UB Graduation Information
Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your personal and professional development.
Use this page to get all the information you need about graduation. You can contact the graduation planning team by using the contact form at the end of this page.
If you plan to participate in one of our graduation ceremonies this year, please fill in the Graduation Participation Survey. You must fill in the survey to be counted as a tentative participant.
Application for Completion
At the University of Belize, students who complete their studies must apply for completion at the Records Office for their names to be added to the tentative graduation list. The deadline is one semester before the anticipated semester of completion and is listed on the official academic calendar.
Students who are on the tentative graduation list and who want to participate in one of the university’s Graduation Ceremonies MUST indicate their intention to do so by filling out the Graduation Participation Survey. If you don’t fill out the survey you will not be allowed to participate in any of the Graduation Ceremonies.
Please note that there are two financial clearances, each with its own cost, and you must not confuse them. The first is your Application for Completion Form which has a cost of $125.00. That fee is for your academic clearance and will get you on the tentative graduation list. The fee also covers the cost of your diploma, certificate or degree and its special cover.
Application to Participate in a Graduation Ceremony
The second cost is for the Application to Participate in a Graduation Ceremony which has a $150.00 cost and requires you to fill out the Graduation Participation Survey. This fee covers the cost of your graduation regalia, invitations, programs and the costs of the ceremony.
After you receive an email from the Records Office in response to your application for completion, you are on UB’s TENTATIVE GRADUATION LIST and you should decide if you want to participate in one of our graduation ceremonies. If you intend to participate then fill out the Graduation Participation Survey.
After you complete your final classes you will receive a special letter from the Records Office clearing you for graduation. We call it the All Clear Letter. If you get that letter and you have not filled out the graduation participation survey as yet, please fill it out immediately if you want to participate as there is a limited number of seats available in the graduation ceremonies and we give those seats to those who fill out the survey first.
You do not have to wait for your final grades to fill out the survey as the number of seats available may be filled up before you finish. You can apply now by filling out the survey today. To fill out the survey, click the link below.
Paying Your Graduation Participation Fee
The graduation fee is $150.00 and is payable before the deadline of August 31, 2024. The fee can be paid online into your student account following the normal procedure for paying tuition. You can also pay in person at the account’s office on any UB campus. If you pay online, please be sure to send proof of payment to [email protected] and you will receive an official UB receipt in a few days. Be reminded that to participate in any of UB’s graduation ceremonies you must pay the graduation fee no later than August 31st. Please plan ahead to pay this fee on time as we cannot extend this deadline.
If you do not plan to participate in a graduation ceremony you do not have to pay this fee.
Dates and Venues of the 2024 Graduation Ceremonies
The university is planning two face-to-face graduation ceremonies for 2024.
On Saturday, October 12, UB will host the first graduation ceremony at the Civic Center in Belize City for students who studied at the Belize City, Belmopan and Central Farm Campuses. The ceremony will run from 1:30 pm sharp to 4:30 pm.
On Sunday, October 20, UB will host its second graduation ceremony at the Punta Gorda Sports Complex for all students who studied at the Punta Gorda Campus. The ceremony will run from 10:00 am sharp to 12:00 noon.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR STUDENTS WHO PREFER A SUNDAY CEREMONY:
Any student who is unable to participate in the Saturday ceremony in Belize City due to religious reasons is welcome to participate in the Sunday ceremony in Punta Gorda with the understanding that such travel to Punta Gorda will have to be covered by the student.
Students who are not from the Punta Gorda campus who decide to participate in the Punta Gorda ceremony must inform the Office of Student Affairs and can do so by contacting us.
New Virtual Rehearsal
The university has moved away from face to face graduation rehearsal sessions to save students time and the cost of travel. In lieu of face-to-face sessions, all graduates will be informed exactly what they need to do to participate and maintain the professional effect that the university expects. In addition, all graduates are now required to report inside the Civic Center or Punta Gorda Sports Complex no later than 1 hour before their respective graduation ceremony. We will upload detailed instructions and a Rehearsal Video at a later date.
Distribution of Graduation Regalia
Each tentative graduate who fills out the graduation participation survey to say they will participate in a university graduation ceremony and who pays the $150 participation fee, will receive a new graduation gown, cap, tassel and stole. All Bachelor Graduates who achieve outstanding cumulative grade point averages will also receive academic honor cords to drape over their gowns. The honor cords are awarded as follows:
3.50 to 3.64 Cum Laude (white tri-cable satin cord)
3.65 to 3.84 Magna Cum Laude (gold tri-cable satin cord)
3.85 to 4.0 Summa Cum Laude (purple tri-cable satin cord)
To save time and money, the entire set of regalia will be distributed to tentative graduates along with their invitations, honor cords and name cards at the same time so they only have to come into campus once before graduation.
Where and When You Will Collect Your Graduation Regalia
ALL STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE COROZAL, ORANGE WALK OR BELIZE DISTRICTS INCLUDING SAN PEDRO AND CAYE CAULKER
You will collect your regalia, invitations, name cards and honor cords on the Belize City Campus at the Faculty of Management in West Landivar, Belize City. The distribution will take place in the library on the second floor of the main building on the FMSS Campus. The regalia will be distributed on the dates indicated below from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, including during lunch, to accommodate those who work. To prevent any overcrowding we ask that you come in for your package based on your Faculty following the schedule below. If you cannot come in on the day of your Faculty, you can send someone on your behalf with a copy of your Social Security Card.
