Congratulations - the day is almost here! Many graduates are excited and nervous on the day of their graduation ceremony. To help you get ready, we’ve put together a list of what you can do in preparation, as well as what to expect on the day.
Your graduation ceremony will be held in the Sports Hub (Building 9) at the Wollongong campus.
There may be traffic and parking delays around the University, so please allow additional travel time.
Free parking is available for graduating students in P5 and P4 carparks on campus.
We encourage you to travel with all their guests in one vehicle. If the P4 and P5 carparks becomes full, security staff will advise you of alternative parking locations on or around campus.
If you submitted accessibility requirements for both yourself and/ or your guests during the registration process, parking will be made available to you in the carpark under the Sports Hub – you will need to provide your name to the parking attendant at the Sports Hub carpark to gain access.
You will be required to bring identification (eg. drivers licence, student card) which will be sighted at the registration desk.
If you already have a graduation hat (trencher or bonnet), please also bring it with you on the day.
A graduation ceremony is a formal occasion with smart casual wear being the minimum standard for graduates and their guests.
You will be required to wear the approved University of Wollongong academic dress over your clothes when taking part in a graduation ceremony. The graduation fee covers the hire of your academic dress (gown and hood), as well as a trencher (hat) or bonnet to keep.
When selecting what you're going to wear, keep in mind:
If you wish to purchase academic dress for graduation, you can do so at any time of the year from the Unishop. However, if for any reason a particular item may be out of stock, you must place your order no later than 6 weeks prior to the ceremony. Enquiries regarding the purchase of academic dress may be directed to the Unishop.
If you purchase your academic dress you will you will need to collect your purchase from the Unishop prior to your graduation ceremony and bring it with you to the venue.
Please note that if you purchase your academic dress, you are still required to pay the full graduation fee.
Graduates to arrive by 8:15am
Late arrivals may not be able to be accommodated.
Graduates to arrive by 1:15pm
Graduates will receive their final allocation of guest tickets via email two weeks before the commencement ceremonies. Each graduate will receive a minimum of (3) three guest tickets at the registration desk on the day of their ceremony.
We understand what an important milestone Graduation is for families. Children are warmly welcome to attend your ceremony and will require a ticket. Infants (under 3) can sit on an adult's lap during the ceremony.
Designated pram/stroller parking bays will be available within the Sports Hub. Activities will also be available for children outside of the Sports Hub in the Marquee.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer more tickets than the assigned limit per graduate due to the capacity limitations of the SportsHub.
Should there be available capacity at the conclusion of the registration period, guest numbers may be increased. Graduates will be notified of any adjustments in the pre-event reminder email, sent four weeks before the event.
Any additional guests are invited to watch the ceremony via live stream in the Marquee outside of the Sports Hub, or from a location off campus. The link to the live stream will be posted on the graduation website on the day of the event.
We are more than happy to accommodate special seating requirements, or any mobility or disability issues, including vision or hearing needs.
If you did not advise of any special requirements during the online registration for graduation, please email details to askuow@uow.edu.au with ‘Graduation’ in the subject line as soon as possible so arrangements can be made.
The UniShop has a great range of graduation gifts, flowers, cards and UOW memorabilia. You can shop online or in-person on the day.
The UniShop also sell special graduation teddy bears wearing academic dress which are popular amongst graduates and are a great keepsake.
UOW Pulse have also created a new range of UOW clothing in collaboration with New Balance, which is the perfect blend of function and fashion.
Visit UniShop and take home a piece of your university experience and the memories you have created.
Reed Graduation Services will have professional photo studio sessions available on the day of your graduation. Bring along your friends and family and let skilled photographers capture this wonderful milestone with a range of high quality photos than you can cherish for years to come.
Bookings are recommended - pre-book your studio session for free ($30 to book on the day).
Studio photography will be setup within UniActive (building 13) next to the Sports Hub.
All graduates will be photographed on stage and Reed Graduation Services understands the importance of capturing this momentous moment. For pre-event discounts visit Reed Graduation Services.
Stage images will be available immediately after the ceremony for viewing and purchase within UniActive (building 13) next to the Sports Hub.
