Most graduation ceremonies run along this plan.

Getting Seated and Ceremony Information

• The doors to the ceremony venue will open 60 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
• Students should be at the doors promptly ready to be directed to their seats.
• Students and ticketed guests should be in the venue and seated no later that 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time (Doors to the ceremony venue will close at this time)
• Before the ceremony starts the Chief Usher will deliver a safety announcement and give instructions on what happens in the ceremony.

Award Presentation and speeches

• The ceremony begins when the congregation stand and the academic procession enters to take their seats onstage.
• The President will open the ceremony and invite the Vice Chancellor/PVC to speak.
• At the end of their introduction, the Vice Chancellor/PVC will invite the University orator to present graduands.
• The Orator will announce the awards and prizes. At some ceremonies honorary awards are also made. Honorands may make a short speech of acceptance.
• Students (graduands) are presented by course, in alphabetical order. A group of ushers will assist you to be in the right place at the right time. It is important to stay in your seat order while waiting to be presented.
• Graduands walk across a stage and doff their hat to the officials on the stage (e.g. Vice Chancellor/PVC, President and Guest of Honour). Once you have been presented please go directly back to your seat. Prizes will be announced after all awards.
• The Orator will introduce a member of the Students' Union to give a Valedictory speech. This concludes the awards presentation.
• The President will introduce the Guest of Honour, and invite them to speak.
• After the Guest of Honour's speech the President will close the proceedings.

Exiting the venue and refreshments

• The academic procession will file out, followed by the students. Guests are asked to wait until all students have left and then they will be invited to file out to join their graduates for after ceremony refreshments.

We encourage you to whoop, cheer and applaud your fellow graduates as they cross the stage!

Ceremonies usually last 1 hour and we advise graduands and guests to factor this in before entering the ceremony venue.