Academics
Review the APR document here to track the coursework and graduation requirements. If you have any errors or concerns, please contact your academic advisor.
Please note that milestones like the Experiential Learning course requirement and residency requirement are updated after the end of the semester, before the Graduate Division deadline of mid-June. If you took your Experiential Learning course in your final semester and it is not showing ‘satisfied’ on your APR, rest-assured it will be updated during the process in June.
If a previous semester’s Experiential Learning course or a Certificate in Business Analytics requirement is not showing as satisfied, please reach out to your advisor.
The UC campus Registrar’s Office will be conferring degrees after verifying all requirements were met and grades have been updated. Diplomas are mailed out approximately four months after the end of graduation term.
If you need verification of your expected graduation or degree conferral date in advance of receiving your diploma, please find information from the UC Registrar’s Office.
Final grades for spring semester are due around mid-May and the FTMBA Academics Team will begin to process degree conferrals in collaboration with Graduate Division and the Registrar in mid-June.
Any student who earns a cumulative GPA of 3.800 or higher upon graduation will be considered an honors recipient. The likely candidates, students with a 3.800 or higher GPA in the fall semester, will be recognized at Commencement. However, the final determination for Graduation with Honors will occur a few weeks after Commencement and will be based on the cumulative GPA for all courses completed during the MBA Program.
Once grades are in and your certificate requirements are verified by the Haas Registrar’s Office, the certificate will appear on your official transcript in CalCentral, and a PDF certificate will be emailed to your UC Berkeley address from [email protected]. For Spring graduates, certificates are awarded by the end of July. For fall graduates, you can expect your certificate emailed around the end of February.
The faculty for each course are responsible for turning off access to your bCourses and it is therefore recommended that you download information as soon as possible after the end of the semester. We don’t have a specific date as to when your course access will be discontinued.
Commencement Logistics
Ceremony Details:
The MBA Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 2PM at the Greek Theatre. The ceremony typically lasts 2 hours.
All guests (including children and infants) must have a ticket to the ceremony. Graduates in regalia do not need tickets.
Weather:
The forecast is unpredictable. Check the weather report and advise your guests to dress appropriately as the Greek Theatre is not covered. Graduates – on a sunny day your black gowns can get rather warm. Due to uneven surfaces in the Greek, we advise that high heel shoes be avoided.
Graduate Arrival:
Graduates need to arrive at 1:00PM at the South end (entrance closer to Haas/Memorial Stadium) and head to the backstage area dressed in your cap and gown. All graduates are required to go through metal detectors before they go backstage. In order to expedite this process please bring as little as possible with you and have your pockets empty. Only graduates in regalia will be admitted backstage. Proceed to the FTMBA table and pick up a name card. You will write your name on this card as you want it to be announced when you walk across the stage. This card also serves as a record for the photographer, and you’ll list your name and email on the back.
Please allow plenty of time to park (more parking info below).
Guest Arrival:
Instruct guests to arrive early (gates open at 1PM) and enter through the North Entrance (closer to Hearst Street). All guests (including infants and children) are required to have a ticket to enter. Additional tickets will not be available on the day of the event, so please be sure your guests bring their tickets.
Guests needing ADA assistance should enter through the North Entrance (closer to Hearst street).
(Graduates) Lining Up for the Processional:
There is no special seating order for graduates. You will be in a single file line when the ceremony begins, so line up with the person you wish to sit with. The processional will start promptly at 2PM and you will march out into the seating areas.
During Commencement, each degree program will recognize several award winners and each will have a student speaker. You will walk across the stage, have your name read, receive a scroll, shake hands with Dean of Haas and have your picture taken before proceeding back to the seating area. Evening & Weekend MBA Students will be acknowledged first, followed by the Full-time MBA Students.
All graduates will stay for the entire ceremony, which ends at approximately 4PM.
Security Protocol:
All graduates and guests entering the Greek Theatre will be required to walk through metal detectors. Please ensure that guests arrive early enough to allow for this security step. While the stadium has numerous metal detectors at the entrance, and the security staff will ensure the process is as speedy as possible, guests should allocate additional time to enter the theatre. Remember, the processional will start promptly at 2PM.
Livestreaming and Translation:
The commencement ceremony will be live-streamed and online translation will be available for those attending. More information will be provided closer to the event. The ceremony will also be recorded and available to watch a few days later using the same link.
What’s Allowed at the Greek?
Allowed:
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Small umbrellas for sun or rain
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Water bottles
NOT Allowed:
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Strollers (There will be stroller parking at both entrances)
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Coolers or ice chests
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Large blankets
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Tobacco products
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Noisemakers
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Large signs
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Alcoholic beverages
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Bicycles
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Skateboards
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Large bags or backpacks (purses are fine, though they may be searched)
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Pets
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Balloons (may be tied up and left at the entrance)
- Confetti/Glitter
Restrooms:
Restrooms are located at both ends of the amphitheater. A wheelchair-accessible restroom is located inside the North entrance.
Reception:
The ceremony will be followed by a reception from 4-6PM in the Haas Courtyard. Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are not required.
A link for captioning will be shared closer to the date for any persons attending who need captioning.
We hope your friends & family will be cheering you on at the Greek. To facilitate the ceremony, only the 650+ graduates will be allowed to cross the stage. There will be opportunities for photos with your loved ones outside the Greek Theater and at the reception immediately following in the Haas Courtyard. Thanks for your cooperation as we are expecting over 4,000 people to attend the event.
The Haas School of Business is pleased to announce that Yamini Rangan, MBA 03, will serve as the Berkeley Haas commencement speaker for the Full-Time MBA and Evening & Weekend MBA Class of 2026.
Yes, the December 2026 dual-degree grads can walk in this ceremony.
