About to graduate

It's time to graduate. Congratulations!

It's a long journey to convocation and there are a few steps you need to take before you can get there. Review the following information and the University of Waterloo's Convocation website to make sure you cover all of your bases and get to graduation without any last-minute problems. 

Before you graduate...

1. Check the graduation checklist 

Visit the Registrar's Office Graduation and Convocation website to review the graduation checklist.

2. Take your graduation photos

Graduation photos are held in October and February for students graduating the following year:

I'm convocating in... I should take grad photos in...
June 2024 October 2023 or February 2024
October 2024 February 2024
June 2025 October 2024 or February 2025
October 2025 February 2025

Graduation photos

Information for Class of 2024:

Registration for 2024 grad photo sessions is open until Friday, February 16 for Faculty of Health students. If you have missed taking your grad photo, please contact help@newschoolphotography.com.


Any student graduating in 2024 (Spring or Fall Convocation) can have their grad photos taken by New School Photography on a first-come, first serve basis. New dates will be added to the system as it fills. To register:

Students can also submit a photo of themselves to New School Photography to be included on their 2024 class composite! This option is for students who are living away from Waterloo and are unable to take grad photos.  Please contact help@newschoolphotography.com for more details.

Please note that composites are now digital. The fee for grad photos is $50.00 and includes a 10-15 minute grad photo session, an online gallery of low resolution/watermarked proof images, and a high resolution digital class composite. Graduating Health students must sign-up online with New School Photography to make an appointment for their grad photos. Students must have their photo taken by New School Photography or submit a photo to New School Photography in order to be included in their digital class composites.

Please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your booked session.

Nominations for Valedictorian and Valedictorian Selection Committee

Class of 2024 Valedictorian nominations

Are you interested in representing the graduating class of 2024? Valedictorian nominations are now open! A nomination form can be obtained by emailing the Student Relations Officer

Self-nomination is permitted. Nominations are due on Friday March 8, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Nominees must:

  • Be a Faculty of Health student;
  • Have submitted an “Application to Graduate” form for Convocation in 2024;
  • Have good public speaking skills;
  • Request nominations from five (5) of their peers in Health who have submitted an "Application to Graduate" form for Convocation in 2024;
  • Submit answers to the following prompts along with their application:
    • Briefly describe your top 3 achievements from your time as a student at UWaterloo (maximum 200 words).
    • Explain why you would like to be the Faculty of Health Valedictorian (maximum 300 words).
    • List any experiences that you were involved with in the Faculty of Health, on-campus, and/or in the local community.

The selected Valedictorian will be requested to provide a short toast to the graduating class at Grad Class Send-Off in March, and present their full speech at spring Convocation in June. Valedictorians are only selected for spring Convocation. 

Apply to sit on the Valedictorian Selection Committee

Are you a Health student who is graduating in 2024? Would you like to have a say in who represents you at Convocation this Spring? Apply to sit on the Valedictorian Selection Committee! 

An application form can be obtained by emailing the Student Relations Officer. Applications are due on March 8, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.To be eligible to participate in the Selection Committee, you must:

  • Be a Faculty of Health student,
  • Have submitted an “Application to Graduate” form for Convocation in 2024,
  • Be available to attend the in-person selection meeting on Friday, March 15th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

You arenot eligible to participate in the Selection Committee if you:

  • Have accepted a nomination for Valedictorian, or,
  • Have nominated another student for Valedictorian.

Grad Class Send-Off

group of people cheersing glasses

All Faculty of Health undergraduate students graduating in 2024 (June or October Convocation) will be invited to attend Grad Class Send-Off happening on Tuesday, March 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event is an opportunity for you to look back on your time in the Faculty of Health and celebrate your hard work and accomplishments.

Register here for the Send-Off by March 19 to confirm your spot.

Please direct any questions to Vivienne Hang, Student Relations Officer.

Grad Formal

group of people dancing

Save the date!

All members of the graduating class of 2024 are invited to attend Grad Formal on Saturday, April 6 starting at 6:00 p.m. (EDT). Additional details regarding ticket sales, theme, and venue will be released at a later date. 

All members of the graduating class of 2024 will receive a gift, funded by AHSEF. If you would be interested in receiving a gift this year, please register by Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 p.m.

Gifts will be handed out at Grad Formal, and will be available for pick up in the AHSUM office leading up to the event.

Please direct any questions to health.gradformal@uwaterloo.ca.

Planning for Convocation

UWaterloo holds two convocation ceremonies each year - one in mid-June and the other in late October. Convocation information is available on the UWaterloo Convocation website, including gown and hood rental and important ceremony information.

Ensure that you prepare yourself to convocate by reviewing the Convocation ceremony checklist prior to the ceremony.

Stay connected!



Plan for your future

Services Description
Faculty of Health Graduate Studies

Discover an exciting Master's degree in Public Health and Health Systems, Kinesiology, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Public Health, Health Informatics or Health Evaluation. With research or course-work options and offered online, in-class or blended – our Master’s programs offer a wide variety of study options.

Visit our future graduate students page to learn more. Not sure what career you might want to pursue? Check out the Graduation Statistics page to see what alumni from your program are doing.

Alumni Relations

Alumni Relations provides a variety of services to help you continue learning, save money, and connect with each other.

The UWaterloo alumni advantage gets you access to networking events, discounted travel and services, professional development opportunities and more.

The Alumni WatCard offers you access to UWaterloo online resources, appointments, and events.

Career development services

Alumni Career Advisors are available for appointments in person and by telephone.

Centre for Career Development, an online career development guide, is available to all UWaterloo alumni.

As a UWaterloo alumnus, you can receive a 20% discount on many of the non-credit courses and certificates offered by University of Waterloo Professional Development.

Employers seeking to hire UWaterloo graduates may post jobs on WaterlooWorks. To log on, use your WatIAM username and password.