Important dates and deadlines

Graduation

Complete the following five steps to ensure you are ready to graduate and receive your parchment.

1. Apply to graduate

Spring Convocation 2023 application deadlines
March 31, 2023 The graduation application will close 
April 30, 2023 The last day to withdraw your application to graduate
2. Check the mailing address we have on file
May 12, 2023 Deadline to submit address changes

Ensure that your current mailing address is up-to-date in My Profile and if you happen to change addresses after you've applied to graduate, notify us by email at convocation@usask.ca.

3. Check the full legal name we have on file
May 10, 2023 Deadline to submit any name changes

Note: a $50 fee will be charged for name change requests made after this date

The name in My Profile is what will appear on your parchment, on the list of graduates that will be available online.
Check your name in My Profile. Your legal name is listed under the Bio section.

Under s.23(2)(h) of the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the University of Saskatchewan has the authority to publish and release information pertaining to the degrees, diplomas and certificates received by individuals. If you are concerned about your name being published in the convocation program, other media, college websites and other publications, please submit your reasons why to the University Registrar by email at convocation@usask.ca. Generally, names will only be removed for reasons related to the personal safety of the individual.

If you are a transgender student who no longer goes by your legal name, please email convocation@usask.ca by the name change deadline to:

  • Ensure your name is read aloud at Convocation
  • Ensure your name is listed in the graduation program and convocation celebration website
  • Request an official letter that acknowledges we recognize you go by a different name than the legal name
  • Request two parchments be printed; one with your legal name and one with your name, which will include notation on the back that explains the name listed is your name.
    • If you change your name legally in the future, request a new parchment at no cost to replace any parchments you have previously received

If you need to verify a degree, diploma, or certificate

Both your legal name and name are kept by the university. The inconsistency of legal and names may be an issue during some degree verification processes. For example, your legal name is listed on transcripts, unofficial transcripts, confirmation of degree letters, and our third-party  direct verification service, and your legal name may be used in over-the-phone confirmations.

For more information, or if you identify as transgender and have already graduated, please email convocation@usask.ca.

4. Pay outstanding tuition and fees
May 23, 2023 Deadline to clear outstanding account balances

If you have a financial hold on your account, you may graduate, but will not receive your parchments and other official documents such as transcripts until all outstanding balances are cleared.

5. Send necessary transcripts
May 5, 2023 Official transcripts must be received from the issuing institution

If you've accumulated transfer credits from other post-secondary institutions that haven't been sent to us, you must arrange to have the issuing institution send your transcripts by the date noted above.

Official transcripts may be sent from the issuing institution to admissions@usask.ca or mailed to:

Recruitment and Admissions
University of Saskatchewan
105 Administration Place
Saskatoon, SK  S7N 5A2
Canada

Prepare for your Convocation ceremony

1. Order your tickets

TBA Online ticket orders will open in late April 2023

TBA

  Online ticket orders will close in late May 2023
  • Tickets are required to attend the ceremony Students are entitled to 10 guest tickets, if you have questions, please contact convocation@usask.ca. 
  • Tickets will immediately be emailed to the email you provided when ordering, please check your Junk folder. Your ticket email and can be printed or shown digitally for entry. 
  • International guests: If your guests require an invitation letter to secure travel documents, information can be found on the inviting friends and family page and the IRCC guide. 
  • Convocation is a public event where photographs will be taken and the ceremonies will be streamed live on the internet. By attending convocation, you are giving the University of Saskatchewan permission to use any photos and to include your name in all media, future promotional materials, programs, websites, etc.

2. Order your gown

TBA Online gown rentals will open in late April 2023
TBA Gown rentals will close in mid-May 2023

Graduands who attend the Convocation ceremony are required to wear appropriate academic dress and must obtain hoods for the degree they’re receiving — not for a degree they already hold. Gowns and hoods are available for rent and should be ordered prior to the time of assembly. They can be picked up on site at Merlis Belsher Place before your ceremony. If you forget to rent a gown, you can rent one on site 1.5 hours prior to your ceremony. 

It is encouraged that you return your gown at the end of the day of your graduation ceremony. Gowns must be returned by June 9 at noon. Students who do not return their gowns by June 9 at 12pm will be charged the full retail price of unreturned gowns. 

3. Order your degree frame

There are four ways to purchase your degree frame. 

  • Purchase online for delivery any time with delivery directly to your home.
  • Purchase online for pickup at convocation.
  • In person at Merlis Belsher Place: Purchase your frame onsite after each ceremony. Inventory may be limited.
  • In Person, year-round: Purchase a frame at Shop usask Preston Crossing or Shop usask Bookstore all year round.

Be proud and show off your hard work! 

4. Order graduation flowers

Fresh roses will be available for purchase at Merlis Belsher Place on June 5. You can reserve a bouquet by ordering online and pick it up when you get to Merlis Belsher Place.

