This year, advance degree recipients in the MIT School of Science can participate in a Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 3pm in Kresge Auditorium.

Last year, graduates of all master’s and doctoral programs through the MIT School of Science were recognized during an in-person, school-specific ceremony that took place on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

Watch the 2023 ceremony below.

Advanced degree ceremony

Honoring graduates of master’s and doctoral programs in the MIT School of Science

Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Location: Kresge Auditorium, Lord Swraj Paul PC ’52 and Angad Paul ’92 Theater
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker: Hakeem Oluseyi

Hakeem Oluseyi smiles waering gray button down shirt

Hakeem Oluseyi

Hakeem Oluseyi is an astrophysicist, author, STEM educator, multi-patented inventor, voice actor, TV personality, and science communicator. He is currently the President of the National Society of Black Physicists and recently served as the Space Science Education Lead for NASA’s Space Mission Directorate headquartered in Washington, D.C. where he provided strategic leadership and management for investments in science education and communications.

Oluseyi’s scientific research is based on what he calls “hacking stars” to better understand our universe and develop innovative new technologies. Leveraging techniques for interpreting electromagnetic radiation, laboratory plasma physics, computational modeling, machine learning, time-domain informatics, big data analytics, and high-performance computing, his work has resulted in 11 patents, and more than 100 publications covering contributions to astrophysics, cosmology, and plasma physics, and the development of space missions, observatories, focal plane instruments, detectors, semiconductor manufacturing, and ion propulsion.

He received his PhD from Stanford University in physics and has received multiple fellowships and appointments, including MIT Martin Luther King, Jr. visiting scholar at MIT. Oluseyi’s memoir titled “A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars” was released last year.

Frequently asked questions

ADA Seating

Please fill out this form.

Regalia

Please refer to the Commencement site for additional information about obtaining regalia for the ceremony.

Guest tickets

Each graduating student will be allotted 4 guest tickets. Guest tickets are provided to candidates who are on the degree list and participating in Commencement. You will receive an email in mid-May with instructions for downloading digital guest tickets (PDFs). The tickets themselves will be available at the end of May—they are not released on completion of regalia orders.

Where do I pick up my diploma?

For more information about diplomas, please visit: registrar.mit.edu/transcripts-records/diplomas.

Advanced degree recipients may pick up their diplomas on the first floor of the Stata Center (Building 32) during the following times:

Thursday, June 1: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Friday, June 2: 10:00am to 3:00pm

Please bring your diploma case with you for pick-up; while not required, this will allow you to place the paper within right away.

More details about diplomas – paper and digital – are available on the Registrar’s Office website.

How do I order graduation photos?

Photo ordering information for the Class of 2023 will be mailed directly following the ceremonies from GradImages. Graduates will receive an email and a hard copy packet will be sent to the mailing address on file.

Where is my program and/or departmental reception?

Following the main school reception, graduates are invited by their home departments for program-specific receptions and celebrations. Please contact the individual program director or department for more information about the time and location for these events.