Graduation Planning

Graduating Class of 2027

Degree Conferral

Students must complete all of their academic program requirements to be eligible to graduate from Berklee College of Music. Berklee degrees are conferred three times a year. The 2027 graduating class includes students who plan to complete all of their program requirements by the last day of the fall 2026, spring 2027, and summer 2027 semesters.

Please note that participation in the commencement ceremony does not indicate official graduation from Berklee College of Music.  
 

Dates and Deadlines for Graduating Class of 2027 

Applying to Graduate

The graduation process begins in the fall semester. Students nearing completion of their academic program requirements, as shown on My Progress, are invited by the Office of the Registrar to submit a graduation application to ensure their academic record is reviewed for degree conferral. The graduation application will also determine eligibility to participate in the commencement ceremony. The deadline for submitting the application can be found in the "Dates and Deadlines" chart above. 

Before submitting the graduation application, students should:

• review their program requirements on My Progress on my.berklee.edu as defined by their major grid;
• review Requirements for Graduation;
• schedule an appointment with their success advisor at successadvising@berklee.edu;
• email transfercredits@berklee.edu for assistance with transfer credit from outside institutions, AP, CLEP exams, or BOL courses; and
• email gradspecialist@berklee.edu with questions regarding final requirements.

For music therapy students only:

• Complete all required coursework for the major by the end of the spring semester, with the sole exception of MTH-495/MTH-496 (Internship in Music Therapy).
• Students who are enrolled in or need to complete any other required courses in the summer semester—outside of MTH-495/MTH-496—are not eligible to participate in commencement.
• Participation in commencement does not signify completion of degree requirements; the degree is conferred upon successful completion of all academic and internship requirements.

Failure to submit the Graduation Application by the deadline may jeopardize the following:

• your current graduation status;
• your ability to participate in the commencement ceremony;
  • you will not receive information about caps and gowns,
  • you will not receive information about the commencement concert,
  • you will not receive commencement ceremony tickets; and
• having your preferred name appear in the commencement program.

The Office of the Registrar will send final notices via email regarding the approval or denial of applications in early February of the graduating year.

Students with outstanding program requirements after their anticipated graduation semester will be conferred in the semester in which all requirements have been completed and verified by the Office of the Registrar. This policy applies to all students, including music therapy and music education students completing their internships and/or student teaching requirements.
 

Participating in Commencement

Berklee holds commencement ceremonies in May to celebrate the graduating class of Berklee College of Music undergraduate students.

College undergraduate students who are expecting to graduate in a summer semester may participate in that academic year’s May commencement ceremony, provided that at the end of the preceding spring semester they:

• have 16 or fewer course credits remaining (13 credits for diploma students);
• have no course sequences that would require enrollment in more than a single semester; and
• have registered for all remaining requirements in the summer semester immediately following the main commencement ceremony. 

Even if you are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony, any program requirements that will be met by transfer credit or CLEP exams must be completed by the end of the summer semester for summer degree conferral.
 

Getting Your Diploma 

For information on how and when you will receive your diploma after graduating from Berklee College of Music, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, please see our Getting Your Diploma page.