5. Order your graduation photos

The Convocation Office will be coordinating graduation photography. A photo will be taken of you when you receive your parchment and proofs will be emailed to your PAWS account within a few weeks after convocation, where you will have the opportunity to purchase your photos.

Some college/school or department level student unions arrange formal graduation photos.

What you need to know for Convocation day

See the program of events to know when to arrive and be ready.

  • Arrive early, at least 60 minutes before your ceremony to avoid long lines when picking up your gown and hood.
  • Parking is available in the parking lot at Merlis Belsher Place.
  • Be backstage at Merlis Belsher Place place 45 minutes before your ceremony starts and be fully dressed in your academic regalia.
  • You will only walk the stage once per ceremony for your highest degree-level parchment obtained. At this time, all degrees and certificates will be awarded from that ceremony.
  • Only graduating students are eligible to cross the stage during the ceremony.
  • Each ceremony usually runs no longer than 2 1/2 hours.

Questions? Please email convocation@usask.ca.

Degrees in absentia

Graduands are expected to attend the Convocation ceremony to receive their parchments in person. If you cannot attend, you will receive your parchment in the mail about a month after convocation. If you change your address after you've applied to graduate, notify us by email at convocation@usask.ca. 

Parking

Please do not park in the Field House parking lots. The Field House parking lots are for those using the Field House facilities only. You will be ticketed if you park there while attending Convocation.

Parking Lot Locations and Payment

Parking lot options

Lots closest to Merlis Belsher Place:

Visitor parking lots on campus, include:

 Lot 20 (located directly in front of Merlis Belsher Place)

Lot 1

Lot 15 (at the corner of College Drive and Preston Avenue)

Lot 3

Stadium Parkade

Lot 4

Lot 5

Parking payment options

Use the PayByPhone App

Download or login to the PayByPhone app, find the location number of the lot you are in (indicated in the lot) and pay with your smartphone. The location number for lot 15 and 20 is 4656. During convocation, the cost to park in lots 15 and 20 using the PayByPhone app is $6 for 4 hours.

Download the PayByPhone app: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows.

Pay at the pay station

Pay stations or meters are located in each public lot and public space. Please avoid this option to help you make it to your ceremony on time. We recommend paying using the PayByPhone app.

If you choose to pay at a pay station during Convocation, the cost to park in lots 15 and 20 is $6 for 4 hours. The cost to pay in lots 1, 3, 4 and 5 is $3/hour, and the cost to pay in Stadium Parkade is $2.50/hour.

See the program events

Ceremony Details

  • Convocation guides are handed out at each ceremony. View a past ceremony program.
  • Honorary award recipients: In addition to awarding thousands of degrees to students, a number of honorary degrees and awards will be presented to deserving individuals.
  • Orators: Orators were selected through an audition process to read out the names of degree recipients as they receive their parchments.

After you graduate

Proof of graduation

Go to the My Records channel in PAWS to view the different methods available to provide proof of graduation, grades, enrolment and co-curricular involvement.

Publication of graduate names

All graduate names will be listed on the USask website. Graduate names may also be sent to media.

Graduate Retention Program

The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) provides a rebate up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates who live in Saskatchewan and who file a Saskatchewan income tax return. 

After you apply to graduate, you will have the opportunity to ask USask to apply for this rebate on your behalf. In late February or March of the next year, successful applicants will receive an email to their USask email account from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education with instructions on how to claim the tax credit. 

USASK Alumni

Update your contact information to stay in touch with USask Alumni as you go off and do great things. Follow your fellow @USaskAlumni on Facebook and Instagram as well as alumni.usask.ca.

Parchment replacements and duplicate copies

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, all parchment orders will be delayed. If you have any questions, please email convocation@usask.ca.

In the event that you require a copy or replacement of your parchment, the University of Saskatchewan will provide a second copy of a parchment at a cost of $50 under the following circumstances:

  • Official name change: you must complete the parchment replacement form and change your legal name at the University of Saskatchewan. 
  • Original incorrect: you must return the original document along with supporting documentation and the parchment replacement form. To prevent this from happening, ensure that your legal name as you want it to appear on your parchment is up-to-date in My Profile (see the Bio section).
  • Original lost or destroyed: you must submit a parchment replacement form and a reprint fee of $50.
  • Original never received: submit a written statement of request. There will be no charge if this request is made within one year of the graduation date. If the request is made after one year, the $50 reprint fee must be submitted.
  • Duplicate copies: you may also order duplicate copies of your parchment.
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) conversion to a Juris Doctor (J.D.): you must submit the parchment replacement form and the reprint fee of $50. More details about the JD designation can be found on here, on the College of Law website.

If you graduated prior to 2011, replacement or copied parchments will be in the current USask style with current signatures.

Your parchment is a legal document. The University of Saskatchewan reserves the right to limit the number of copies issued to any one person.

Please email the Convocation Office if you have any questions.