Is there any difference between "confer degrees" and "presenting diplomas"? I read the following passage on a university's website: The College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering will hold its annual Commencement ceremony on the River Campus Eastman Quadrangle, beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 18. During this ceremony degrees will be conferred for all bachelor's and master's candidates. Individual diplomas are presented at the Departmental Diploma Ceremonies. It seems that conferring a degree and presenting a diploma are two different activities. What's the difference?