During Commencements, parking is very limited at UC Berkeley. Public parking will be available at attendant-controlled lots. PARKING IS CREDIT CARD ONLY– NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED. Visa, MC, Discover, and AmEx all okay.
Drivers must purchase a permit from the attendant to be displayed on the dashboard. The following lots will be available:
- Foothill Lot
- Upper Hearst Structure
- Lower Hearst Structure (level 2)
- Stadium Garage (Non-UC lot, fee will differ)
$12 flat rate. Debit or credit card only. No cash. (Foothill Lot, Upper Hearst Structure, Lower Hearst Structure)
$TBD for Stadium Garage.
Parking for Department Graduations is only available on a first-come, first-serve basis the day of the ceremony. Graduating students and their guests may use the free Bear Transit campus shuttles to travel from the lot to the Hearst Greek Theatre.
DISABLED PARKING
All designated Disabled spaces and non-reserved spaces will be available at the above lots & rates to disabled patrons with certified handicapped placards or license plates on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no designated parking lot or special rates for Disabled Placard holders. Patrons needing assistance may be dropped off at the North Gate while their family member parks. There will be a few folding chairs for people to sit in while they wait to get seated by the ushers.
The Greek Theater currently does not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entrance. The Greek Theater does not require masks but strongly recommends them.
We recommend that graduates wear official regalia for the MBA Commencement ceremony. This includes a cap, gown, MBA hood and tassel.
How to Order
We strongly encourage students to rent their regalia. It is the most sustainable and cost-effective option.
- Official Rental Site: Herff Jones – UC Berkeley
- You can either pick regalia up at the Cal Student Store or have it shipped to your home for an additional cost.
- Package Selection: Select the “Business Administration MBA” Master’s package.
- See the University Regalia FAQ for more details.
Order Deadlines
- For free shipping to the Cal Student Store the order deadline is: Thursday, March 26, 2026.
- For a fee, you can have regalia shipped to your home and the deadline is in late-April.
- The last day to order regalia online is May 1.
- If you prefer to rent your regalia in-person, you can do so at the Cal Student Store beginning on May 11. Note that lines at the Cal Student store during Commencement season can be quite long.
New Regalia Design for 2026
Please note that the official UC Berkeley regalia has been updated this year:
- Current Design: Blue gown with gold braiding and the UC Berkeley seal.
- Previous Design: Solid black gown.
If you purchased or borrowed a solid black gown from a previous graduate, you are welcome to wear it. Please know that the majority of the class will be in the new blue/gold design so there will be a level of “mismatched” regalia. We are absolutely fine with this, but wanted to be sure you were aware.
Gown Rental Assistance Program
To ensure all graduates can participate in Commencement regardless of financial circumstances, UC Berkeley offers a Gown Rental Assistance Program. If you need a free rental, please apply here(opens in a new tab) as soon as possible.
Availability for Master’s gowns is limited. Should the program be unable to provide you with a gown, please contact the MBA Program Office at [email protected] for assistance.
This is entirely optional and if you would like to order graduation announcements, you can do so on the same site where you order regalia: https://colleges.herffjones.com/college/ucberkeley/
Events & Ticketing
Tickets that students have requested in advance will be available for pickup beginning on May 4. Refer to the email from the MBA Program Office for more details.
You are not required to notify the FTMBA Program Office if you choose not to attend Commencement.
Create your own invitation letter using this template. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Berkeley International Office.
Verification of Enrollment:
Requesting enrollment verification is a self-service for all current students. Visit the Office of the Registrar’s website for more information.
Accessible Seating Information
If you have a guest with ADA needs, please notify Kate Tobias ([email protected]) with the name of your guest and their accessibility needs so we can notify the Greek Theatre ahead of time.
Guests needing accessible seating assistance should enter the Greek Theatre from the North entrance and ask an usher or staff member to escort them to the ADA seating area.
If needed, patrons may be dropped off at the North entrance while their family member parks. A wheelchair is available in the Greek Theatre for medical emergencies only and are not guaranteed to be available to transport guests with special needs to their seats. We highly recommend that guests who are not able to walk long distances and/or on inclines bring a wheelchair with them.
Please note that although the Greek Theatre is a wheelchair-accessible venue, it is large and steep and we recommend that guests needing extra assistance have an escort.
Wheelchair and seating for guests with special needs (few or no stairs) is available in the Greek Theatre at the North entrance. When your guest enters the Greek Theatre, they should ask an usher or staff member to escort them to the special seating area.
A wheelchair is available in the Greek Theatre for medical emergencies only and are not guaranteed to be available to transport guests with special needs to their seats. We highly recommend that guests who are not able to walk long distances and/or on inclines bring a wheelchair with them. Due to space constraints, Cal Performances can only guarantee seating for one companion for each guest in the special seating area. Please note that although the Greek Theatre is a wheelchair accessible venue, it is large and steep and we recommend that guests needing extra assistance have an escort.
All designated Disabled spaces and non-reserved spaces will be available at the above lots & rates to disabled patrons with certified handicapped placards or license plates on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no designated parking lot or special rates for Disabled Placard holders. Patrons needing assistance may be dropped off at the North Gate while their family member parks. There will be a few folding chairs for people to sit in while they wait for their family member to park and then escort them into the venue. See the Parking FAQ above for more information about the location of parking lots.
Accessible seating cannot be reserved, but anyone who needs ADA seating will get it. Please follow the directions in the question above to find accessible parking and seating. Greek Theater staff will assist you and your guests to the appropriate seat day of.
Please call the box office at 323-606-8106 for further information.
Due to space constraints, Cal Performances can only guarantee seating for one companion for each guest in the ADA seating area.
Other family members may sit in general seating.