Graduating in absentia

If you are not attending your graduation ceremony (graduating in absentia), there are a number of options available for collecting your degree.

Collecting your degree

Log into your eStudent and follow these steps:

  1. Click on "My Results and Graduation".
  2. Click on "Check for Graduation". The award you have qualified with will be displayed together with your individual graduation ceremony location, date and time.
  3. Select the award and follow the link "Modify my graduation details for the selected award". Update your attendance preference from the drop-down menu and save your preference.

The following options are available:

Mail delivery

If you elect not to attend the ceremony and require your documents to be sent free of charge, you should change your status to 'Mail' in eStudent. You must allow at least three weeks (eight weeks international) for delivery before inquiring about documents not received.

Ensure that your preferred postal address and contact phone number in eStudent is always up to date to ensure that your graduation documents are correctly delivered.

Be advised that tracking is not available for this option and the University does not take responsibility for lost packages.

Courier delivery

If you elect not to attend the ceremony and require your documents to be sent by Express Post/TNT international courier (fee incurred), you should change your status to 'Courier' in eStudent. Complete one of the online forms below:

You must allow at least two weeks before inquiring about documents not received.

Collecting documents in person

If you elect not to attend the ceremony and wish to collect your documents in person, you should change your status to 'Collect' in eStudent.

We will let you know when your documents are ready to be picked up at:  Student Connect, Level 2 MUSE, 18 Wally's Walk.

To authorise somebody else to collect your graduation documents, send a request with details from your student email or AskMQ. The request should include the full name and date of birth of the person collecting the documents. All persons will be required to produce valid identification upon collection.

Defer graduation

You may defer your graduation for up to 12 months. Permission to defer graduation will only be granted for compelling personal, professional, or academic reasons. Once you receive your Completion Letter, within two weeks, send your request to graduation@mq.edu.au. Requests to defer graduation after the closing date for RSVP of your current graduation allocation will not be approved.

Note: Students who qualify for the award of a Bachelors degree and have enrolled in honours must have the Bachelors degree conferred either in person or in absentia.

Graduating in absentia

Students who do not attend graduation or have not updated their attendance status from 'HOLD' in eStudent by the RSVP date will graduate in absentia and your documents will be held by the Graduations Team. If your attendance status is 'HOLD', email graduation@mq.edu.au to advise how you would like to receive your documents. If you graduate in absentia, you cannot attend a subsequent ceremony.

Ordering graduation merchandise

If you are unable to attend your graduation but would still like to order graduation merchandise, visit our Memorabilia page.