Master's and Doctoral Degree Candidates

Class of 2023 Master's and Doctoral candidates will receive information via email from their specific college as well as the Registrar's Office and commencement@villanova.edu. Graduates should be sure to complete all requirements by the deadline in order to participate in graduation. Please contact commencement@villanova.edu with any questions.

The Career Outcomes Survey is a short survey from Villanova University’s Career Center about your post-graduation plans in your career and the career experiences you participating in while at Villanova. The survey opens approximately one month prior to graduation and will be communicated via email. For details visit the Career Center’s website.

The Class of 2023 will have the opportunity to celebrate with one another through a variety of events. Please see the full Schedule of Events for additional information.

Friday, May 19 is the Baccalaureate Mass on the Campus Green. All faiths are welcome at this beautiful event that brings the community together. A special Augustinian blessing offered at the end of the Mass is one of Villanova's most treasured traditions. No RSVP required.

Immediately following Baccalaureate will be Lunch on the Green, a picnic-style lunch provided by Wawa to be enjoyed outside on campus. Graduates and their guests may purchase lunch in advance online.

Saturday, May 20 is the Master's and Doctoral Degree Commencement and Recognition Ceremony.  Due to the anticipated weather forecast, today’s Master’s and Doctoral Commencement Ceremony will move indoors to the Finneran Pavilion.

ALL guest tickets already issued will still be valid for entrance to the Finneran Pavilion. Given the number of tickets allocated, we are able to accommodate all outdoor ceremony guest tickets for the indoor ceremony. Only ticketed guests, graduates, and faculty in academic attire will be permitted in the Finneran Pavilion.

Doors to the Finneran Pavilion will open at 1:15 pm and the ceremony begins at 2:30 pm.

For graduates who have not yet picked up their name card, they should do so at the name card distribution table inside the main entrance of the Finneran Pavilion.

When you arrive to the Finneran Pavilion, graduates should proceed to their designated seats on the court and will sit by college. Guests will sit throughout the Pavilion. Every seat in the Pavilion will need to be filled. Overflow seating will also be set up throughout the building with livestreaming of the ceremony displayed on monitors.

Commencement Parking Passes are still in effect for designated lots and shuttles will be running throughout campus. Those with special needs can be dropped-off behind the Pavilion in Lot A-2.

Immediately following the ceremony, all graduates and guests are invited to the President’s and Deans’ Reception at various locations throughout campus. 

• CLAS: inside and outside of the Connelly Center
• COE: Mendel Field tent
• FCN: Driscoll Hall
• VSB: Bartley Hall

We’re looking forward to celebrating you today,

All graduates and guests will need a Commencement parking pass to park on campus during graduation weekend. Graduates will be provided with two (2) digital Commencement parking passes to use for themselves and or their guests. Regular campus parking permits will not be valid. Commencement parking passes will be valid for the following designated parking lots:

• Graduate and Guest Parking Lots: W-1, W-2, W-3
• Guest Parking Lots: I-1, I-2, Al-1, Al-2, L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, S-4, S-5 
• Accessible Parking Lots (state-issued disability parking permit required): A-2, M-1, M-2, S-3
• Off-Campus Parking Lot (shuttle service provided): Radnor Financial Center, 150 N Radnor Chester Rd. Wayne, PA 19087

Arrive early. Traffic and parking will be extremely congested. Graduates and guests are encouraged to carpool or utilize public transportation or Uber/Lyft. As parking lots fill, vehicles will be directed to the next available lot.

Shuttles and Ride Sharing

Shuttles will pick-up and drop-off at designated locations on campus and at the Radnor Financial Center parking lot from 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20.

Use of ride share services such as Uber or Lyft is encouraged, and drivers should be directed to drop-off at the M-1 or M-2 lots (access via the main entrance on Ithan Ave.), or the A-2 lot (access via the Galberry Hall entrance on Lancaster Ave.).

Graduates will be provided four digital guest tickets for the Commencement Ceremony. Tickets will be available in early May, and graduates are responsible for distributing digital tickets to their guests prior to the ceremony. Children under 3 years of age do not need a ticket to attend.

