Wollongong ceremonies
Congratulations - the day is finally 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.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we worked through the details surrounding the venue change for your graduation ceremony in May. We can now confirm that May graduation ceremonies will be held in the Sports Hub on the UOW Wollongong campus.
We can confirm that the current schedule of ceremonies will not change, and ceremony dates and times are the same as originally advised.
Registered graduates have been sent an email with more information. The information below has also been updated to reflect the change in venue.
Graduates are required to bring identification (eg. drivers licence, student card) which will be sighted at the registration desk.
Any graduates who indicated they already have a graduation hat (trencher or bonnet) is asked to also bring this along on the day.
A graduation ceremony is a formal occasion with smart casual wear being the minimum standard for graduates and their guests.
Please keep in mind:
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.
To minimise parking congestion, graduates are encouraged 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.
For students who have indicated they have accessibility requirements, parking will be made available to you in the carpark under the Sports Hub – you will have been contacted directly about this.
Please arrive at the university with plenty of time to register, dress in your academic dress, and take photos.
Doors will open for guests at 9am
Doors will open for guests at 2pm
Graduates who arrive after the close of registration may not be able to be accommodated.
Graduates are required to wear the approved University of Wollongong academic dress 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, for graduates to keep.
Graduates who wish to purchase academic dress for graduation 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.
For those graduates who choose to purchase academic dress, 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 graduation fee.
Graduates have been sent an email with information about guest tickets. Tickets will be available for collection at registration on the day of the ceremony - you are no longer required to pre-book your tickets.
Children requiring a seat during the ceremony will need a ticket. Infants (under 3) can sit on an adult's lap during the ceremony.
Any additional guests are invited to watch the ceremony via live stream.
We are more than happy to accommodate special seating requirements, or any mobility or disability issues, including vision or hearing needs.
Graduates who submitted their accessibility requirements via the online form do not need to submit anything further. The graduation team will be in touch with those students who require accessibly seating.
If any of your guests require accessibility seating, please contact the graduation team via graduation@uow.edu.au as soon as possible so arrangements can be made.
The UniShop has a great range of graduation gifts, flowers, cards and University of Wollongong memorabilia. You can shop online or in-person on the day. The UniShop sell special graduation teddy bears wearing academic dress which are popular amongst our graduates and are a great keepsake.
Reed Graduation Services will have professional photo studio sessions available on the day of your graduation at the WEC. 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. Pre-booking via the website is preferred.
If you pre-booked a professional photography session at the WEC, your booking will not change. Reed Photography will be setup within UniActive (building 13) next to the Sports Hub.
It’s the moment every graduate has been waiting for and wants to remember. Reed Graduation Services understands the importance of capturing your momentous moment in time with one of our stage images.
For pre-event discounts contact Reed Graduation Services.
Stage images will be available immediately after the ceremony for viewing and purchase in the WEC foyer.
Reed Graduation Services offer a wide variety of frames and mat options which are perfect to proudly display your certificate 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 contact 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 contact Reed Graduation Services.
The safety of our staff, graduates, students and community is paramount. All graduation ceremonies will adhere to Public Health Orders at the time of the ceremonies, and visitors are required to follow to any COVID Safe protocols in place at the venue.
Visitors to UOW campuses are currently not required to show their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Face masks are required, however NSW Health strongly recommends you wear a face mask if it is hard to maintain safe physical distance from others.
If you are a household or close contact, you are encouraged to avoid large or crowded indoor gatherings and must wear a mask when you are in an indoor setting (unless you are exempt).
Face masks will be available for graduates upon request at the registration desk. All guests attending a graduation ceremony will need to provide their own face mask.
The wearing of face masks is subject to Public Health Orders at the time of the ceremonies and requirements may change.
We ask that you stay home if you’re feeling unwell or have flu like symptoms, including a cough, sore throat and/or temperature.
Please email graduation@uow.edu.au if you can no longer make your ceremony on the day.
On arrival, graduates are to make their 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 do not accompany graduates to the registration desk – we suggest graduates arrange to meet their guests outside the Sports Hub after completing registration.
At the registration desk graduates will:
| Morning ceremony | Afternoon ceremony | |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | 7.30 am | 12.30 pm |
| Registration closes | 9 am | 2 pm |
| Start time | 9.30 am | 2.30 pm |
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, however your name will be read out at the end of the ceremony.
Academic dress
UOW staff will select the appropriate academic dress for each graduate and help put the garments on. If you are an Honours graduate, please advise staff.
Once dressed and ready, graduates can meet their guests and take photos before the ceremony begins.
Graduates must be seated in their allocated seat at least 20 minutes before the ceremony (unless you are told otherwise during registration).
It is essential that graduates sit in their 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.
Ushers will direct graduates throughout the ceremony process as follows:
Graduates with accessibility requirements will be notified at registration if any alternate arrangements are in place for them to access the stage.
We expect each ceremony will go for approximately 2.5 - 3 hours.
A professional photographer will take photographs of you as you 'tip your cap' to the Presiding Officer. Stage images will be available immediately after the ceremony for viewing and purchase in UniActive near the registration desk (building 13).
All ceremonies will be live streamed. A link will be available on the graduation website on the day of the ceremony.
All graduates and guests are invited to join UOW dignitaries for canapés and drinks in the marquee outside the Sports Hub after their ceremony.
It's a good idea to organise a meeting point for you and your guests.
Graduates will be able to take photos at the media walls setup in the marquee as well as around our beautiful campus.
Your academic dress must be returned to the gown returns area near the registration desk in UniActive (building 13) by the following times:
Below you'll find a list of dining options available to graduates in and around Wollongong. A range of on campus dining options are also available.
Wollongong offers convenient accommodation options for all budgets from luxury ocean view rooms, comfortable family suits or beachfront cabins. Take your pick:
