Grad Gown Rentals
Fall Graduation ceremonies at the Vancouver campus will take place November 27-29, 2024.
Students
Rent your graduation regalia (gown, hood and mortarboards) online in advance of your ceremony. Appropriate academic attire is required of all participants.
If you miss the deadline to reserve regalia in advance, you can also rent a gown and hood on the day of your ceremony for an additional fee. The cost for day-of rental is $75.00 and we will accept Cash, Credit or Debit (Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit). Please arrive at the gown pick up area 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time to rent your gown on-site. There is no need to provide us with your information in advance once the online rental website has closed.
Vancouver Campus
The Fall 2024 Graduation ceremonies will take place from November 27-29, 2024. The deadline to rent your gown online in advance is Thursday, October 31st (11:59pm PT). Online regalia rentals are now closed, but you can still rent a gown onsite on the day of your ceremony for an additional fee.
Gowns must be picked up 1.5 hours prior to your ceremony start time. Please ensure you have your gown order number with you when you arrive, and a piece of photo ID.
Vancouver Pick-up Location: Brock Commons South (New Building), 6180 Walter Gage Rd
Returns: UBC Bookstore, 6200 University Blvd
Okanagan Campus
The Spring 2025 Graduation ceremonies will take place June 5 – 6, 2025. Regalia rentals will reopen in Spring 2025.
Gowns must be picked up 1.5 hours prior to your ceremony start time. Please ensure you have your gown order number with you when you arrive, and a piece of photo ID.
Okanagan Pick-up Location: Upper Fitz Hall, The Commons Building (3297 University Way, Kelowna BC V1V 1V7)
Faculty
Appropriate academic attire is required of all participants. If you are not bringing your own regalia, faculty regalia may be rented online in advance through our website by submitting a Faculty Gown Rental Form (listed by campus below). Payment can be made either online using a personal credit card or UBC Pcard on our website, or billed to your departmental worktag account.
If you miss the rental deadline, regalia can also be rented on-site on the day of your ceremony. Payment can be made using cash, credit, debit or your Worktag account. Faculty must convene at the Robing Room at least 30 minutes before the ceremony, so please plan to arrive a minimum of 45-60 minutes prior to your ceremony start time to ensure you leave adequate time to pick up your regalia.
Questions? Please go to our FAQ page and type in “Faculty Gowns” in the search bar.
Vancouver Campus
Faculty regalia for Fall 2024 Convocation ceremonies can be rented online in advance through the UBC Bookstore beginning Fri Oct 11th. The deadline to rent faculty regalia online in advance is Wednesday, November 13th (11:59pm PT).
If you miss the deadline, it is still possible to rent a gown onsite on the day of your ceremony. The location for on-site rentals is the Royal Bank Cinema in the Chan Centre (Faculty Robing Room). Please arrive 45-60 minutes prior to your ceremony start time to register for your regalia on the day of the ceremony.
Okanagan Campus
Faculty regalia for Spring 2025 Convocation ceremonies can be rented online in advance through the UBCO Bookstore beginning in April.
Regalia rentals for Okanagan faculty are currently closed, but it is still possible to rent a gown onsite on the day of your ceremony.
The location for on-site rentals is the UBCO Bookstore. Please arrive 45-60 minutes prior to your ceremony start time to register for your regalia on the day of the ceremony.
Faculty Gown Pick-up Location
Gowns should be picked up 30-45 minutes prior to your ceremony start time.
Vancouver – The Robing Room for faculty is the Royal Bank Cinema in the Chan Centre. Access via the Royal Bank Cinema entrance off of Crescent Road.
Okanagan – The Robing Room for faculty is Studio 2 in The Hanger gym building.
FAQs
Where do I return my gown after the ceremony?
STUDENTS
Gowns must be returned to the gowns drop off location no later than 1 hour after your ceremony concludes.
Vancouver – Drop off is located at the UBC Bookstore (6200 University Blvd).
Okanagan – Drop off is located in the Campus Administration Building foyer outside the UBCO Bookstore.
FACULTY
Gowns must be returned to the Faculty Robing Room no later than 1 hour after your ceremony concludes.
Vancouver – The Robing Room for faculty is the Royal Bank Cinema at the Chan Centre. Access via the Royal Bank Cinema entrance off of Crescent Road.
Okanagan – Drop off for faculty is the foyer of the Campus Administration Building (outside the UBCO Bookstore).
I have a specific question about gown rentals, who can I contact?
Please send us an email at gown.rentals@ubc.ca.
Where do I pick up my gown?
STUDENTS
Gowns must be picked up 1.5 hours prior to your ceremony start time. Please ensure you have your gown order number with you when you arrive, and a piece of photo ID.
Vancouver – Pick up is located in Brock Commons South (New Building), 6180 Walter Gage Rd
Okanagan – Pick up is located in the Upper Fitz Hall of The Commons Building (3297 University Way, Kelowna BC)
FACULTY
Gowns should be picked up 45-60 minutes prior to your ceremony start time.
