Spring 2026 graduation and convocation

Prior to your last academic term, verify the degree and academic plan(s) you are currently enrolled in. This is done in Quest - see How do I apply to graduate instructions. Your Application to Graduate should be a confirmation of what's already listed in Quest; it is not the appropriate time to add/remove plans (exception: certificates and diplomas). Need to make a change? Submit a Plan Modification Form. 

Deadlines to submit a plan modification form:

• November 1 — for those whose last term is fall 2025
• February 1 — for those whose last term is winter 2026

Note: if you miss these deadlines and your degree and plan(s) are incorrect, you must apply to graduate using the web form. See the instructions below.

Review the criteria listed in the Apply to Graduate in Quest section to determine if you qualify.

Submit an Application to Graduate in Quest during the application window listed below for your desired convocation ceremony. Do not wait until you have received your fall 2025 or winter 2026 final grades.

Note: Refer to your responsibility as a student regarding convocation and your application to graduate.

Important: If your degree requirements are not met and our office is unable to reach you, your Application to Graduate will be cancelled.

Cancel your application to graduate

If you have decided you no longer want to graduate after submitting your Application to Graduate, email the applicable convocation contact in the Office of Registrar so your Quest record can be updated. All existing convocation-related processes will be terminated and you will need to reapply again when you are ready to graduate.

Once you have Applied to Graduate in Quest, you will be presented with a confirmation page. If you select View Graduation Status you can review your application status, as well as your legal name and mailing address that will be used for convocation purposes.

Verify your legal name

Your legal name (first, middle, last) - exactly as it appears in Quest - is the name that will be used for convocation: it is the name printed on your diploma, the official ceremony program, as well as the ceremony name card.

• Check for: missing names, repeated names, incorrect title case/capitalization, spelling errors, etc.

Note: If you request an updated name on your diploma after convocation - for any reason - you will be required to submit a request for a replacement diploma and pay the associated fee.

To make changes to your legal name, complete and submit an Update Legal Name form with the required documentation by the following deadlines:

• May 1 for spring convocation
• September 1 for fall convocation

Contact The Centre with any questions about how your name is recorded in Quest.

Report accents, hyphens or special characters in your name

You will receive an email in April that outlines what you will need to do if you have accents, hyphens or special characters in your name which you would like to appear on your diploma.

Verify your mailing information

Your Mail type address will be used to ship your photo proofs after convocation. Updates should be made in Quest by:

• May 1 for spring convocation
• October 1 for fall convocation

New: If you do not attend convocation, you (or a designate) will need to either pick up your diploma in person at The Centre or arrange for courier delivery at your own expense. An email with detailed instructions will be sent during the week before convocation. Review the Receiving your diploma after convocation web page on the Convocation website for more information.

Note: If your diploma is shipped to you and then returned to the University as it was undeliverable, you will be required to pay courier fees before the diploma is re-shipped to you.

If you are completing an undergraduate degree, you may request that the word “Bachelor” be replaced with the gender-neutral term “Baccalaureate” on your diploma. This option is available for all undergraduate degrees offered at the University of Waterloo.

You will receive an email in April with details on how to request a gender-neutral degree.

In Quest, check whether you owe the University money (for parking fines, library fines, tuition balances, etc.). Your diploma and transcript may be withheld if outstanding fees aren't paid by:

• May 1 for spring Convocation
• October 1 for fall Convocation

Learn more about holds on your student account. If you have questions about your holds, contact The Centre.

Up-to-date information about upcoming convocation ceremonies is available on the Convocation event website, review it frequently. Some details you will find on the website:

• Your ceremony date and time
• Convocation checklists, including key deadlines and what to expect at your convocation ceremony
• Convocation ceremony registration information: Although you have applied to graduate, you are not yet registered for a convocation ceremony. Registration is mandatory to obtain tickets and participate in convocation.

Watch for emails from convocation@uwaterloo.ca beginning 1.5-2 months prior to the ceremony with specific details for that ceremony.

