McGill graduates frustrated after university stops offering free convocation tickets, moves venue

McGill University students are frustrated and some are crushed that the number of tickets for convocation have been curtailed.

McGill students gearing up for convocation say they feel frustrated after the university walked back its promise of four free tickets per family down to two – and they have to pay $25 for each.

Laila Chaudhry was getting ready to celebrate her hard-earned doctorate degree, and her family spent hundreds of dollars on flights from the U.S. to see her walk across the stage. She’s one of many students who say they feel crushed by the new guest cap.

She originally wanted to have her husband, parents and sister at the ceremony but now feels she has to make a difficult decision.

“It’s uncomfortable to have to choose between two parents who are divorced, you know, and then obviously trying to accommodate people who are coming into town and wanting to show them gratitude for being here to support you but not really being able to offer them anything,” she said.

Other students said they don’t see it being a financial issue considering the cost of tickets and gown rentals.

“It feels kind of stingy,” said William McLeod.

“It’s quite abnormal,” added Jing Ma.

And to make matters worse, the ceremony has been moved from McGill’s downtown campus front lawn to the Tomlinson Fieldhouse gym.

Chaudhry said the “subpar” fitness centre isn’t climate controlled and is bound to get sweaty. She said students weren’t told why the change was made but suspects it’s more cost-cutting at the expense of students.

“This decision is one decision in a trend of really awful, money hungry decisions on the part of McGill,” she said.

A petition is making the rounds online to change the venue.

A spokesperson for McGill University said they “acknowledge we made a mistake in our planning and communications about Spring Convocation 2025, and we sincerely regret this.”

They added they are working to course-correct before graduation day.

Extra tickets might be sold two days before each ceremony, depending on availability, but students aren’t optimistic.