Tuesday, September 17, Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA)
Wednesday, September 18, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences (FMSS)
Thursday, September 19, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST)
Friday, September 20, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) AND Anyone who missed his or her designated day
ALL STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE CAYO OR STANN CREEK DISTRICT
You will collect your regalia, invitations, name cards and honor cords on the Belmopan Campus in Belmopan City in the Audio Visual Room on the ground floor of the library. The regalia will be distributed on the dates indicated below from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, including during lunch, to accommodate those who work. To prevent any overcrowding we ask that you come in for your package based on your Faculty following the schedule below. If you cannot come in on the day of your Faculty, you can send someone on your behalf with a copy of your Social Security Card.
Tuesday, September 24, Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA)
Wednesday, September 25, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences (FMSS)
Thursday, September 26, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST)
Friday, September 27, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS)
Saturday, September 28, Anyone who missed his or her designated day
ALL STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE TOLEDO DISTRICT
You will collect your regalia on the Punta Gorda Campus in Punta Gorda Town at the main office in the Administration Building. Please take note of the day and time for you to show up ready to collect your regalia. The regalia will be distributed on the dates indicated below from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, including during lunch, to accommodate our working students. You can come on any of the two days allotted.
Friday, September 27, All Faculties
Saturday, September 28, All Faculties
Dress Code
Standard dress code for the graduation will be as follows:
Males
Dress shirt with necktie as the V neck on the graduation gown will highlight your necktie. Dark coloured trousers or dress jeans with dress shoes look very smart but please, don’t wear athletic socks.
Females
If you wear a dress it should not be longer than 15 inches above your ankle. The graduation gown has a V neck so plan for your jewelry to be highlighted. Be careful with your choice of shoes as the carpet on the stage and the steps to the stage can be a little difficult to navigate.
Invitations
Due to the size of the venues and the number of graduates, UB will give each tentative graduate three (3) invitations to the graduation ceremony. Graduands will collect their invitations when they collect their regalia.
Note: Each invitation is for ONE person only
Please do not contact the office asking for extra invitations.
Photographers
Only the professional photographers authorized by the University of Belize and provided with identification tags will be allowed to take pictures in front of the stage during the ceremony. Family and friends will need to take pictures from their seats. This requirement is to facilitate the smooth flow of graduands to and from the stage during the distribution of diplomas and degrees. This will also ensure that the official photographers will capture a picture of each graduate. The professional photographers will be listed on this page as soon as they are identified so you can arrange to purchase photographs if you so desire. These photographers will also have stations in the Civic where you will be able to take photo shoots with your friends and family. Please contact your photographer of choice well in advance to book a photo shoot.
Graduation Rings
Nancy’s Jewelry is the official jeweler making the UB-sanctioned graduation ring for the past 20 years. The Official UB Ring can be purchased from any of the Nancy’s Jewelry Stores across the country including:
Belize City
#4 Cemetery Road
Tel: 227-8969
Orange Walk Town
#24 Belize-Corozal Road
Tel: 322-0175
San Ignacio Town
#5 Burns Avenue
Tel: 632 2882
Distribution of Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees
Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees will not be given out during the graduation ceremony. Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees will be issued at the Records Offices on the Belize City, Belmopan and Punta Gorda campuses, based on the location of their programs. Example: Graduates from the Social Work Program will collect in the Belize City Records Office: Students who studied at the Central Farm Campus will collect their Degrees at the Belmopan Campus.
To manage the number of students collecting their Certificates, Diplomas or Degrees on any given day, the Records Office asks those of you who studied at the Belize City, Belmopan or Central Farm Campuses to collect your diploma or degree following the schedule below: (Please note that you have up to a year to collect your diploma so you don’t have to rush but you should come to collect it within a year. If you don’t collect your diploma, certificate or degree within a year of your graduation date you may be asked to pay for a reprint) In case you cannot come to collect your diploma, degree or certificate in person, you can send someone on your behalf with a copy of your social security card and an email or note from you authorizing the person to collect it on your behalf.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Faculty of Education and Arts
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Faculty of Science and Technology
Friday, October 18, 2024
Early Release of Diplomas and Degrees
Any student who completes his or her graduation requirements and pays all attendant fees can apply for an early release of his or her degree or diploma. This is done in an organized manner at specific times. For those who complete in December of 2023, they can apply for an early release in January of 2024 which they will receive in February. To apply, students should contact the records office at [email protected] for the relevant form and pay the early release fee of $150.00. Please note that this is a special fee and should not be confused with the other two fees. This fee is optional as you only have to pay it if you want an early release of your degree or diploma. Those who complete all their graduation requirements in June can apply for an early release in June and collect it in July.
If a student gets his or her diploma or degree early and has no intention to participate in one of the graduation ceremonies in October, he or she can purchase a set of regalia for $90.00. To buy an extra set of regalia please write to [email protected] after applying for early release of degree or diploma.
Some students may want to get their regalia early to take pictures with their new degrees or diplomas but may also want to participate in one of the graduation ceremonies in October. If you think you may want to participate then please pay the full $150 graduation participation fee early and get the full set of regalia which you can use to take pictures with your new degree or diploma and later to participate in the graduation ceremony in October.
Students who will attend the graduation ceremony in Punta Gorda can collect their diplomas or degrees on any work day after their graduation ceremony at the Records Office on the Punta Gorda campus.
Contact the Graduation Committee
If you have a question whose answer is not already covered on this page, please use the form to contact the graduation committee.