XI. Convocation

Convocation ceremonies are held in May/June and October.

11.1 Applying to Graduate

Applications to graduate are made through dalonline.dal.ca by December 1, for Spring Convocation and by July 2 for Fall Convocation. Dates and information are available on the Convocation website dal.ca/convocation. A $50 fee will be charged for applications submitted after the deadline. Applying to graduate is a requirement to graduate.

In the event that a student has applied to graduate but will not graduate, the student must complete the Request to Cancel Application to Graduate. Students must apply to graduate again by the appropriate deadline in order to be included at a later convocation.

11.2 Letter of Confirmation for Completion of Degree

When a student has fulfilled all the requirements for the degree in advance of the official graduation date, a letter to that effect can be obtained from the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Confirmation Letter Request Form is located on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website under Current Students/Forms and Documents.

11.3 Conferring of Degrees

Successful candidates for degrees are invited to appear at convocation in the proper academic dress to have the degree conferred upon them. Any graduating student who is unable to appear at the convocation is expected to notify the Registrar in writing before May 4 for the Spring Convocation, or September 15 for Fall Convocation, giving the address to which the degree or diploma is to be mailed.

Detailed information regarding the upcoming ceremony dates, location, dress etc. is available on the Convocation website dal.ca/convocation.

11.4 Academic Dress

Graduates of the University are entitled to wear gowns and hoods of black material. The distinctive part of the costume is the lining of the hood, which for the various degrees currently offered are as follows:

  • JSD: Black gown faced with Olympic blue silk bordered with yellow silk; black corded hood silk/lining of Olympic blue silk and bordered with yellow silk; birretum is black velvet with blue and yellow cord
  • LLM: Purple silk
  • MA: Crimson silk
  • MArch: White/two parallel stripes of red corded border
  • MArch (Post-Prof.): White/vermilion border
  • MAHSR: White silk/sky blue border with white piping
  • MACSc: Emerald green/gold border with white piping
  • MASc: Blue/gold border with white piping
  • MBA: Turquoise silk
  • MCSc: Emerald green/gold border with white piping
  • MDE: Medium blue/scarlet border
  • MEC: Emerald green/purple border with turquoise piping
  • MEDS White/three parallel stripes of white and vermilion corded border
  • MEng: Blue/gold border
  • MES: Brown silk
  • MFA: Royal blue lining/crimson silk border with white corded piping
  • MHA: Sky blue silk/white border
  • MHI: Scarlet silk/emerald green border
  • MIM: Mint green satin/white border
  • MJ: Royal blue/royal blue border with white corded piping
  • MLIS: Mid-forest Green silk
  • MMM: Navy silk/seagreen border
  • MN: Apricot silk
  • MPA: Sky Blue silk
  • MPer: Gold silk/scarlet silk border
  • MPLAN: Peacock blue/green corded border
  • MREM: Brown silk/white border
  • MSc: Scarlet silk
  • MSW: Citron silk
  • PhD: Black gown faced with yellow silk; black hood with a lining of yellow silk; birretum is the doctor’s bonnet of black velvet with yellow cord.