Commencement for the academic year 2017-2018 will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018, with Class Day activities on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Commencement Day activities include ceremonies in Harvard Yard and at the GSD, and the Harvard Commencement Address. Class Day activities at the GSD include class photos and ceremony rehearsal for graduates, the Awards Ceremony and Class Day Address, and a reception for graduates and their guests.

Some international guests may need to secure a tourist visa in advance of entering the United States for Commencement. The GSD can provide a letter of support to assist their visa application. GSD students should request a guest visa support letter as early as they are sure a guest will need one.

If you have a question about Commencement 2018, please contact Erica George, the GSD Commencement coordinator. You may also wish to view the university-wide Commencement site.

Commencement 2017

Commencement for the academic year 2016-2017 was held on Thursday, May 25, 2017, with Class Day activities on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Some GSD highlights of Commencement 2017:

GSD awards 353 degrees during Harvard’s 366th Commencement

Dana McKinney (MArch/MUP ’17) spotlighted in Harvard Gazette’s student profile series

Katherine Farley named 2017 Class Day speaker

Henry N. Cobb, MArch ’49, receives Harvard Medal

2017 Photos

GSD 2017 graduates and their families are invited to purchase their class photo, and photos of the diploma ceremony, through our partner Commencement Photos, Inc. Graduates will have received a unique ID number; to request this number, email customerservice@commencementphotos.com or call 978-851-5924.

Graduates also received information in early June about viewing and ordering prints of candid photographs taken by Creative Capture.