UCLA Graduation Schedule: A Comprehensive Guide

Graduation is a momentous occasion, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. For UCLA students, commencement exercises provide a formal opportunity to celebrate this achievement with family, friends, and faculty. This article provides a detailed overview of the UCLA graduation schedule, including key information for the Class of 2026 and projected dates for upcoming years.

Resources for the Class of 2026

The Class of 2026 webpage serves as a central hub for graduating seniors, offering resources to aid in the transition from student life to becoming an alumnus. This page provides information, programs, and services specifically tailored for the graduating class.

Types of Commencement Ceremonies

UCLA offers two primary types of commencement ceremonies:

College Commencement: This ceremony brings together all members of the graduating class, allowing students from various College programs to celebrate together.
Departmental Ceremonies: These ceremonies are focused on graduates within specific degree programs, providing individual recognition as graduates cross the stage.

Graduates have the option to attend either or both of these ceremonies, as participation is not mandatory. It's important to note that diplomas are not distributed during any commencement ceremony.

College Commencement Details

Graduates participating in the College Commencement are required to arrive one hour before the procession begins at Pauley Pavilion. Guests are also expected to be seated in the stands one hour early to witness the graduates' entrance into the arena.

Departmental Ceremony Protocol

Departmental ceremonies offer graduates the opportunity to cross the stage and receive individual recognition as their names are announced. After receiving acknowledgement, graduates are expected to return to their seats to ensure that all graduates receive equal recognition. Graduates may not leave the event until all graduates have crossed the stage and the ceremony has officially concluded.

Preliminary Commencement Schedule for 2026

Below is the preliminary schedule for UCLA's 2026 Commencement ceremonies in chronological order. Note that some ceremonies may be subject to change.

UCLA Departmental Graduations

Thursday, June 11
- 9:30 AM: Neuroscience, Royce Hall
- 7:30 PM: College Honors Recognition, Royce Hall
Friday, June 12
- 8:30 AM: Master of Science in Genetic Counseling, Luskin Conference Center
- 3:00 PM: Master of Quantitative Economics, Carnesale Commons, Palisades Room
- 4:00 PM: Master of Social Science, Fowler Museum, Lenart Auditorium
- 5:30 PM: American Indian Studies, Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room
Saturday, June 13

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- 8:00 AM: Psychology - Undergraduate, Pauley Pavilion
- 9:00 AM: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, De Neve Plaza Room
- 9:00 AM: Geography, Carnesale Commons, Palisades Room
- 9:00 AM: Integrative Biology & Physiology, Court of Sciences
- 9:00 AM: Sociology, Wilson Plaza
- 10:00 AM: Chicana/o and Central American Studies, Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room
- 10:00 AM: Disability Studies, James West Alumni Center
- 11:00 AM: Anthropology, Dickson Court North
- 11:00 AM: Art History, Law School Courtyard
- 11:00 AM: Classics, Dodd Hall 247
- 11:30 AM: African American Studies, Fowler Museum, Lenart Auditorium
- 12:00 PM: Psychology - Graduate Studies, Schoenberg Hall
- 1:00 PM: Humanities, Royce Hall
- 1:00 PM: Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, Court of Sciences
- 2:00 PM: Labor Studies, Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room
- 3:00 PM: Gender Studies, Carnesale Commons, Palisades Room
- 3:00 PM: Spanish & Portuguese Reception, Rolfe Hall Courtyard
- 4:00 PM: Philosophy, Royce Hall
- 5:00 PM: Chemistry & Biochemistry, Court of Sciences
- 5:00 PM: Institute for Society & Genetics, Kerckhoff Patio
- 6:00 PM: Economics, Pauley Pavilion
- 6:30 PM: International Institute, Royce Hall
Sunday, June 14
- 8:30 AM: Political Science, Pauley Pavilion
- 9:00 AM: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Wilson Plaza
- 9:00 AM: History, Dickson Court North
- 9:00 AM: Mathematics, Court of Sciences
- 9:00 AM: Physics & Astronomy, Ackerman Grand Ballroom
- 10:00 AM: Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, Kerckhoff Patio
- 10:30 AM: Asian American Studies, Schoenberg Hall
- 10:30 AM: Communication, Royce Hall
- 12:30 PM: Earth, Planetary & Space Sciences, Young Hall Patio
- 1:30 PM: Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, Ackerman Grand Ballroom
- 2:00 PM: English, Dickson Court North
- 2:00 PM: Linguistics, Royce Hall
Monday, June 15
- 10:00 AM: Statistics & Data Science, Pauley Pavilion
- TBD: Computational & Systems Biology, TBD

Professional School Ceremonies

Friday, May 15
- 10:30 AM: School of Law, Pauley Pavilion
Sunday, May 31
- 10:00 AM: School of Dentistry, Royce Hall/Quad
Thursday, June 11

