Attending graduation ceremony

Instructions on how to attend the graduation ceremony

If you are attending your graduation ceremony, follow the steps outlined below.

RSVP for graduation

In order to participate in your graduation ceremony, first you will need to respond to our Graduation Invitation (which is different from your Completion Letter).  Your Graduation Invitation will be sent approximately six weeks prior to the commencement of the relevant graduation series.

Log into your eStudent and follow these steps, once you have received your Conferring of Degrees invitation.

1. Click on "My Results and Graduation" located in the menu along the top.
2. Click on "Check for Graduation" located in the menu on the left to select your award(s).
3. Click on “Update your Alumni (non MQ) email” located in the menu on the left to update your contact details. Provide your non-student email and mobile number so we can send a reminder email prior to your graduation ceremony.
4. Select “Add New” then “Alumni (non MQ) email” from the drop-down menu and enter your email address. Click on “Return to Check for Graduation” to go back to the previous page. Click on "Modify" against the award that you want to update.
5. Update your attendance preference with the drop-down menu and save your preference by clicking "Save" located near the bottom.
   • 'Attend ceremony' – if you are attending
   • 'Hold' – you will graduate in absentia and cannot attend a subsequent ceremony
6. If you are attending, your next email will be sent within two business days, including details for payment of the Graduation Fee. The Graduation Fee must be paid on time to complete your graduation registration and avoid a late fee.

Note: Confirm your attendance preference on eStudent by the date advised on your invitation.

If confirmation on eStudent is not received by the closing date, you will not be issued a seating ticket or guest tickets.

On the day

Arrival, parking, and registration

• Registration room at 1CC opens 90 minutes before your ceremony and you will be able to collect all seating tickets and academic dress fitting:
  • 10:30am ceremony
  • 2:30pm ceremony
  • 5:30pm ceremony
• Portrait photography services and memorabilia collection/orders will be available at the pre-function space outside of the Graduation Hall.
• Parking on campus is free during the graduation period. Car Park West 5 (behind the gymnasium) is recommended, as a graduation shuttle bus service will also be operating every 15 minutes during graduation to escort guests to and from the Graduation Hall. View the campus maps.

Seating

• Graduands should be seated 30 minutes before the ceremony at the seat corresponding to the number on their ticket and for the instructions to the ceremony proceedings.
• Graduands are not permitted to bring personal belongings into the Graduation Hall eg mobile phones, cameras, bags, flowers, non-essential graduation paraphernalia etc. Seating space is limited and graduates will change seats throughout the presentation. These items can be placed in the Cloak Room, which is adjacent to the Graduation Hall.
• Guest seating is provided inside the Graduation Hall and it is non-allocated.
• Only bottled water is permitted. Prams and strollers, tripods and other items which may obstruct passageways or viewing/comfort of other guests are not permitted into the Graduation Hall but they may be stored in the Cloak Room, which also accepts other belongings that may not be convenient to bring into the Graduation Hall.
• We are unable to accept responsibility for items left in the Cloak Room.

Academic dress and attire

Your Graduation Fee includes the full academic dress and all graduands are required to be in full academic dress to take part in the graduation proceedings. As academic gowns are open at the front, clothing worn underneath will be clearly visible. Suggested attire includes:

• Business or semi-formal attire
• Comfortable shoes

Order of proceedings

1. Your graduation ceremony will commence with the entry of the academic procession into the Graduation Hall lead by the Registrar carrying the Ceremonial Staff. The Presiding Officer for your ceremony is the last member of the procession to enter the Graduation Hall. The Presiding Officer is preceded by the Mace Bearer who carries the University Mace – the symbol of his or her authority.
2. When the members of the academic procession have taken their places on the dais, the musical group will play Advance Australia Fair. All male graduands should remove their trencher for the National Anthem. It is not compulsory for female graduands to remove their trencher. At the conclusion of the National Anthem, the audience resume their seats and the ceremony will be formally opened with a brief welcome. (Due to COVID Safety procedures, please refrain from singing)
3. The Presiding Officer will open the proceedings.
4. The Registrar will ask all graduands to stand and testify that the Academic Senate of the University has certified that you have completed the requirements for the award of your degree or your diploma. The Presiding Officer will then, by the authority conferred on them by the Council of the University, admit you to the degree or diploma for which you have qualified. At this point, you become a graduate.
5. Each row of graduates is guided by graduation staff around to the northern end of the dais, where your graduation documents will be given to you in a presentation folder, which will be part of your presentation photograph with the Presiding Officer.
6. Each graduate is presented individually to the Presiding Officer, in the order set out in the printed graduation program, by the Executive Dean of their Faculty (or their nominee). The Presiding Officer will pose for a photograph with each graduate at this point.
7. After the photograph, do not go down the steps at the centre of the stage, proceed across the dais and exit via the ramp at the back of the dais before returning to the graduate seating area.
8. At the end of the presentation of the graduates, there is a graduate address followed by a brief musical interlude.
9. The Presiding Officer will speak briefly before closing the proceedings.
10. The Presiding Officer will lead the academic procession from the dais. The Registrar will be the last member of the academic procession to leave the dais, which will then be followed by graduates joining the academic procession.

Personal belongings

Other than bottled water, food and drink is not permitted inside the hall. Most personal belongings must be left in our Cloak Room, which includes large luggage items, prams and strollers, flowers etc. Handbags and backpacks must not exceed 400mm x 320mm x 100mm.

We are unable to accept responsibility for items left in the Cloak Room.

Graduands, note that the academic gowns do not have pockets, so do not bring loose items (including mobile phones) unless these can be placed in clothing underneath.

Live streaming

View the live streaming of the ceremony.

Refreshments

Graduates and their guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments after the graduation ceremony.

Special requirements

We endeavour to accommodate any special requirements for the ceremony such as accessibility, or other types of pre-arrangement that may be required. Contact us directly at graduation@mq.edu.au.

Casual accommodation

For casual accommodation situated on campus, visit the Dunmore Lang College website or email them at events@dlc.nsw.edu.au or call +61 (2) 9856 1000.

Visas for you and your guests

You must check with the Department of Home Affairs for the latest information.

We suggest that you submit a copy of the Conferring of Degrees invitation and Completion Letter (both are sent to your student email) with your application.

For your guests, also include a personal letter written by you to invite your family/guests to attend your graduation, along with your Conferring of Degrees invitation. The personal letter should specify the ceremony date and time, full names of your family members/guests, and their passport numbers.

All photocopied documents should be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP).