UOW Liverpool graduation ceremonies

If you’ve applied to graduate and are eligible to attend a ceremony, your invitation will be sent to the email address you nominate for My eQuals. Make sure to check your junk/spam folder.

If you still can't locate the email, please contact AskUOW stating your student number, name and email address and they will confirm your eligibility and resend your invitation.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact AskUOW. 

To help create a more personalised and memorable graduation experience, we invite you to share a photo and a short quote that may be displayed during the celebrations. You’ll have the option to upload these as part of your registration. Participation in personalisation is completely optional.

Please ensure that any photo or quote you submit is appropriate for a public audience. All contributions will be reviewed, and inclusion will be at the discretion of the Graduation team. Your submission may not be included if it doesn't align with the spirit of the graduation ceremony. 

Photo: Upload a clear, high‑resolution photo of yourself. Images will be displayed in a square format. Minimum file size: 2MB, maximum file size: 15MB. Accepted formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG.

Quote: Share a brief reflection or meaningful moment from your time at UOW (maximum 150 characters, including spaces).

There are two ways to receive or share your guest tickets.

Option 1 – During registration

In the Guest Registration section (Step 2) of the graduation booking process, you will be prompted to provide guest contact information. You may enter either your own email address or your guest’s email address. Please ensure the email address is entered correctly, as tickets will be sent to the address provided.

Option 2 – After registration

Download and share via the Reed Events App:

• Download the Reed Events App via the App Store or Google Play
• Log in to your account using the details you created during registration
• Navigate to the 'Guest Tickets' tab
• Select the share option (share button located in the top-right corner) to send the tickets to your guests

Share your booking confirmation:

• Locate your graduation booking confirmation email and PDF attachment. The email is from 'Reed Events' with subject line 'Confirmation order'.
• If you can't locate it, log into the Reed Events Portal and retrieve your booking information. You will need to sign into the account using your email and password you created at registration. 

The graduation fee covers the following:

• One (1) graduate ticket  
• Up to three (3) guest tickets per graduate
• Hire of graduate academic gown/dress (graduation regalia)
• Trencher (hat) or bonnet (PhDs) to keep
• Graduation booklet
• Post-ceremony celebration

If you have registered and paid for a ceremony and can no longer attend, please contact the Reed Customer Support team.   

Email: hello@reedevents.com.au  
Phone: 1300 361 806    

Please include the following information when you contact Reed Events:  

1. Student number
2. Name
3. Course
4. Faculty
5. Booked ceremony date and time
6. If you'd like to defer your attendance to the following year

Your refund will be credited to the same payment method used when registering.

You and your guests need to make sure you meet Australian visa requirements. In Australia, migration advice for people who wish to enter or stay in Australia can only be provided by registered authorities.  

As part of their visa application, your friends or family may be asked for additional documentation by the Department of Home Affairs. This can include: 

• a letter of support from you (view sample letter)
• a certified copy of your passport and student visa grant letter 
• details about your graduation ceremony (such as the invitation you received for your graduation) or 
• details of your enrolment 

For more information, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website, or contact their general enquiry line on 131 881.    

Please note that UOW has recently updated our processes to align with other higher education institutions. The sample letter above can be used as a guide to help you prepare your own supporting documentation. 

Overseas visitor health cover

Please arrive by the specified time and make your way to the graduation registration desk located on the Upper Ground level of UOW Liverpool campus.

When you arrive at registration you will:   

• show your QR code
• get dressed in your academic dress
• receive your trencher (hat) or bonnet (PhD graduates)

You must be sitting in your allocated seat 30 minutes before the ceremony commences. You will receive an SMS with your seat number the day before your ceremony. Your allocated seat is also noted in the Reed Events App.  

It’s essential you sit in that seat to ensure you are presented on stage in the correct order. You must not swap or change your seat to be close to friends. 

Please note that guest seating is not allocated and is separate from graduate seating.  

Don’t forget to share your guest tickets before you leave your guests.

Smoking Ceremony

A Smoking Ceremony will take place on prior to each ceremony. Led by our Indigenous Community Leaders, the ceremony is to welcome graduates, guests, and the Academic Procession.

Recognition is an important part of the University’s commitment to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and we’re appreciative of our local community for sharing their teachings and ceremony with us. 

PhD Graduates will participate in the Smoking Ceremony along with the Academic Procession, prior to entering the venue. All other graduates and guests have the option to participate in the Smoking Ceremony before they enter the venue and take their seat.

Ceremony proceedings  

The official proceedings of UOW graduation ceremonies may include:   

1. Opening of Ceremony 
2. Welcome to Country   
3. National Anthem   
4. Opening and Congratulatory Address   
5. Presentation of Awards   
6. Musical Interlude   
7. Presentation of Awards (con’t)   
8. Honorary Award/Emeritus Professorships Awards   
9. Occasional Address and Vote of Thanks   
10. Closure of Proceedings   
11. Event Concludes  

Ceremonies are expected to be 1 hour and 30 minutes in duration.  

Ushers will direct graduates throughout the ceremony. When it is time to commence the presentation of awards, ushers will direct graduates as follows:   

1. The Presenter will ask all graduates to stand for confirmation of degrees. After this, everyone can be seated except the first row of graduates who will then be guided by ushers to the stage.   
2. When it is your turn to make your way to the stage, an usher will ask you to stand and will direct you into position. Leave your booklets and other items on your seat.   
3. An usher will check and adjust your academic dress.   
4. When you reach the outer stage, you will receive your certificate from an usher.   
5. You will be directed to ascend the ramp and stand on the side of the stage until your name is called.   
6. When you hear your name, Presiding Officer will 'tip their cap' to you, and you can return the gesture by tipping your cap slightly downwards with your right hand.  
7. Then make your way to the centre of the stage towards the Presiding Officer and shake their hand. Please pause on stage while a photo is taken.  
8. After the photo, you can begin descending the ramp on the other side of the stage. As you exit the stage there will be another photo opportunity. As you exit, we encourage you to pause for this photo. 
9. You will then make your way back to your allocated seat and remain there until the end of the ceremony.   
10. At the completion of the ceremony, you will be directed to follow behind the Academic Procession and leave the venue.   

Stage photos will be available immediately after the ceremony for viewing and purchase from Reed Events. A stall will be setup in photography studios in the celebration area.

If you'd like to view and/or purchase your stage photos at a later time, they'll be available in the Reed Events App.

UOW Liverpool ceremonies will be live streamed and a link will be available on the graduation website on the day. 

Your academic dress must be returned to the gown returns area near the registration desk no later than 1 hour after the conclusion of your ceremony. More information on important timings is available here.

At the conclusion of your ceremony, you and your guests are invited to join UOW dignitaries in the graduation celebration area to continue the celebration and enjoy some refreshments.