Applying to Graduate

The graduation application is the only way to notify Berklee of graduation and commencement ceremony plans.

Graduation Application Steps

Students near the completion of their academic program requirements, will be invited to submit a graduation application. To determine if you are an eligible member of the 2024 graduating class, please:

• review the 2024 Graduation and Commencement Presentation;
• review My Progress on my.berklee.edu to check your program requirements as defined in your major grid;  
• review the additional graduation requirements; and
• submit the graduation application.

The 2024 graduation application is due Friday, December 8, 2023. Failure to submit the graduation application by the December 8 deadline will:

• delay processing of your graduation application;
• prevent the listing of your name in commencement ceremony program; and
• jeopardize your ability to apply to participate in the commencement concert.

The Office of the Registrar will email you by Tuesday, February 13, 2024, regarding the approval or denial of your application.

Graduation Information and Policies

The 2024 graduating class includes students who complete all of their program requirements during the 2024 academic year. The 2024 academic year includes:

• the fall 2023 semester;
• the spring 2024 semester; and
• the summer 2024 semester.

Berklee College of Music graduates (confers) undergraduate students three times each academic year. The three graduation dates are:

• the last day of the fall semester;
• the last day of the spring semester; and
• the last day of the summer semester.

Students who complete all program requirements after their initial anticipated graduation semester will be graduated in the semester when outstanding work or requirements are officially completed. 

For questions about planning your final semester(s) and completing your program requirements, please schedule an appointment with your student success advisor or contact successadvising@berklee.edu.

Responsibility for meeting graduation requirements rests solely with each student.

Commencement Information and Policies

Commencement is an annual event to celebrate each graduating class. Please know that participation in the commencement ceremony does not indicate official graduation from Berklee College of Music.

• Berklee’s 2024 commencement concert date is Friday, May 10, and the commencement ceremony date is Saturday, May 11.

Participation in commencement is optional but encouraged. The commencement page will be updated regularly with important commencement information. Applicants who indicate they will participate in commencement will receive additional information from the Office of Event Planning in the spring semester. 

Students are permitted to participate in one commencement ceremony for each academic program completed (e.g., Professional Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music). 

Approval to participate in a commencement ceremony does not indicate graduation.

Students planning to graduate in the summer 2024 semester may participate in the May 2024 commencement ceremony provided that, at the end of the spring 2024 semester, they:

• have 16 or fewer credits remaining (13 credits for diploma students); 
• have no course sequences requiring enrollment beyond the summer 2024 semester; 
• have the ability and intent to complete all remaining degree audit program requirements during the summer 2024 semester; and
• register for the summer 2024 semester during spring registration in April to ensure completion of all remaining program requirements.

* Music therapy and music education students are permitted to complete their internship and/or student teaching requirements beyond the summer semester.

Questions

If you have questions regarding:

• your major/minor, contact your major/minor department chair;
• your private instruction or recital preparation, contact your principal instrument department;
• planning your final semester(s) and completing your degree audit requirements, contact successadvising@berklee.edu;
• the commencement ceremony, contact commencement@berklee.edu;
• the commencement concert, contact commencementconcert@berklee.edu;
• policies and concerns for international students, contact iss@berklee.edu;
• transfer credits, contact transfercredits@berklee.edu; or
• meeting graduation requirements, contact gradspecialist@berklee.edu.