Reed Graduation Services offer a wide variety of frame options which are perfect to proudly display your award. If you would like to bring your certificate it can be framed by our professional framers on the spot, ready to take home on the day of your graduation. For pre-event specials visit Reed Graduation Services.
Graduation plaques offer a unique way of commemorating your award. Having your certificate replicated onto a silver or gold plaque fitted on to either rich walnut wood base, smooth matte black backing or a clear Perspex base adds professional flair and pleasing appearance to any office or room, allowing you to proudly display your award. For pre-event specials visit Reed Graduation Services.
You must arrive by the specified time.
On arrival, please make your way to the graduation registration desk located on the ground floor in UniActive (Building 13) which is adjacent to the Sports Hub. Entry is via the western side of the UniActive building (closest to the Sports Hub).
To avoid overcrowding, we ask that guests wait outside and do not accompany you to the registration desk – we suggest arranging to meet your guests outside the Sports Hub after completing registration.
When you arrive at registration you will:
UOW staff will select the appropriate academic dress foryou and help your put the garments on. If you are an Honours graduate, please advise staff.
Once dressed and ready, your can meet your guests and take photos before the ceremony begins.
You will receive your program booklet at registration. This will be marked with your name and allocated seat number.
You must be seated in your allocated seat at least 20 minutes before the ceremony (unless you are told otherwise during registration).
It is essential that you sit in your allocated seat as outlined on the program booklet received at registration. This will ensure graduates are presented on stage in the correct order. You must not swap or change your seat to be close to friends.
Guest seating is not allocated but is separate from graduate seating.
If you are a PhD graduate, once you have registered and are gowned in your academic dress, please make your way to Building 36 Room 305 where you will join the Academic Procession for the ceremony before walking down to the Sports Hub.
Guests of PhD graduates should find their seats in the Sports Hub and are not to go to Building 36.
It is highly recommended that you arrive at the University with plenty of time to find parking, register, dress in academic dress, and take photos.
If you arrive after the close of registration, please go directly to the graduate registration desk in UniActive (building 13) and we will do our best to accommodate you, but it is not guaranteed that you will be able to participate in the ceremony.
You will be required to wait in the registration area until the Academic Procession has been seated on stage at the commencement of the event. You will then be ushered to the Sports Hub to take your seats, and your name will be read out at the end of the ceremony.
Arriving late will impact your Graduation experience, as your name will be read out at the conclusion of the ceremony by the Executive Dean and we will be unable to have your name displayed on the screen.
Please note that if you arrive late and we are unable to accommodate you within the ceremony, you will not be offered a refund.
The official proceedings of UOW Graduation Ceremonies includes:
Ceremonies are expected to be 2-2.5 hours in duration.
* The smoking ceremony will be led by our Indigenous Community Leaders to welcome graduates, guests, and the academic procession. There will be adequate ventilation in place within the sports hub to ensure the health and safety of our students and community.
Ushers will direct graduates throughout the ceremony. When it is time to commence the presentation of awards, ushers will direct graduates as follows:
This information will also be provided to you again, upon registration on the day of your ceremony.
Please ensure you pause on stage for our professional photographer to take your photo after you have 'tipped your cap' to the Presiding Officer.
Stage photos will be available immediately after the ceremony for viewing and purchase in UniActive near the registration desk (building 13). If you would like to view and/or purchase your stage photos at a later time, a link will be available on the UOW website once all ceremonies are complete.
All ceremonies will be live streamed. A link will be available on the graduation website on the day of the ceremony.
Your academic dress must be returned to the gown returns area near the registration desk in UniActive (building 13) by the following times:
If your graduation gown is not returned by these times, you will be contacted by the graduation team and invoiced for the full cost of replacement.
At the conclusion of your ceremony, you and your guests are invited to join UOW dignitaries in the marquee outside of the Sports Hub to take photos, celebrate and enjoy some refreshments.
It's a good idea to organise somewhere to meet your guests as it will be busy.
UniBar will also be open after the ceremony if you'd like to continue the celebrations.
