Welcome to your graduation
Whether your graduation marks completing your first degree or further study, your success is something to celebrate.
Congratulations on your milestone achievement. With your degree from UNSW, you’re entering the workforce as one of Australia’s most employable graduates* with a bright future ahead. More importantly, you’ve got the skills, experience and mindset to drive progress in your field and carve out a career to be proud of. After all of your hard work, it's time to celebrate and we're here to help.
*AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards 2024
Ensure you've completed all requirements to graduate, including course completion, outstanding fees and thesis submissions, if applicable.
Whether you're applying for a job, visa or would like copies of your documents, organise your official statements before you head out of university.
Not sure when your ceremony is? Check our schedule for dates and times of every ceremony.
Find out how your degree will be awarded and its formal abbreviation.
Have you been recognised for your achievement? Check our registry to find out.
What should I expect on the day?
We prepare extensively for your graduation day, from helping you into your academic dress and arranging your seats, all the way to providing food and drinks, and setting up live music for you to enjoy with your family and friends.
Find out everything you need to know to prepare for the special day.
Privacy notice
The University films and takes photos at all graduation ceremonies.
This material is used by the University for the purpose of promoting its activities via its website, social media channels, newsletters and other communication devices. The University may also provide such material to media organisations for publication, transmission or broadcast.
Please notify the University via gradevents@unsw.edu.au if you do not wish to appear in such materials.
Beyond your UNSW graduation
Support is available to you from UNSW after you graduate, including career services, alumni services, a lifelong UNSW email account and further learning opportunities. Explore our alumni community.
-
UNSW graduation ceremonies are held three times per year in March, August and December. To be eligible to attend, your degree must be conferred during the following periods:
- March graduations: November, December, January
- August graduations: February, March, April, May, June
- December graduations: July, August, September, October.
You will receive an email invitation closer to your ceremony period with specific details about your ceremony. Please note that proposed ceremony dates are subject to change. Final confirmation will be provided to eligible graduates closer to the event.
-
Every graduate attending a ceremony will receive three guest tickets which are included in the graduation fee. Occasionally there may be extra tickets available. However, extra tickets are not guaranteed.
When you register on the Reed Events portal, you'll be prompted to select your guest tickets. These will be emailed directly to your guests or to the email address you provide.
Graduation ceremonies are a family event and children are most welcome. Infants who do not need their own seat are not required to have a ticket.
As a graduate, you don’t need a ticket to attend your own graduation ceremony.
-
Your academic dress hire is included in your graduation fee. You can confirm your gown requirements when you register through the Reed Events portal. On your graduation day, visit the Academic Dress Collection point at your scheduled collection time to pick up your gown.
If you would like to purchase your academic dress at an additional cost, please contact the Arc Grad Shop directly to organise purchase and collection.
-
On your graduation day, you'll be allocated a seat to ensure you and your fellow graduates cross the stage in the correct order. You'll be fitted for your academic dress gown prior to your ceremony and will have the chance to take photos pre- and post-event!
Find out more about your graduation day, including academic dress collection and venue opening times, below.
-
If you are not attending a graduation ceremony, you'll need to let us know when you receive the ceremony invitation email.
You can update your attendance status in the Reed portal by selecting “No – I cannot attend and will not attend a ceremony in the future".
-
Check out this list of post-nominal letters for Awards to be used as a reference for recent graduates of UNSW.
-
Your $225 graduation fee includes:
- 3 x guest tickets
- Hire of your academic dress
- A trencher (or bonnet for PhD graduates) for you to keep
- A digital copy of your professional stage photo
- Livestream of your ceremony
- Your official Testamur (degree certificate) mailed to you.
We have also introduced exciting changes to improve the overall graduation experience, including:
- An enhanced post-ceremony celebration, where you and your guests can celebrate your achievements with refreshments and entertainment
- Revamped venue and celebration spaces, including more activations and photo moments to capture your special day
- A more seamless graduation that will see the day run smoother for you and your guests
- Improved accessibility with live event captioning, hearing loop and accessible seating.
-
If you can’t attend a ceremony during your allocated graduation period, you can choose to defer and attend a future ceremony instead. Please note that deferrals are only permitted once and for one ceremony period only. You can select the deferral option in the Reed Events portal via your invitation email.
-
Graduation ceremonies will be held at the faculty level, not by individual schools. You will attend one graduation ceremony even if you are in a dual degree program (e.g. Arts/Law or Commerce/Science). You will be allocated to the ceremony of the Faculty that administers your program.
For example, combined BA LLB graduates are allocated to a Faculty of Law & Justice ceremony. BSc BA students are allocated to a Faculty of Science ceremony.
-
If you have confirmed your attendance and paid your graduation fee but can no longer attend your ceremony, please contact Reed as soon as possible.
You may be eligible for a refund if you notify Reed before your ceremony period begins. Refunds are usually processed within two weeks of the ceremony period ending.
-
If you miss the RSVP deadline, you will be unable to attend a ceremony and will not be automatically invited to future ceremonies.
-
Yes, however you are asked not to cross the centre aisle or get in the way of graduates. The use of tripods inside the auditorium is prohibited.
A photo is taken of each graduate as they receive their ceremonial certificate from the Presiding Member. You'll receive a digital copy of your stage photo to download via the Reed app. Additional stage photographs can be ordered directly from Reed.
-
Once your degree status is 'Awarded' you can request an Award Statement. This Statement shows when you completed your program and when you will graduate. You can use this Statement as an invitation for visa purposes.
This official document can also be used to verify your degree for employment purposes if you are still waiting on your testamur to be issued.
-
If you or your guests require accessible seating during the ceremony, please let us know when you register through the Reed Events portal.
-
To receive your official Testamur (degree certificate), you must complete the RSVP process in the Reed Event Portal. This applies whether you plan to attend a ceremony or not.
You will be asked to indicate your ceremony attendance type and your Testamur mailing preference.
If you select a Testamur mailing option, you’ll be directed to payment and then receive a confirmation email with delivery details.
- Delivery timeframe: Testamurs will be mailed within 6-8 weeks after RSVPs close.
- Tracking: You will receive a tracking number once your Testamur has been dispatched.
-
You will be given a ceremonial certificate on stage during your graduation ceremony.
Please note that this is different from your official testamur, which will only be sent to you after your degree has been officially conferred, following the RSVP deadline, and only if you selected this option during your RSVP via the Reed Events portal.
Contact us
Have questions? Contact The Nucleus: Student Hub via the web form, phone or visit us in person.
