Attending your ceremony
Everything you’ll need to know about attending your ceremony – what to do, what to wear, where to go and what you can expect.
For students allocated to February 2022, we are holding Grads on the Green, information regarding the event will be provided on the Grads on the Green page.
Schedule
Geelong Costa Hall - 12pm ceremony
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
Getting to the venuePlan your journey and remember to allow time for possible traffic delays or to find parking. | |
Your arrival timeYou will be registered using your Student ID card, so make sure you bring it along. After registering for the ceremony, you’ll be assisted with your robes. | |
Meet up with family and friendsWhen you have finished being robed, you are free to meet up with your guests for official or informal photos. | |
Doctoral graduates - Pre-ceremony briefingAfter robing, Doctoral graduates will be briefed on what will occur during the ceremony. You will leave your guests and be escorted to the Academic Procession Room after the briefing. | |
Graduates Pre-ceremony briefingYou will be seated in the theatre and shown what you need to do during the ceremony. | |
Guests seatedGuests will be invited to be seated in the theatre. | |
Arrival cut-off timeUnfortunately, if you arrive after 11:30 you will not be able to participate in the ceremony. | |
Graduation ceremony commencesStudents are announced and walk across stage to receive their Testamur. | |
Graduation ceremony concludes, and post-ceremony/VIP function commencesGraduates join their guests to enjoy light refreshments and celebrate their graduation. Guests of Doctoral graduates will be escorted to the VIP function. | |
Post-ceremony function concludesAt the end of the post-ceremony function, you will need to de-register and return your robes. Please have your student ID card ready for de-registration. |
Geelong Costa Hall - 6pm ceremony
| Time | Details |
|---|---|
Getting to the venuePlan your journey and remember to allow time for possible traffic delays or to find parking. | |
Your arrival timeYou will be registered using your Student ID card, so make sure you bring it along. After registering for the ceremony, you’ll be assisted with your robes. | |
Meet up with family and friendsWhen you have finished being robed, you are free to meet up with your guests for official or informal photos. | |
Doctoral graduates - Pre-ceremony briefingAfter robing, Doctoral graduates will be briefed on what will occur during the ceremony. You will leave your guests and be escorted to the Academic Procession Room after the briefing. | |
Graduates Pre-ceremony briefingYou will be seated in the theatre and shown what you need to do during the ceremony. | |
Guests seatedGuests will be invited to be seated in the theatre. | |
Arrival cut-off timeUnfortunately, if you arrive after 5:30 you will not be able to participate in the ceremony. | |
Graduation ceremony commencesStudents are announced and walk across stage to receive their Testamur. | |
Graduation ceremony concludes, and post-ceremony/VIP function commencesGraduates join their guests to enjoy light refreshments and celebrate their graduation. Guests of Doctoral graduates will be escorted to the VIP function. | |
Post-ceremony function concludesAt the end of the post-ceremony function, you will need to de-register and return your robes. Please have your student ID card ready for de-registration. |
Warrnambool ceremonies - Lighthouse Theatre
| 12pm Ceremony | Details and location |
|---|---|
| 10:30am | Your arrival time – registration and robing in your regalia. Please ensure you bring your student ID card for registration. |
| 11:40am | Pre-ceremony graduate briefing – all graduates must be seated inside the theatre at this time. |
| 12pm | Graduation ceremony commences. |
| 1pm | Graduation ceremony concludes, and post-ceremony function commences. |
| 2pm | Post-ceremony function concludes, graduates must de-register and return their robes. |
When to arrive
To allow for pre-ceremony registration, regalia fittings and photographs, we ask graduates to arrive at least two hours before their graduation ceremony.
If you’re running late, please call us on 03 9244 6333 to let us know. If you don’t arrive in time, you won’t be allowed to take part in the ceremony.
Doors are open for guests to be seated 15 minutes before the ceremony commences.
Registration
Graduates need to bring along their student ID (or another form of legal identification) to the registration desk. Once you're registered, you'll be fitted for your regalia.
The registration desk will close 30 minutes before the ceremony begins and students may not be able to participate in the ceremony if they arrive less than 30 minutes before their ceremony is due to begin.
Last minute guest tickets
Every graduate receives two guest tickets as part of their graduation package. If you need to buy any extra tickets on the day, the venue’s box office sells unsold tickets for last-minute guests.
What to wear with your regalia
If you elect to attend your graduation ceremony you will be required to wear the academic regalia which represents the course you are graduating from at that ceremony.
You should wear smart, neat or professional clothing as a minimum dress standard. Shorts, jeans, t-shirts, thongs, bare feet or joggers aren't considered appropriate.
The regalia is a little heavy, so make sure you take off suit jackets or any heavy layers before your robe fitting.
Academic dress
After registering, graduates will be fitted with the following regalia according to their award:
- Gown
- Coloured hood
- Trencher or bonnet
Once the ceremony has finished, all academic dress will need to be returned to the registration area.
If the regalia is not returned within an hour of the ceremony finishing, you’ll be invoiced for the full cost of the outfit.
The style of the gown, colour of the hood and type of trencher or bonnet worn depends upon the award you have received. When attending a ceremony, the graduation fee includes the hire of your academic regalia.
Diploma
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree with Honours
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Master Degree
Master Degree with Honours
Master Degree by Research
Professional Doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Ceremony programs
Ceremony programs will be available to graduates and guests on the day. Each program details the order of ceremonies, and lists what time and where each student will graduate. The average ceremony duration is 1.5 hours.
Seating
On the day, graduates need to be sitting in their assigned seats at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts.
Guests can sit wherever they like as their seating isn't assigned. As a guest, if you’re bringing along a child who is under the age of three, they can sit on your lap.
Order of ceremony proceedings
- MC opens the ceremony
- Guest speaker addresses the graduands
- Official conferral of awards
- Chancellor presents graduates with their testamurs (graduation documents)
- Student responds on behalf of all graduates
- Vice-Chancellor delivers the closing address
- Musical guest performance
- Conclusion of the ceremony
- Post-ceremony function