Vancouver – The Robing Room for faculty is the Royal Bank Cinema at the Chan Centre. Access via the Royal Bank Cinema entrance off of Crescent Road.
Okanagan – The pick up and drop off location for faculty is Studio 2 in The Hanger (gym).
When is my graduation ceremony?
All graduation schedules including current and future dates, as well as day-of timelines, can be found on the Graduation page for each campus:
Vancouver: https://graduation.ubc.ca/schedule/
Okanagan: https://graduation.ok.ubc.ca/
What is included in my graduation gown rental?
For students receiving a bachelors or masters degree, your rental includes a black gown, a hood representing your faculty and unique degree, and a mortarboard style hat. At the end of your ceremony, your gown and hood must be returned. You may keep the mortarboard hat as a souvenir.
For doctoral students, your rental includes a doctoral gown, a doctoral hood, and a beefeater cap. The gown, hood, and cap must all be returned.
What if I missed the gown rental deadline?
Don't worry! You can also rent a gown and hood on the day of your ceremony at the gown pick up area for an additional fee. We have enough regalia of all sizes and colours to allow anyone who missed the deadline to attend. The cost for day-of rental is $75.00 and we will accept cash, credit or debit (Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit). Please arrive at the gown pick up area 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time to allow enough time to rent your gown on-site. There is no need to provide us with your information in advance once the online rental website has closed.
Fall (Nov) 2024 Ceremonies:
Vancouver Pickup Location: Brock Commons South – New Building, 6180 Walter Gage Rd
Spring (June) 2025 Ceremonies:
Okanagan Pickup Location: Upper Fitz Hall of the Commons Building (3297 University Way, Kelowna BC)
I have already graduated and am interested in purchasing a gown for use in my academic career – who do I contact?
Gowns can be purchased from our supplier Gaspard: www.gaspard.ca
How do I rent my student graduation gown?
Graduating this year? Student graduation regalia (gown, hood and mortarboards) can be reserved online in advance of your ceremony. Appropriate academic attire is required of all participants. Regalia rentals for Fall 2024 ceremonies open on Fri, Oct 11th 2024.
Vancouver – www.buildagrad.ca/UBC
Fall 2024 November Ceremonies: The online rental deadline for Vancouver students is Thurs, Oct 31st, 2024 at 11:59 pm (PT).
Okanagan – www.buildagrad.ca/UBCO
Spring 2025 June Ceremonies: Regalia rentals for Spring 2025 ceremonies will reopen in April.
Missed the online rental deadline? Don't sweat it! You can still rent a gown on-site on the day of your ceremony for an additional charge. We have enough regalia of all sizes and colours to allow anyone who misses the advance registration deadline to attend. The cost for day-of rental is $75 and payment can be made by Cash, Credit or Debit (tax included, Visa, MasterCard and Visa Debit accepted). There is no need to provide us with your information in advance once the online rental website has closed.
To rent on the day of your ceremony, please arrive at the gown pick-up area 1.5 hours before your ceremony start time.
Do I have to wear a gown to attend my ceremony?
Yes, all individuals participating in the graduation ceremonies at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses are required to wear academic regalia. This includes graduating students, faculty, administration and invited guests who will be seated on stage as well as volunteers. Academic regalia includes a gown, hood and headwear appropriate to the degree being granted. The mortarboard hats for bachelors and masters students are optional, but a gown and hood must be worn by all students wishing to attend. Any form of attire (formal, uniform, business, traditional, or casual) may be worn underneath the gown, but footwear must always be worn.
For more information, please see the UBC Graduation website: UBC Academic Regalia Guidelines
If you have any questions, please contact ceremonies.graduation@ubc.ca (Vancouver campus) or okanagan.ceremonies@ubc.ca (Okanagan campus).
Can I pick up my gown earlier than my schedule time?
Unfortunately, no. All gowns can only be picked up 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to the ceremony you are attending. Gowns are boxed by ceremony number and are not unpacked until right before each ceremony. We are not able to retrieve any gowns in advance.
Can I keep my gown for a longer period of time?
We cannot allow students to return gowns later than 1 hour after your ceremony is over. Gowns are packed up and shipped back to Winnipeg at the end of each day. Any unreturned gowns and hoods will be charged to students at their full replacement cost so please be sure to return the gown after you have finished taking pictures with your friends and family.
Can I cancel my gown order?
STUDENTS
Vancouver - All cancellations for refund for Fall 2024 ceremonies must be received before Oct 31st, 2024 at 11:59pm (PT). Refunds will not be accepted after.
Please contact Gaspard Customer Service:
1-800-683-4771 (Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm CST)
customer_service@buildagrad.com
FACULTY
Vancouver - The cancellation deadline for faculty is Nov 13th. Please contact us at faculty.rentals@ubc.ca.