Prior to your last academic term, verify the degree and academic plan(s) you are currently enrolled in. This is done in Quest - see How do I apply to graduate instructions. Your Application to Graduate should be a confirmation of what's already listed in Quest; it is not the appropriate time to add/remove plans (exception: certificates and diplomas). Need to make a change? Submit a Plan Modification Form. 

Deadlines to submit a plan modification form:

• November 1 — for those whose last term is fall 2025
• February 1 — for those whose last term is winter 2026

Note: if you miss these deadlines and your degree and plan(s) are incorrect, you must apply to graduate using the web form. See the instructions below.

Your legal name (first, middle, last) - exactly as it appears in Quest - is the name that will be used for convocation: it is the name printed on your diploma, the official ceremony program, as well as the ceremony name card.

Sign in to Quest to verify that your legal name is as it should be (see the Names section under Personal Information).

• Check for: missing names, repeated names, incorrect title case/capitalization, spelling errors, etc.

​​​​​​​Note: If you request an updated name on your diploma after convocation - for any reason - you will be required to submit a request for a replacement diploma and pay the associated fee.

To make changes to your legal name, complete and submit an Update Legal Name form with the required documentation by the following deadlines:

• May 1 for spring convocation
• September 1 for fall convocation

Contact The Centre with any questions about how your name is recorded in Quest.

Report accents, hyphens or special characters in your name

You will receive an email in April that outlines what you will need to do if you have accents, hyphens or special characters in your name which you would like to appear on your diploma.

Review the criteria listed in the Apply to Graduate using the web form section if you need to apply to graduate via the web form. If you do not, apply in Quest.

Submit an Application to Graduate during the application window listed below for your desired convocation ceremony. Do not wait until you have received your fall 2025 or winter 2026 final grades.

You will receive an automated email copy of your application; this is your confirmation that your form has been received for processing.

Note: Refer to your responsibility as a student regarding convocation and your application to graduate.

Verify your application status

In Quest, you can view the degree and plan information you provided on your application to check and ensure that it is correct. For step-by-step instructions, view the How do I apply to graduate page. The timing of appearance will vary depending on the time of year you submitted the application, the volume of submissions, and the status of your degree completion.

Important: If your degree requirements are not met and our office is unable to reach you, your Application to Graduate will be cancelled.

Cancel your application to graduate

If you have decided you no longer want to graduate after submitting your Application to Graduate, email the applicable convocation contact in the Office of Registrar so your Quest record can be updated. All existing convocation-related processes will be terminated and you will need to reapply again when you are ready to graduate.

If you are completing an undergraduate degree, you may request that the word “Bachelor” be replaced with the gender-neutral term “Baccalaureate” on your diploma. This option is available for all undergraduate degrees offered at the University of Waterloo.

You will receive an email in April with details on how to request a gender-neutral degree.

In Quest, you need to confirm your Mail type address - this is the address that will be used to ship your photo proofs after fall convocation. Updates should be made by:

• May 1 for spring Convocation
• October 1 for fall Convocation

New: If you do not attend convocation, you (or a designate) will need to either pick up your diploma in person at The Centre or arrange for courier delivery at your own expense. An email with detailed instructions will be sent during the week before convocation. Review the Receiving your diploma after convocation web page on the Convocation website for more information.

Note: If your diploma is shipped to you and then returned to the University as it was undeliverable, you will be required to pay courier fees before the diploma is re-shipped to you.

In Quest, check whether you owe the University money (for parking fines, library fines, tuition balances, etc.). Your diploma and transcript may be withheld if outstanding fees aren't paid by:

• May 1 for spring Convocation
• October 1 for fall Convocation

Learn more about holds on your student account. If you have questions about your holds, contact The Centre.

Up-to-date information about upcoming convocation ceremonies is available on the Convocation event website, review it frequently. Some details you will find on the website:

• Your ceremony date and time
• Convocation checklists, including key deadlines and what to expect at your convocation ceremony
• Convocation ceremony registration information: Although you have applied to graduate, you are not yet registered for a convocation ceremony. Registration is mandatory to obtain tickets and participate in convocation.

Watch for emails from convocation@uwaterloo.ca beginning 1.5-2 months prior to the ceremony with specific details for that ceremony.