The University of Madras is gearing up for its convocation on January 22, 2026, after a long delay due to a vacant Vice Chancellor post. Staff, NCC cadets, and the university band rehearsed on Tuesday at the Senate Hall. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. with the arrival of the Chancellor and chief guest K. Sivathanu Pillai, former CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace. The Tamil Nadu Governor, R.N. Ravi, will also attend. Degrees will be awarded to students who passed exams in April 2024, April 2025, and November 2024, including those from the Institute of Distance Education. Around 950 PhD candidates, 188 prize winners, and 182 rank holders will be honored. In total, 1.8 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate students from affiliated colleges will receive degrees, though many will get them at their own college ceremonies. The last convocation was held in September 2024, delayed by over a year due to procedural issues and the Vice Chancellor vacancy, which continues amid a tussle between the Governor and State government. "The degrees will be distributed to students at their respective college convocations," said Rita John, Registrar of the university.