Seniors’ step-by-step guide to graduation
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 26, 2025) — University of Kentucky’s May Commencement Ceremonies are six weeks away, and there are multiple steps seniors and all graduating students should take to prepare for the big day.
Here are the dates and must-know topics for the ceremonies, set for Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
First, there are three important steps to prepare for graduation:
- By April 1: Apply for your degree through your myUK GPS audit. Instructions here. This must be completed whether a student plans to attend their Commencement ceremony or not.
- By April 1: Register to attend your Commencement ceremony via an email from the university (emails will be sent to students after they apply for their degree). More information here.
- By April 16: Order your regalia (cap and gown) from the UK Bookstore.
The current May 2025 Commencement Ceremonies schedule is as follows:
Friday, May 9
- 9 a.m. — Gatton College of Business and Economics and College of Fine Arts
- 2 p.m. — College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education
- 6 p.m. — College of Communication and Information; College of Health Sciences; College of Medicine; College of Nursing; and College of Social Work
Saturday, May 10
- 9 a.m. — Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment; College of Design; Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering; College of Pharmacy; College of Public Health; Martin School of Public Policy and Administration; and Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce
The ceremonies will be held at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center with free parking available on West High Street for guests and graduates.
No ticket is required for guests of the graduate. All Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed on the UK Commencement website and UKNow.
There is no rehearsal or preparation for the ceremony, but graduates are asked to arrive one hour before their ceremony time begins. Each ceremony lasts around two hours. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception hosted by the UK Alumni Association in Club C on the first level of Central Bank Center. Signs will direct graduates and families after they exit the arena.
Students graduating with a dual degree can participate in the college ceremony of their preference. Although those students may only be participating in one ceremony, they will still be recognized for both degrees in the Commencement program.
All of this information and more can be found on the UK Commencement website https://commencement.uky.edu/ or by emailing commencement@uky.edu with questions about the upcoming ceremonies and a graduate’s registration status.
The University of Kentucky looks forward to celebrating all graduates this May. Be sure to join in and follow along on social media using #UKGrad.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.