A Graduation Ceremony is a formal event involving the presentation of degrees, diplomas and certificates, speeches by dignitaries and musical recitals.

1. Complete the confirmation of attendance
2. Order your academic dress
3. Venue
4. Guest tickets
5. Order of proceedings
6. Access for people with a disability
7. Where you can park on campus
8. Crossing the dais
9. Official photographers and framers
10. UWA merchandise on sale in the Undercroft
11. What a graduand needs to do if they are unable to attend their ceremony

Complete the confirmation of attendance

Graduands who are eligible to attend a graduation ceremony will be sent an email to their student account, approximately six weeks prior to the ceremonies, advising that they need to log into studentConnect to complete the Confirmation of Attendance before the closing date. Graduands failing to complete this procedure will have their award conferred in absentia and will not be permitted to attend any future ceremony for that award.

• Check your contact address is up to date

• Complete the pronunciation of your name

If your name is not common in Australia or is difficult to pronounce it is helpful to provide the presenter with some guidance. Your full name that will appear on your award certificate will be read out at the ceremony. No nicknames or abbreviations will be accepted. If you include a nickname or abbreviation in your pronunciation, it will be changed. Below are some examples of pronunciation tlo help you:

You can also visit the Pronounce Names website for further assistance. Please do not include 'sounds like' or 'rhymes with' in your pronunciation.

• Complete the tickets and special seating section

You must complete the guaranteed section before you are given the opportunity to request additional tickets. Additional tickets cannot be guaranteed and graduands will be able to view if they have been allocated any extra tickets approximately 10 days prior to their ceremony in studentConnect.

• Make sure you submit your Confirmation of Attendance.

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Order your academic dress

Graduation ceremonies are formal University occasions. You must wear academic regalia as well as smart personal dress suitable for memorable photographs. When choosing your shoes, be aware that you will need to navigate a small number of steps up to and down from the stage. Please consider this if you intend to wear high heels.

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Venue

All graduation ceremonies are held in Winthrop Hall.

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Guest tickets

All graduands will be issued with their guaranteed graduand and two guest tickets and will be given the opportunity to request additional guest tickets when they complete their Confirmation of Attendance in studentConnect.

Additional tickets cannot be guaranteed and graduands will be able to view if they have been allocated any extra tickets approximately 10 days prior to their ceremony in studentConnect.

Approximately 10 days prior to the ceremonies, tickets will be sent by post to Western Australian addresses.  For overseas and interstate addresses, tickets will be held at the Enquiry Counter, Student Administration (Hackett Hall) for collection. Graduands must bring photographic identification with them when collecting tickets.

Tickets are not transferable.  If you are unable to attend you must notify the Administrative Officer (Graduation) immediately to make arrangements to have your award conferred in absentia and return your tickets.

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Order of proceedings

A graduation ceremony comprises the formal presentation of degrees, diplomas and certificates, addresses to graduands and their guests by dignitaries and members of the University and a musical recital. At the conclusion of each ceremony, light refreshments are available for graduates and their guests.

Graduands are asked to arrive by 6pm at Winthrop Hall to be seated by no later than 6.45pm. Please remember to bring your graduand ticket. Late arrivals may be excluded from the ceremony.

Entry into Winthrop Hall is by ticket only. Guests are asked to be seated by 7.10pm.

Formal proceedings will commence at 7.30pm and conclude at approximately 9.30pm. Light refreshments and photography and framing services are available afterwards. 

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Access for people with a disability

Access to Winthrop Hall for people with disabilities is via a lift in the south-west corner of the Hall. If you or your guests have difficulty walking, are confined to a wheelchair or require any other special seating arrangements please indicate this when completing the Confirmation of Attendance via studentConnect. We will endeavour to assist all graduands and their guests with appropriate seating arrangements.

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Where you can park on campus

You can park in any car park on the Crawley Campus except Car Park 22. The most convenient places are car parks 1, 18, 19 and 20. Parking is free after 5pm.

Accessible car parking bays are located in every car park on the Crawley Campus.

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Crossing the dais

To ensure the smooth flow of the Graduation Ceremony, graduands are requested to review the instructions on how to cross the dais to receive their award.

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Official photographers and framers

GFP Graduations are the official suppliers of photography, framing and DVD services at all graduation ceremonies and will be located in the Undercroft at Winthrop Hall during the graduation round.

They will:

• take group and individual photographs before and after the ceremony
• take a photograph of each graduand shaking the Chancellor's hand on stage
• provide a large range of frames for immediate framing. A photocopy of your certificate is taken prior to framing
• capture every graduand’s special moment on DVD.

For complete product and pricing information see GFP Graduations.

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UWA merchandise on sale in the Undercroft

UWA merchandise including official clothing and souvenirs will be on sale in the Undercroft of Winthrop Hall before and after the ceremony.

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What a graduand needs to do if they are unable to attend their ceremony

You must inform the Administrative Officer (Graduation) in writing. Include your:

• student ID number
• full name
• a statement that you:
  1. are unable to attend your Graduation ceremony;
  2. want it to be conferred in absentia at the ceremony; and
     
  3. are aware that once your award has been conferred in absentia you will not be permitted to attend any future ceremony for this award
• hand signature.

If you have already received your graduand and guest tickets, you must indicate in your letter if you have returned them to us or we will destroy them immediately as they are not transferable and will be reallocated by our office.

You will need to arrange to pay postage for your certificate.

Credit card payment (graduation) [PDF, 50.7 KB]
Updated 31 Jan 2012

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