Class of 2021 students who graduate from the University of Virginia next month – and those who earned degrees as members of the Class of 2020 – learned this week how the ticketing process will work for this year’s unique ceremonies.

In short, this year will function quite differently from other Final Exercises, and it’s critically important for students and their guests to know the details and requirements to ensure they and their guests are able to attend an in-person session.

Here a few key points and reminders, courtesy of UVA’s Office of Major Events. For details about which days and times ceremonies will occur and other event information, visit the Final Exercises site.

Q. Are tickets required for Final Exercises?

A. Yes. Graduates from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 must have a ticket to enter Scott Stadium. Each student may invite up to two guests to attend their assigned, individual Final Exercises ceremony, at which their degree will be conferred. All guests also must have tickets to enter Scott Stadium.

Q. How do students reserve their tickets and the tickets for their guests?

A. Tickets will be offered through the UVAShots.com system that has provided tickets for Virginia basketball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse games this year. Students who have not previously used UVAShots.com can register here. Anyone encountering problems accessing their UVAShots.com account or creating an account, should contact uvatickets@virginia.edu. The Athletics Ticket Office is prepared to help students having difficulty with accounts. 

Q. When will tickets be available and is there a deadline to reserve them?

A. The ticket portal opens at 8 a.m. on Friday for members of the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 to start reserving tickets. The deadline for students to claim their ticket and tickets for guests is May 2. Neither students nor their guests will be able to attend the ceremony if the tickets are not claimed during this window of opportunity.

Q. How and when will the tickets be delivered?

A. Tickets will be delivered electronically by May 12. The student ticket is not transferable, but guest tickets can be sent to guests by forwarding the ticket email or by transferring them through the student’s UVAShots.com account. 

Important note: screenshots of tickets will not work. If a student or guests do not have smartphones, the student should contact uvatickets@virginia.edu to make other arrangements to attend the ceremony.  

Q. How else can I watch Final Exercises?

A. The Final Exercises ceremony for the Class of 2020, held on May 16, and all graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2021, held May 21-24, will be livestreamed.

Find the latest information about this year’s unique ceremonies on the Final Exercises site.