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.
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.
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.
Graduates who have submitted accessibility requirements for both themselves and their 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.
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.
Graduates are required to wear the approved University of Wollongong academic dress over their 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, for graduates to keep.
When selecting what you're going to wear, keep in mind:
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 to arrive by 8:15am
Late arrivals may not be able to be accommodated.
Graduates to arrive by 1:15pm
Each graduate is allocated up to four (4) guest tickets for their graduation ceremony. Graduates will be given their guests tickets at the registration desk on the day of your 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 can not provide anymore that four (4) tickets per graduate - no additional tickets will be available. 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.
Graduates can indicate their accessibility requirements (or guests accessibility requirements) via the online registration form.
If requirements were not advised via the registration form, 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 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. 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 Reed Graduation Services website is preferred.
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 within UniActive (building 13) next to the Sports Hub.
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.
Graduates need to arrive by the specified time.
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.
When graduates arrive at registration they will:
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 will receive their program booklet at registration. This will be marked with your name and allocated seat number.
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.
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.
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 not 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 askuow@uow.edu.au if you can no longer make your ceremony on the day.
It is highly recommended that graduates 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.
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 2022 UOW Graduation Ceremonies includes:
Ceremonies are expected to be 2-2.5 hours 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:
This information will also be provided to you again, upon registration on the day of your ceremony.
A professional photographer will take a photograph of you as you 'tip your cap' to the Presiding Officer. These images 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 November ceremonies are complete.
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 in the Marquee outside of the Sports Hub. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
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:
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.
