Commencement: Frequently Asked Questions

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is your actual graduation ceremony held by VCUarts Qatar. The event marks the transition of being a VCUarts Qatar student to being a VCUarts Qatar alumni.

The Commencement Fair is organized on campus in spring prior to the actual graduation ceremony. It consists of a fair during the day and an official event in the evening and is planned for Wednesday, March 12, 2025. During the fair graduands can order their graduation gowns and class rings or get more information on their transition from student to alumni from various information booths. During the official event – the Pre-Commencement Suhoor – class marshals and the class champions are announced as well as the preliminary Latin Honors. As part of this event, graduands receive special accessories based on their achievements and/or academic honors. 

The graduation photo shoot is scheduled between the Commencement Fair and Commencement Ceremony. It is a photo shoot for the graduands to have the students’ portraits taken in full regalia. Graduands will receive notice of dates and times.

The graduating students receive digital copies of their graduation photos. Students have the option to decide whether they want to have their photos published or not.

Please note: If they choose 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 media materials.

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2024 takes place on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Participants are requested to arrive no later than 3:15 p.m. Participants line up at 3:30 p.m. 

Guests are requested to arrive no later than 3:45 p.m. The doors to the ballroom close at 3:45 p.m. Latecomers will only be allowed to enter after the processional.

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony takes place at Multaqa/Student Center in Education City, Doha.

All graduating students should arrive between 2:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The line for processional of participating students is at 3:30 p.m. in the left foyer of the ballroom. The ceremony will begin with the processional at 4 p.m.

Guests should arrive no later than 3:45 p.m. The doors of the ballroom are open from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The ceremony will begin with the processional at 4 p.m. At 3:45p.m. the doors of the ballroom will be closed for guests. They will be allowed to enter only after the processional is over.

Upon arrival your guests will need to register at the registration counter with their tickets. From there they will be guided into the ballroom by our ushers where they will be seated on a first come first serve basis per row.

If your parents are members of the royal family or VIPs please register this with the Strategic Engagement Department in the Graduand Information Form that will be published in April. Two VIP seats per student can be allocated for students whose parents are members of the royal family or VIPs. Upon arrival to the ballroom they will be assisted by VIP seating ushers to find their allocated seats.

Students and faculty will be admitted to their respective robing areas to get dressed in their gowns and regalia. The student robing area is in allocated rooms on the left side of the ballroom. The faculty robing area is at Multaqa’s Blackbox Theatre.

Participants are required to bring their academic regalia. Please ensure you have your complete regalia when you arrive in the venue. We do not have extra accessories on site that you can borrow.

There are specific robing areas for students and faculty members. The student robing area is in allocated roomson the left side of the ballroom. The faculty robing area is at Multaqa’s Blackbox Theatre.

Robing assistants will be present to help you put on your gown and accessories properly. Printed guides to your academic regalia will be available for you to follow.

The official beginning of the Commencement Ceremony is the processional of students, faculty and platform party followed by a number of speeches and the conferment of the degrees. It ends with the recessional of all participants. For families and other attendees, a physical program brochure will be made available at the venue.

The processional and recessional traditionally mark the official beginning and end of the Commencement Ceremony of all participants dressed in regalia marching together to either enter or leave the ballroom. Participants of both processional and recessional will be following their respective marshals and will be lined up before marching.

Processional is the formal entry of the graduands, faculty and platform party into the hall. Recessional is the formal exit of the same group from the hall, after the event concludes.

During the time of the processional all guests are required to be seated inside the ballroom. Late coming guests will not be granted access to the ballroom until after the processional. During the time of the recessional all guests are asked to remain seated until the last participant has left through the ballroom doors.

Only class marshals, the valedictorian, the salutatorian, the SGA president and the QSA president are required to attend the rehearsal. They will be contacted by the Strategic Engagement Department in advance of the rehearsal.

Yes. All graduates who attend the VCUarts Qatar commencement ceremony will have their names called. When your name is called you will walk up the stage from the right side (as you face the stage) to receive your certificate folder and leave the stage from the left side. Ushers will guide you back to your seat.

Yes. The names of all graduates of the respective year – whether they participate in the commencement ceremony or not – will be listed in the printed program.

Yes. All honors awarded are mentioned during the ceremony as well as in the program agenda/brochure/handbook.

Each graduate will be issued up to 6 tickets for his/her guests. Graduates will need to register the number of their required tickets prior to picking them up from the Student Life & Engagement Office in April.