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- 3:00 PM: Division of Graduate Education Doctoral Hooding, Royce Hall
Friday, June 12
- 9:00 AM: Luskin School of Public Affairs (Graduate), Royce Hall
- 2:00 PM: School of Theater, Film & Television, Royce Hall
- 3:00 PM: Luskin School of Public Affairs (Undergraduate), Ackerman Grand Ballroom
- 4:00 PM: Anderson School of Management, Wilson Plaza
- 4:00 PM: Herb Alpert School of Music, Dickson Court North
- 6:00 PM: Fielding School of Public Health, Royce Hall
Saturday, June 13
- 8:30 AM: School of Nursing, Royce Hall
- 12:30 PM: School of Education & Information Studies (Undergraduate), Wilson Plaza
- 1:00 PM: Samueli School of Engineering (BS Graduates), Pauley Pavilion
- 4:00 PM: School of the Arts & Architecture, Dickson Court North
- 4:30 PM: School of Education & Information Studies (Graduate), Wilson Plaza
Sunday, June 14
- 12:30 PM: Samueli School of Engineering (MEng, M.S., Ph.D.), Pauley Pavilion
Monday, June 15
- 2:00 PM: University Extension Certificate Graduation, Pauley Pavilion
- Event Details Shared with Invitees: David Geffen School of Medicine

Graduation-Related Student Celebrations

Sunday, June 7
- TBD: Bruin Resource Center, Students with Dependents End of Year Celebration, TBD
- 11:00 AM: Disabled Student Union Graduation Celebration, James West Alumni Center
Thursday, June 11
- 6:00 PM: Athletics Graduation Celebration, Pauley Pavilion
Saturday, June 13
- 12:30 PM: Lavender Extravaganza, UCLA Anderson School, Korn Hall
Sunday, June 14
- 10:00 AM: Jewish Student Celebration, Carnesale Commons, Palisades Room
- 3:30 PM: Army ROTC Commissioning, Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room
- 4:00 PM: Afrikan Student Union Celebration, Wilson Plaza
- 4:00 PM: Vietnamese Student Celebration, Schoenberg Hall
- 5:30 PM: Samahang Pilipino Student Celebration, Royce Hall
- 6:00 PM: Latinx Graduation Celebration, Pauley Pavilion
Monday, June 15
- 10:00 AM: Naval ROTC Commissioning, Janss Terrace
- 1:00 PM: Air Force ROTC Commissioning, Carnesale Commons, Palisades Room
- TBD: Asian Pacific Islander Graduation Celebration, TBD

Projected Commencement Dates for Future Years

For planning purposes, here are the projected commencement dates for the following years (subject to change):

2027: Thursday-Sunday, June 10-13
2028: Thursday-Sunday, June 8-11

Academic Calendars: Key Dates

Understanding the academic calendar can help students and families plan around important dates, including the start and end of terms, holidays, and exam periods. Here's a glimpse into future academic calendars:

Fall Quarter 2025

Quarter begins: Monday, September 22
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 25
Study List deadline: Friday, October 10
Veterans Day holiday: Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 27-28
Instruction ends: Friday, December 5
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 6-7
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 8-12
Quarter ends: Friday, December 12
Christmas holiday: Wednesday-Thursday, December 24-25
New Yearâs Eve/Day holiday: Wednesday-Thursday, December 31-January 1, 2026
Winter campus closure: Wednesday-Friday, December 24-January 2, 2026

Winter Quarter 2026

Quarter begins: Friday, January 2
Instruction begins: Monday, January 5
Study List deadline: Friday, January 16
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Fall Quarter 2026

Quarter begins: Monday, September 21
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 24
Study List deadline: Friday, October 9
Veterans Day holiday: Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 26-27
Instruction ends: Friday, December 4
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 5-6
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 7-11
Quarter ends: Friday, December 11
Christmas holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 24-25
New Yearâs Eve/Day holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 31-January 1, 2027
Winter campus closure: TBD

Winter Quarter 2027

Quarter begins: Monday, January 4
Instruction begins: Monday, January 4
Study List deadline: Friday, January 15
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Fall Quarter 2027

Quarter begins: Monday, September 20
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 23
Study List deadline: Friday, October 8
Veterans Day holiday: Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 25-26
Instruction ends: Friday, December 3
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 6-10
Quarter ends: Friday, December 10
Christmas holiday: Friday/Monday, December 24, 27
New Yearâs holiday: Friday/Monday, December 31, January 3, 2028
Winter campus closure: TBD

Winter Quarter 2028

Quarter begins: Tuesday, January 4
Instruction begins: Tuesday, January 4
Study List deadline: Friday, January 14
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Fall Quarter 2028

Quarter begins: Wednesday, September 27
Instruction begins: Monday, October 2
Study List deadline: Friday, October 13
Veterans Day holiday: Friday, November 10
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 23-24
Instruction ends: Friday, December 8
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 9-10
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 11-15
Quarter ends: Friday, December 15
Christmas holiday: Monday-Tuesday, December 25-26
New Yearâs holiday: Monday-Tuesday, January 1-2, 2029
Winter campus closure: TBD

Winter Quarter 2029

Quarter begins: Wednesday, January 3
Instruction begins: Thursday, January 4
Study List deadline: Friday, January 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

International Institute Programs

The International Institute offers a variety of majors and graduate programs, including:

Majors: Global Studies, African Studies, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies
Graduate Programs: International Development Studies, African & Middle Eastern Studies, Latin American Studies, Asian Studies

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