Commencement

Apply to graduate 

• To begin the graduation process, students must complete the online Application to Graduate.  
• The application for:
  • Autumn Quarter degree conferral opens Sept. 2, 2027 and closes Nov. 13, 2027 (5pm).
    • Late applications will be accepted until 5 pm on Dec. 4, 2027($50 fee).
  • Winter Quarter degree conferral opens Dec. 2, 2027 and closes Feb. 26, 2027 (5 pm).
    • Late applications will be accepted until 5 pm on Feb. 26, 2027 ($50 fee).
  • Spring Quarter degree conferral opens March 3, 2027 and closes April 9, 2027 (5 pm).
    • Late applications will be accepted until 5 pm on May 28, 2027 ($50 fee).

Check degree requirements

• Before the Final Study List deadline (April 16, 2027 Spring Quarter), meet with Student Services Officer Patricia Jacobus and your undergraduate advisor to confirm that your degree requirements are on track for completion.
• The Registrar's Office uses each student's My Academic Path (MAP) to verify degree requirements. If you notice something missing or incorrect in MAP for the Urban Studies major, please contact Patricia Jacobus.
  • For questions about other programs - such as a minor or a coterm - contact the student services office of those departments. Your undergraduate advisor can also help with questions about general education requirements.

Regalia

• Commencement regalia: The Stanford Bookstore offers rental gowns and hoods for commencement. Caps are purchased by graduates.
• Grad Fair: Students may pick up regalia at the Grad Fair at the Stanford Bookstore .
• Graduation hood for the Coterminal Masters degree:  Students completing a coterminal master's degree in other programs may wear their hood at the Urban Studies diploma ceremony.
  • A hood is a specialized piece of academic regalia worn around the neck and over the shoulders to signify completion of a graduate degree. The colored lining represents field of study.

Can I walk? 

• University Commencement ceremony: Check whether you are eligible to participate in the University Commencement ceremony.
• Department Diploma Ceremony: Students who wish to participate in the department diploma ceremony, but will not have their degrees conferred in Spring Quarter must submit a completed walkthrough petition (download the fillable form) to pjacobus [at] stanford.edu (Patricia Jacobus) by May 3, 2027.  

Participation survey

• Please let us know your graduation plans by completing the Graduation Survey by May 3, 2027.  

  All Urban Studies students are asked to complete the survey, including those who:

  • plan to participate in the Urban Studies diploma ceremony,
  • plan to confer their degree but not participate in the ceremony, or
  • plan to participate in the ceremony while completing remaining degree requirements.

   

   Your responses to the program questions are valuable and help us improve the Urban Studies Program.

Participation in other diploma ceremonies

• Urban Studies undergraduates will be called first during the Urban Studies–Sociology diploma ceremony.
• Students who are completing multiple majors or a coterminal master’s degree may also participate in other program ceremonies. However, students must remain for the entire Urban Studies diploma presentation, and their departure—along with that of their guests—must not be disruptive to the ceremony.