When are ceremonies held?
In May, the university hosts two ceremonies: the doctoral hooding ceremony, where
doctoral degrees are conferred, and the main commencement ceremony, where master's
and bachelors degrees are conferred.
No ceremonies are held in August or December.
Visit Conferences & Special Events' Commencement website for current dates and times. Please note: The Conferences & Special Events’ Commencement
website should be referred to with regard to all upcoming graduation ceremonies.
Information pertaining to the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be sent via email to
eligible candidates. If you have any questions, please contact doctoralhooding@stonybrook.edu
Who can attend?
Doctoral Candidates: To participate in a hooding ceremony, doctoral candidates must have completed their
degree requirements by the Ceremony Registration form deadline. More information is
available on the Commencement website.
August candidates are permitted to attend the May doctoral hooding ceremony. However, they must apply
for graduation and contact doctoralhooding@stonybrook.edu to notify the office of your intention to participate in May.
December candidates are permitted to attend the May doctoral hooding ceremony prior to their completion,
or following. However, they must apply for graduation and indicate their ceremony
choice on the application.
If May candidates are unable to attend the May doctoral hooding ceremony and wish
to attend a future ceremony, they should email doctoralhooding@stonybrook.edu to defer their ceremony participation.
All questions regarding the Ceremony Registration for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
should be directed to doctoralhooding@stonybrook.edu
Master's Candidates: The Graduate School does not have any policy regarding who can walk in the May commencement
ceremony. Questions should be directed to Conferences & Special Events at (631) 632-6320 or conferences.events@stonybrook.edu.
Departmental Ceremonies: The Graduate School does not have any policy regarding who can participate in departmental
ceremonies. Questions should be directed to the graduate program coordinator.
When is information sent out?
Masters candidates will register for ceremony attendance when they fill out their
Application to Graduate. Please see the Commencement website for these dates.
Questions should be directed to Conferences and Special Events at (631) 632-6320 or conferences.event@stonybrook.edu
The Graduate School will also send information about the hooding ceremony to all doctoral
candidates that have Applied to Graduate on the Graduate School website. Contact the
Graduate School at doctoralhooding@stonybrook.edu for any additional questions. More information is also available on the Commencement website.