Graduates will sit together on the stadium field in college-designated areas, and ticketed guests may sit throughout the stadium on the field and bleachers. Gates to the stadium will open at 1:00pm. The faculty procession begins at 2:15pm and the ceremony is approximately 2.5 hours long. 

In the event of severe weather, the Commencement Ceremony will be moved indoors and will be limited to graduates and two guests only. 

The Baccalaureate Mass will be moved into the Finneran Pavilion in the event of rain, and seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Doors will open one hour prior to the start of Mass.

The Commencement Ceremony will be held outdoors rain or shine.  If necessary, the ceremony start time may be adjusted in the case of a passing weather system.  In the event of severe weather where we are unable to safely hold the ceremony outdoors, Commencement will be moved into the Finneran Pavilion.   Doors will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. These details, and any changes, will be communicated via email and text alerts as needed. 

Register for Commencement Text Alerts for schedule changes and weather updates. Text NOVAGRAD to 888777.

Please see the following information regarding available accommodations during Graduation Weekend. Events will be held throughout campus, and graduates and guests who may have difficulty walking should bring any needed equipment (i.e. wheelchair, walker, etc), as the University will not have equipment available for loan. 

VEHICLE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS FOR GUESTS WITH MOBILITY NEEDS

Guests with mobility needs may be dropped off near each venue at the designated special needs drop-off locations. No special pass is needed to utilize the drop-off locations. Once the guest is dropped-off, the driver will be directed to park in an available campus lot. Guests planning to utilize the drop-off locations should plan to arrive early. Traffic and parking will be extremely congested. 

DESIGNATED ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOTS

Vehicles with state-issued handicapped placards may park in the following designated accessible parking lots:

• M-1, M-2, S-3(access via the main entrance on Ithan Ave.)
• A-2 (access via the Galberry Hall entrance on Lancaster Ave.)

Please note that accessible parking lots are limited. Guests should plan to arrive early and may utilize the drop-off locations near each venue.

ACCESSIBLE VENUES AND SEATING

All graduation venues are accessible. Additionally, accessible seating will be available for guests who may not be able to manage bleacher seating. No reservation or special tickets are required for accessible seating. Ushers will be available to direct guests to accessible seating as needed.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

Graduates and guests may request a sign language interpreter by emailing commencement@villanova.edu. 

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Graduates and guests with questions or requests regarding accommodations may email commencement@villanova.edu.

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more important information.

ACADEMIC ATTIRE / CAP & GOWN

Once graduates submit their Commencement registration through MarchingOrder, the confirmation page will contain a link to order their cap and gown through our partner Herff Jones. There is no charge for the cap and gown, and it will be shipped to the address provided on the order form.. Deadline for ordering is April 10.

DIPLOMAS

The Registrar's Office will mail all diplomas to the address provided on the Prospective Graduate Form/Application to Graduate.  In the absence of a completed form, diplomas will be mailed to the graduates' permanent home address of record.  Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery after Commencement.  Diplomas display the official degree titles only. All majors, minors and concentrations are listed on transcripts. If you need to make special arrangements for pickup, please contact the Registrar's Office directly.  

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional photographers from Pro Pics will be at the Commencement Ceremony to take portraits of graduates as they walk across the stage. After crossing the stage, graduates will proceed to the graduate portrait station to have a quick portrait taken in cap & gown. Portraits will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremonies. Questions? Contact Pro Pics.

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS, GIFTS, AND FLOWERS

Graduation announcements, thank you notes, and other commemorative items are available via the Villanova University Print Center. You can choose customizable printed announcements which include personalized pictures and text. Announcements can be shipped or picked-up. For ordering information and further details, please visit the iPRINT website. Questions? Contact the Print Center at 610-519-5914 or via email.

Villanova also partners with an off-campus vendor, The Commencement Group, that offers flower and gift options for graduates.  These can be picked up on campus during graduation weekend or direct shipped. Orders can be placed online.