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is your actual graduation ceremony from VCUarts Qatar. It is organized by the Strategic Engagement Department of the university.

The Convocation is a ceremony that Qatar Foundation organizes to recognize the graduating students at all Education City universities of the respective year.

The Convocation is a ceremony that Qatar Foundation organizes to recognize the graduating students at all Education City universities of the respective year. Information is available on the dedicated website site of Qatar Foundation for the Convocation. All questions regarding participating in the convocation are to be directed to the respective Qatar Foundation Office.

No, you may attend one, both, or neither.

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

The academic regalia consists of a graduation gown, a graduation cap with a tassel and a stole. MFA students additionally also wear a graduation hood in brown. Please refer to the guide to your academic regalia for further information..

Graduation gowns can be either rented from the VCUarts Qatar bookstore or ordered from a tailor during the Commencement Fair. All graduating students will receive the other accessories that are part of the regalia prior to the ceremony.

Yes. You will receive the cords signifying Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Cum Laude honors during the Commencement Fair when the preliminary Latin Honors are announced. You are required to bring these cords along for your graduation photo shoot as well as the Commencement Ceremony and Convocation.

No. All students receive the same VCUarts Qatar student stoles. Only class marshals and the class champion receive special stole or sash as part of their regalia.

Yes. A cap and gown are required for graduates. The gown can be rented through the VCUarts Qatar bookstore or ordered tailormade at tailor’s booth during the Commencement Fair. The other items that are part of the regalia will be received prior to the ceremony through the VCUarts Qatar bookstore.

Yes. As for the Commencement Ceremony a cap and gown are required for graduates.

Yes. Multaqa/Student Center is accessible and there are seats reserved for guests requiring a wheelchair. For special requirements please contact the Strategic Engagement Department via [email protected].

Complimentary parking is available at the VCUarts Qatar parking, Green Spine parking and the Ceremonial Court parking. Shuttle buses operate between these parkings and Multaqa/Student Center between 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. as well as from 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Yes. Shuttle buses operate between the three designated parking areas in Education City and the Multaqa/Student Center between 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. as well as from 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Valet parking is available at the valet parking entrance of Multaqa / Student Center. Please note that valet parking fees apply.

You find more information on the ceremony on this website. Should you have further questions please reach out to the Strategic Engagement Department via [email protected].

Participants of the ceremony are requested to refrain from taking photos and are requested to put their mobile phones on silent.

Professional photographers and videographers will be present during the event to capture the moment. All images will be available for download on VCUarts Qatar photo library Luna after the event.

Family members and guests may take photos from their seats. However, they will not be allowed to go and stand near the stage to take photos.

No. Personal photographers are not allowed in the venue. However, family members and other attendees may take photos of the event on their personal electronic devices such as phones before, during and after the event. During the event, images may be taken by family members from their seats; they are not allowed to approach the stage.

If you do not want your picture to be taken when you go on the stage, please inform the Strategic Engagement Department at least 3 days prior to the ceremony via [email protected].

Yes. There is a class photo taken after the ceremony that will be published by VCUarts Qatar and Qatar Foundation.

Please pay attention to the class photo instruction at the end of the ceremony. Your marshals and other ushers will help make it a smooth experience for you. All you need to do is to follow their instructions at the venue.

If you don’t wish to be part of the class photo, please step out of the line as soon as you are outside the graduation hall. However, please do not step out of the line during the recessional to greet your guests while still inside the hall, before the group photo is over.

The event concludes with the recessional that is followed by the class photo shoot for which graduands are required to return to the front of the hall. You can rejoin your family and guests after the class photo has been taken.

If you don’t wish to be part of the class photo, which will be published in the media, please step out of the line as soon as you are outside the graduation hall after the recessional. Please do not step out of the line during the recessional to greet your guests while still inside the hall.

It is strongly recommended to not bring children under three years old in the ballroom. Children and their caretakers may wait in the Majlis area during the ceremony.

No. You will receive a diploma folder with a letter welcoming you as a VCUarts Qatar alum. All diplomas come from our home campus VCUarts in Richmond, Virginia. You will receive your diploma later through the Office of Enrolment and Registration Services.

Yes. Graduands can collect their respective gift bags from the collection desk located just outside the student holding area on the ground floor.

Following your graduation from VCUarts Qatar you officially become a VCUarts Qatar alum. The Alumni Relations Office will reach out to you after your graduation to register you in the alumni network and invite you to upcoming alumni events.

If you have more questions, please contact the Strategic Engagement Department via [email protected].