Frequently Asked Questions, Including Ticket Information

The May 2023 commencement concert is scheduled for Friday, May 12, 2023, and the Berklee College of Music commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2023. We anticipate that both the concert and ceremony will be held at the Agganis Arena at 925 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.

If you are nearing the completion of your degree or diploma requirements (semester level six or above/level eight or above for double majors), you should receive an email in fall 2023 (please remember to check your spam folder regularly) inviting you to complete the 2023 Graduating Class Application and to indicate whether you will participate in the ceremony on May 13, 2023. The deadline to apply (fall 2022, spring 2023, or summer 2023) and indicate participation in the May 2023 ceremony will be in early December 2022. Please note that students are only permitted to participate in one commencement ceremony (virtual or in person) per degree or diploma earned.

Graduates who applied and indicate participation in the May 2023 commencement ceremony will receive an email in or before mid-February with information about the number of available tickets and ticket distribution.

Protocols are subject to change and can not be determined at this time.

Students who apply and indicate participation in the May 2023 commencement ceremony will receive a cap, gown, hood, and tassel; these items are provided to graduates at no charge. Spring emails will include details about picking up these items at the Berklee Bookstore in late April (you can designate someone else to pick-up your cap and gown if you will not be in the Boston area before commencement).

Berklee College of Music's commencement ceremony will celebrate students who are graduating during the fall 2022, spring 2023, and summer 2023 semesters. Students planning to complete all requirements and graduate in the summer 2023 semester must have 16 or fewer course credits remaining (13 credits for diploma students) by the spring 2023 add/drop deadline and no course sequences that would require future enrollment beyond the summer 2023 semester. Please note that students are only permitted to participate in one commencement ceremony (virtual or in-person) per degree or diploma earned. See the Requirements for Graduation and Applying to Graduate pages for more information.

We anticipate that the ceremony will last approximately four hours.

Berklee College of Music will announce honorary degree recipients in early April 2023.

If your 2023 application is received by the December deadline and approved by the Office of the Registrar, you will receive an email in early February 2023 with detailed instructions—and a submittable application link—to formally apply to participate in the Berklee College of Music commencement concert. There will be opportunities for performers, arrangers, and track production assistants within the concert, which will pay tribute to the music of the honorees.

To be considered, you must be eligible to participate in the May 2023 Berklee College of Music commencement ceremony. Check the graduation eligibility requirements and commencement participation information (page 64).

The Commencement Speaker Application (login required) will be available in March. You must attach a copy of your speech to the form. Your speech must not exceed five minutes in length. The student commencement speaker will be announced in April.  

Personalized graduation announcements that can be sent to family and friends can be ordered online at Balfour.com.

For general questions about commencement, please complete this form (login required) or email studentaffairs@berklee.edu. For questions about graduation requirements, diplomas, transcripts, and how honors are determined, contact gradspecialist@berklee.edu.