Commencement Ceremony

Every year in May, The American University of Paris confers graduate and undergraduate degrees to its graduates during the graduation ceremony. All students who finish their degree during the academic year have to complete a degree application in order to participate in the May graduation ceremony.

University Graduation Dates and Policy

There are three graduation dates per year, but only one ceremony. All graduates (fall, spring and summer) are invited to attend the one ceremony in May. For example, if you plan to graduate in Fall 2020, we would invite you to complete your online degree application in order to participate in the May 2021 graduation ceremony. 

University graduation policy stipulates that only those students who have completed all academic requirements will be declared graduates of AUP at the May graduation ceremony. If you have any outstanding monetary obligations to the University, you will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students with missing elements (such as paperwork or incomplete grades in either courses or internships) and summer graduates will be permitted to participate in the ceremony but will be honored as future graduates. 

Registrar's Office

registraroffice@aup.edu
Tel. +33 1 40 62 08 13
5 Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg 
Paris, 75007
France

Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00

Complete online degree application

Submit a Student Status Extension request

Graduation is an annual highlight for the whole AUP community as we honor the accomplishments of graduating students.

Graduates on the balcony

The ceremony takes place in Théâtre du Châtelet a theatre and opera house dating to the mid-1800s.

Theatre du Chatelet

Students prepare to end of this stage of their academic journeys and begin exciting new adventures.

Students pose in the grand hall.

Families and friends come from around the world to celebrate with their graduates.

Cheering families at graduation

During the ceremony, students are welcomed into the alumni community – now over 20,000 strong.

Students wave to family at graduation

With stunning views over the city, there is plenty of time to take photos with friends (or solo!).

Taking photos outside at graduation

It is the perfect way to mark the closing of one chapter on your journey.

Celebrating with family at graduation

Between the pomp, the day is also one of joy and fun with frequent nods to Parisian and French culture.

Berets at graduation

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

We recommend that you complete the online degree application together with your academic advisor. Make sure to schedule your appointment with your advisor ahead of time and prepare your meeting by reading information about the graduation process and Student Status Extensions. Also, print your degree requirements and your unofficial transcripts (via the Student Portal) and bring them to the meeting.

At the meeting, complete the online graduation application and do a degree audit together with your academic advisor. 
Your advisor will then submit the application to the Registrar’s Office for processing. Make sure to regularly check your AUP email for a confirmation from the Registrar’s Office and other important communications concerning graduation.

Decorated student cap at graduation

Student Status Extension

If you want to register for a zero-credit internship and obtain a convention de stage (legal requirement for internships in France) after you have completed your degree requirements, you must submit a Student Status Extension request before you are officially graduated by a stipulated deadline. You do not need to have secured an internship before submitting the request. Alumni are not eligible to receive a convention de stage from AUP. You must respect the request deadline because you will be considered a graduate as soon as your final grades are submitted. 

Please note: Participation in the commencement ceremony in May does not imply that you have officially graduated. You can request a Student Status Extension and still participate in the commencement ceremony.

The Graduation Ceremony

You’ve come a long way since your first day at AUP, and soon you’ll have the diploma to prove it. To help you celebrate your achievement, The American University of Paris coordinates an annual graduation ceremony, known as commencement. Information about each year’s Commencement Ceremony will be released in the months prior to the date.