Commencement: Counting Down

Counting Down to Commencement

Welcome Class of 2026!

The date of your graduation is coming up and we want to prepare you for this important milestone of your life. There are various events lined up before the actual Commencement Ceremony in May. The following information will help you make this important celebration more meaningful and unforgettable.

If you have any further questions and/or clarifications, please contact [email protected].

Commencement Fair

Every spring, VCUarts Qatar invites its graduands to gather for the Commencement Fair that kick-starts the countdown for their big day in May – the Commencement Ceremony.

At the Commencement Fair and the Pre-Commencement Suhoor the class marshals and class champion are announced as well as the preliminary Latin Honors. Graduands receive their special accessories based on these honors. They can order their graduation gowns and class rings. Various booths provide useful information on their transition from student to alum, from student life to work life.

Due to the ongoing regional situation, the Commencement Fair and Pre-Commencement Suhoor have been cancelled. Further details will be shared with students directly as they become available.

Academic Regalia

Academic regalia is the dress worn by faculty and graduates during commencement ceremonies. It goes back to traditions practiced in the fourteenth and fifteenth century universities in England.

VCUarts Qatar’s academic regalia consists of a graduation gown, a graduation cap with a tassel and a stole. MFA students wear an additional hood in brown. BFA and BA students wear specific student stoles, while class marshal or the class champion wear special stoles identifying these roles. Graduates receiving Latin Honors also wear special cords reflecting their honors.

At VCUarts Qatar, academic regalia is available through the bookstore. The VCUarts Qatar bookstore has gowns available in various sizes. Students either rent their gown from the bookstore or have it tailored to their size. Our trusted tailor will be present with a booth during the Commencement Fair to take your order. All graduating students will receive the other accessories that are part of the regalia prior to the ceremony.

Faculty can borrow regalia from the bookstore for the ceremony with the specific stoles for faculty and all required accessories.

Please refer to the guide to your academic regalia for further information.

Class Rings

The official VCU class ring is a lasting symbol of your academic achievements and a constant reminder of your lifelong connection to VCU. Fellow alumni wear VCU rings. The rings provide a means of instantaneous recognition, often serving as a wonderful catalyst for triggering conversations of VCU affiliations and memories. The ring seller is available during the Commencement Fair for you to preorder your rings. 

Graduation Photo Shoot

VCUarts Qatar organizes a special photo shoot for the graduands to have their portraits taken. 

Please note: Students have the option to decide whether they want to have their photos published or not. If they opt to have their photos published the photos will be shared with Qatar Foundation and may be included in VCUarts Qatar and Qatar Foundation’s future publications, press and social media releases as well as other communication materials.