Cap & Gowns

Commencement ceremony regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels) will be available to order beginning February 28th for undergraduate students and April 1st for graduate students. Non-UC faculty regalia requests must be submitted by April 5th. Graduation Etc. will take orders through graduation day, however, it is best to have student orders placed by mid-May to ensure they have the inventory to accommodate you. Students can order their regalia by going to Graduation, Etc. at Ackerman Union, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by visiting the Graduation, Etc. website.

MPP, MSW and MURP candidates can see samples of Advanced Degree Academic Regalia at Graduation, Etc. There are two models – one wearing a Master’s hood and the other a Ph.D. hood. Graduation, Etc. will have stations for returning caps and gowns at the Commencement location. Please note: The hoods for each department are different. Be sure to request regalia for your Urban Planning, Public Policy or Social Welfare master’s degree. Urban Planning and Social Welfare Ph.D. candidates order Ph.D. regalia. If you keep your regalia a little longer (for family photo sessions, etc.) you must return them to Graduation, Etc. in Ackerman Union. Deadline for returning caps and gowns is June 20th at 5:00 p.m. or a $50 late fee will be assessed. See the dressing instructions for the academic hood.

Public Affairs B.A. candidates must wear a black cap/mortar board, black gown, and royal blue tassel. Students are eligible to wear honor cords (or, fourragere) if they are graduating with Latin Honors or College Honors, and/or if they are recipients of the Chancellor’s Service Award. Purchase and distribution of honor cords begin in June. 

In addition to wearing honor cords, students are permitted to wear sashes, cords, and/or other regalia that programs and student organizations give to graduating students. You can also wear sashes, cords, and leis that are given to you by family and loved ones.

Guest Tickets

All guests are required to have a ticket for entrance into Royce Hall and Ackerman Grand Ballroom. All tickets will be sent digitally directly to the graduates. Tickets will be available in 2 forms: digital and print at home. Graduates are responsible for distributing tickets to their guests. Tickets will be sent 1-2 weeks in advance of the ceremony from the Central Ticket Office, not the Luskin School of Public Affairs.  Your student advisors will let you know how many tickets you will be receiving.

Children and Tickets

• Lap-sitting is permitted if a child is 3 years old or younger and they are small enough that the child’s head is no taller than that of the adult when sitting in their lap.
• Children 4 years old and above, and any child requiring their own seat, requires a valid ticket for entry.

Please be advised that all bags may be subject to search. Use of clear bags may expedite entrance to the venue. We recommend guests arrive at least 30-60 minutes in advance of the ceremony to allow ample time for health and bag checks. Large balloon displays, noisemakers, and confetti poppers will be confiscated.

Undergraduate Commencement Parking

Commencement parking is $16 per day (prices are subject to change). Parking will be in parking structures 4 and 8. UCLA Parking Services will staff lots according to ceremony times and locations. Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits are available for purchase ($16 per permit) through Bruin ePermit starting in May. Please see Bruin ePermit document for more information on ordering permits. You can pre-purchase parking starting May 1.

Parking Structure 4: 221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Parking Structure 8: 555 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

UCLA Parking Map (pdf) | Interactive Campus Map

Graduate Commencement Parking

Commencement parking is $16 per day (prices are subject to change). Parking will be in parking structures 2 and 3. UCLA Parking Services will staff lots according to ceremony times and locations. Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits are available for purchase ($16 per permit) through Bruin ePermit starting in May. https://transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking/commencement-parking. Please see Bruin ePermit document for more information on ordering permits. You can pre-purchase parking starting May 1.

Parking Structure 3: 215 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Parking Structure 5: 302 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles, CA 90095

UCLA Parking Map (pdf) | Interactive Campus Map

Wheelchair Seating & Sign Language Interpreters

UCLA does not provide wheelchairs or campus shuttles; guests requiring mobility assistance should arrive one hour early. Curbside drop-off is available at Gateway Plaza and the Dickson Plaza Flagpole.

• For Graduates: If you require mobility assistance (e.g., special entrance to Pauley Pavilion or floor access), contact the College Commencement Office or your department immediately.
• For Guests: All venues have ADA-accessible seating. While ushers can assist with seating, guests must bring their own wheelchairs as none are available for rent or loan on campus.

Royce Hall has a variety of accessible seating available. In addition to seating space that can accommodate a wheelchair with a companion seat, Royce Hall is also equipped with select aisle seats that have folding armrests on aisle sides to make transfer easier for those with mobility limitations.

Accessible parking spaces in Parking Structure 5 are located on level 4. For oversized vehicles, please use level 6. Guest drop off is located at 10745 Dickson Court, Los Angeles, CA 90095 – at the flagpole and at level 4 of Structure 5.