter Campus Commencement. Program affiliations will not be read aloud; however, the live-stream video feed on the jumbotron will include degree information. Although graduates are not formally organized by program at the campus commencement, individuals who wish to walk together will be able to gather together in the staging area before entering the venue. Here is a video of the Winter 2021 campus commencement to provide a sense of what to expect.
We hope that all MDes students participate in the MDes Commencement. Students can choose whether they will also attend the campus and COE commencement events.
Are students required to purchase graduation regalia to participate in commencement?
Regalia is not required for MDes Commencement.
Regalia is optional for Campus Commencement. Graduates can alternatively dress in business casual or cocktail attire.
Regalia is required for COE Commencement in the spring and can be purchased in the Cal Student Store.
What commencement events can MDes2024 students attend?
We encourage students in the MDes2024 cohort to attend the MDes2023 cohort’s graduate exhibition on December 15th. Due to limited capacity, MDes2024 students will only be able to attend the MDes Commencement on December 17th if they are a registered guest of a graduating student.
LEARN MORE
Please contact Amy Dinh (amydinh@berkeley.edu).