Below is the 2023 Commencement Ceremony schedule.
Friday, May 5, 2023
Jones School (MBA) Commencement Ceremony
7 p.m.
Rice Stadium
All MBA degree recipients are expected to attend this ceremony, along with all faculty members with appointment in the Jones School.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Doctoral Commencement Ceremony
9 a.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Doctoral degree (Ph.D. and DMA) recipients are expected to attend this ceremony, along with the faculty member whom they have selected to hood them—typically, their thesis advisor.
Advanced Degrees Commencement Ceremony
(includes Bachelor of Architecture, as well as Jones School MAcc and MA degree recipients)
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
All recipients of a master’s degree, with the exception of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, are expected to attend this ceremony. Additionally, those graduates who are receiving a Master of Accounting, Artist Diploma in Music, a Diploma in Liberal Sciences, or a Bachelor of Architecture should attend the Advanced Degrees Commencement.
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
7 p.m.
Rice Stadium
All recipients of bachelor’s degrees (except the Bachelor of Architecture) are expected to attend this ceremony. Each student will cross the stage, receive a diploma tube, and be congratulated. The ceremony will feature brief remarks by a student‐selected member of the graduating class, one of the college magisters, the President, as well as the commencement speaker’s address.
Commencement related activities in May 2024 will be scheduled on Friday, May 3-Saturday, May 4. Please stay tuned for finalized May 2024 Commencement Ceremony times. Updates will be posted as they become available.
Additional Information
Participation
Students are eligible to cross the stage only once, either in December or May. If you participate in the Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Commencement Ceremony, you are not eligible to participate in the May 3-4, 2024 Commencement Ceremonies.
As noted in the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, the Registrar’s deadlines to apply for May Commencement degree conferral* are as follows:
- January 19 – Last day for graduate-level students to submit a paper Application for Degree (accessible in ESTHER) for May (Spring) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar either in-person or via email to registrar@rice.edu
- February 23 – Last day for graduate-level May (Spring) degree to file applicable forms in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (see GPS Forms page) for May (Spring) degree conferral
- March 22 – Last day for undergraduate-level May (Spring) degree candidates to declare any additional major, minor or university certificates, if applicable
*Since the ceremony will take place before Spring 2024 final grades have been submitted, students should understand that participation in the ceremony is not a confirmation of a student’s degree conferral.
Ticketing
No tickets will be issued for Rice University Commencement Ceremonies. There are no seating capacity limitations and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Weather
Ceremonies in Rice Stadium will take place rain or shine. Guests can bring umbrellas for rain or if they wish to use them in the sun as there are not many shady areas in the stadium.
Web Broadcasting
Commencement will be broadcast over the internet for family members and friends who are not able to attend the ceremony. The links will go live 20 minutes before scheduled start times. They also appear on the Commencement website the day of the event.