About to graduate

Information for Class of 2026

Registration for 2026 grad photo sessions is now closed.

Information for Class of 2027

Any student graduating in 2027 (Spring or Fall Convocation) can have their grad photos taken by New School Photography. Registration will open in fall 2026, on a first-come, first-serve basis. New dates will be added to the system as slots fill up. To register:

• Visit New School Photography's website and then click the "Photo Sessions" button.
• Select "Faculty of Health 2027" as your faculty and then click "Submit."

Students can also submit a photo of themselves to New School Photography to be included on their 2027 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.

Class of 2027 Valedictorian nominations

Are you interested in representing the graduating class of 2027? 

Nominees must:

• Be a Faculty of Health student;
• Have submitted an “Application to Graduate” form for Convocation in 2027;
• Have good public speaking skills;
• Request nominations from five (5) of their peers in Health who have also submitted an "Application to Graduate" form for Convocation in 2026;
• Be available to present their speech in person at the selection meeting in March 2027, an exact date to be determined in January, lasting approximately one hour;
• 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.

Nominations must be submitted to the Student Transition and Engagement Officer by a deadline to be announced in January. Nomination forms are available in the Health Undergraduate Office. The Student Transition and Engagement Officer can also provide the nomination forms by email.

The selected Valedictorian will be requested to provide a short toast to the graduating class at Grad Class Send-Off in March 2027, 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 2027? Would you like to have a say in who represents you at Convocation this Spring? Apply to sit on the Valedictorian Selection Committee! 

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 2027,
• Be available to attend an in-person selection meeting in March 2027, exact date to be determined in January, lasting approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

You are not eligible to participate in the Selection Committee if you:

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

Applications must be submitted to the Student Transition and Engagement Officer by a deadline to be determined in January. Application forms are available in the Health Undergraduate Office. The Student Transition and Engagement Officer can also provide the application forms by email.

March 30, 2026 - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

All Faculty of Health undergraduate students graduating in 2026 (June and October Convocations) are invited to attend Grad Class Send-Off on March 30, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Fed Hall. 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.

Please register for this event by March 16, 2026.

Please direct questions to the Student Transition and Engagement Officer.

TBA March, 2027

Are you graduating in 2027? Do you want to help organize the Grad Formal for your graduating class? We are looking for enthusiastic students to help create a magical evening for the graduating class of 2027. If you have ideas, energy and time, email health.gradformal@uwaterloo.ca to express your interest.

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.