**Please Note: There are now two CMNS Graduate Student Commencement Ceremonies**
-
Master's and Graduate Certificate Ceremony at 8 a.m.
-
Doctoral Ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
CMNS Master's and Graduate Certificate Commencement Ceremony
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
8 a.m.
Reckord Armory
Light reception to follow.
Students must RSVP. Regalia is required (see information below).
For more detailed information about this ceremony, visit the CMNS Master's and Graduate Certificate Commencement Ceremony webpage.
CMNS Doctoral Commencement Ceremony
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
10:30 a.m.
Reckord Armory
Light reception to follow.
Students must RSVP. Regalia is required (see information below).
For more detailed information about this ceremony, visit the CMNS Doctoral Commencement Ceremony webpage.
The ceremonies will be live-streamed at youtube.com/user/cmnsumd.
Campuswide Commencement
Thursday, May 21, 2026 **Note new date
SECU Stadium
Regalia is required (see information below).
SECU Stadium gates will open at 5 p.m. and the student processional will begin at 6 p.m. The speaking program will begin after the roughly 60-minute processional. Graduates will be assigned a 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. arrival time to Cole Fieldhouse for the Main Ceremony processional lineup.
For more information, visit https://commencement.umd.edu/.
Apply for Graduation
Graduate Students: The deadline for graduate students to apply for Spring 2026 graduation is February 6. If the deadline is passed, please complete the Graduate Degree Clearance Waiver Form and send it to registrar-graduate@umd.edu.
Regalia
Graduation regalia is required. All information on purchasing and renting regalia is available at https://commencement.umd.edu/gradinfo/graduation-regalia-information. We strongly suggest purchasing your regalia early.
Frequently Asked Questions
- August 2025 graduates (master’s, doctoral, graduate certificate)
- December 2025 graduates (master’s, doctoral, graduate certificate)
- May 2026 candidates (master’s, doctoral, graduate certificate)
Students can bring up to 6 guests to a CMNS Commencement Ceremony. The event is not ticketed.
All August 2025 graduates, December 2025 graduates and May 2026 candidates must RSVP to attend a CMNS Commencement Ceremony. Registration link to come in early 2026.
Graduate students
Graduate students who meet the following requirements may RSVP. See the Guidelines on participation in commencement activities for undergraduate and graduate students with pending degree requirements for more information.
- Ph.D. candidate must successfully defend by May 14, 2026
- Master’s with thesis candidate must successfully defend by May 14, 2026
- Professional master’s and master’s without thesis candidate who have 1 or 2 credits to complete in the summer
Please note: Names of August 2026 graduates who are approved to participate will not appear a commencement program until May 2027.
Full regalia is required to participate in a CMNS Commencement Ceremony. For information in purchasing and renting regalia, visit visit https://commencement.umd.edu/gradinfo/graduation-regalia-information.
Faculty and staff should contact their department's commencement coordinator for assistance with bulk regalia orders or order online. Faculty and staff regalia will be available for pick-up in early May.
The University or the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences does not issue invitation letters for guests to visit the U.S. to attend commencement ceremonies. These letters are not required by the embassy to issue a B2 visa, which is designated for tourist activities such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and obtaining medical treatment.
The graduating student should submit a copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 to the relative applying for the tourist visa. Students can also send a Enrollment Verification Certificate along with the copy of your passport. Enrollment Verification Certificate can be requested from the Office of the Registrar.
Visit the CMNS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony page for more information on that ceremony.
