Graduation day

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Graduation day

Important dates

Students who are eligible for graduation will be contacted by email. Please ensure your contact details are up to date in myUC, especially your personal email and mailing address.

Our next ceremonies will be held in September 2025. More information will be provided a few months prior to then.

Date Details
8th August 2025 Cut-off to be course completed from your award to be invited to graduation
6-8 weeks before the ceremonies Graduation invitations sent out
To be announced Registrations to attend your ceremony close
To be announced Guest ticket sales close
To be announced Graduation ceremonies
To be announced Graduation documents sent to graduates conferred in absentia (6-8 weeks after the ceremony)

Preparing for graduation day

You will be sent an invitation to your graduation ceremony by email. Once it arrives, you can then access the Reed Graduations portal which will allow you to:

  • RSVP as attending or graduating in absentia if unable to attend
  • Purchase guest tickets
  • Hire your cap and gown
  • Purchase photography and framing packages
Learn more

Ceremony

The ceremony will begin when the Chancellor declares the proceedings open.

Ushers will direct you and your fellow graduates to move from your seats to the side of the stage to be called for your award. When your name is called and you are prompted by an usher, you will walk across the stage to the Chancellor. You should not doff your hat, curtsy, or shake hands with the Chancellor. The Chancellor will present you with a folder and you will both pose for an official photo.

Once you receive your folder, continue walking across the stage where you will be met by an usher. We will provide you with your testamur and academic transcript offstage and then direct you back to your seat.

The proceedings will last approximately 2 hours. Once they are closed, the official party and academic procession will leave the stage. Once they have left the hall, all graduates will leave their seat via the centre aisle as directed by the ushers. Your guests will then join you in the Exhibition Hall to continue celebrations.

What to expect

Live streaming

For friends and family unable to attend your graduation they can watch the live stream. 

You can also access the live stream later to re-watch your ceremony. 

Read more

Academic dress and photography

Ensure you're wearing the correct regalia, by hiring or purchasing your academic dress through Reed Graduations when you RSVP. 

Beat the crowds on the day and pre-purchase your formal photography. 

Read more

After party

You and your guests are invited to join us on the ground floor in the Exhibition Hall for canapes, drinks, music, plenty of photo ops and a gift for the newest members of our dynamic, inspiring and talented community of alumni.

Graduation venue

The Graduation ceremonies will be held at the National Convention Centre Canberra (NCCC).

Address
31 Constitution Avenue, ACT 2601

Parking
The NCCC offers underground parking for graduates and guests, further details can be found on the NCCC website. Additional parking can be found on Allara Street and Constitution Avenue, near the Canberra Olympic Pool.

Accessibility
If you or your guests have a wheelchair, walker or require any other assistance with seating, please contact the Student Centre so we can arrange special seating for you.

FAQs

Children under 2 are free, but a ticket will need to be purchased for children from the age of 2 and over. Guest seating isn’t allocated. The ceremony can last up to two hours, so it may not suit children under 5 years. If a guest of yours requires accessibility seating, please reach out to the Student Centre.

You should arrive 90 minutes before the start time of your ceremony to allow for registration and gowning.

On arrival at the venue, make your way up the stairs to register and be gowned in the Ballroom. Guests do not need to go upstairs; they can wait for you in the foyer downstairs.

An announcement will be made when it is time to head into the theatre. Graduates will enter through the doors on the ground floor. Guests will enter from the doors upstairs and will need to show their ticket to enter. This can be a digital copy of your ticket. If you are unsure where to go, please ask a staff member. It is important to be seated around 30 minutes before the start of proceedings.

You will not be allowed to take bags, phones, or other personal items up on stage when receiving your award. There is a cloak room service at the venue for coats and backpacks, however they will not take small items. For small items, kindly ask one of your guests to keep your belongings safe during the ceremony.

If you or any of your guests are in a wheelchair or have a walking aide, please contact the Student Centre so we can accommodate your seating requirements. 

It's not possible to have prams or strollers next to graduates during the ceremony. As guests are seated in tiered seating, if you have a pram or stroller please contact the Student Centre for us to arrange seating for your guests on the ground floor. 

You will receive a blank folder on stage, but then be directed to collect your testamur and transcript off stage before returning to your seat.

We ask that graduands and guests please do not attend if they are feeling unwell on the day.

Please contact the Student Centre to submit a refund request, noting you will need to provide supporting documentation with your request. We will only accept refund requests up until the two-week period after the ceremonies begin. Approved refunds may take up to four weeks to be processed.

Before registration closes

Up until the registration window has closed, you can request a refund directly through Reed Graduations without supporting documentation.

 

After registration closes

All refund requests should be sent to the Student Centre. Refund requests from this time will only be approved in exceptional or compelling circumstances, and with supporting documentation. We will only accept refund requests up until the two week period after the ceremonies begin. Approved refunds may take up to four weeks to be processed.

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Contact us

UC Graduations
Student Centre, Building 1
Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm

Student.Centre@canberra.edu.au
1300 301 727

Email us