Preparing for graduation day

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Preparing for graduation day

RSVP to graduate

You will be sent an invitation to your graduation ceremony by email. When it arrives:

1. Login to the registration portal below to:

  • RSVP as attending or graduating in absentia if unable to attend
  • Purchase guest tickets
  • Hire your cap and gown
  • Purchase photography and framing packages

2. Check that both the spelling of your name and the wording of your award title are correct. If you need to make changes to your name, submit a Change of Name form. If you need to make changes to your award, let the Student Centre know before the change of name and award deadline

3. Should you or your guests need accessibility assistance at the venue, let us know as early as possible by emailing your name, ceremony details, number of guests and the type of assistance you need to the Student Centre.

Reed Graduations portal

Unable to attend?

If you are unable to attend graduation, please RSVP as in absentia through the Reed Graduations portal.

Even though you won't be present, your name will appear in the booklet for the Conferral of Awards ceremonies held on that day.

You will have an option to collect your testamur and academic transcript from the Student Centre (see contact details) the week after graduation. Students must present valid photo identification to collect the testamur. Students may also provide authorisation for someone to collect a testamur on their behalf through a Third Party Authorisation form (PDF, 231KB), sent to the Student Centre with a copy of the graduate's ID.

If you don’t collect your documents from the Student Centre, we'll contact you via email to confirm your mailing address. We will then courier the documents to your address (couriers can't deliver to post office boxes). You should recieve them in 6-8 weeks post graduation.

Guest tickets

As a graduand, your place at both the ceremony and the reception afterwards will be free – but you’ll need to purchase tickets for your guests. Guest tickets need to be purchased through the Reed Graduations portal. Guest tickets allow entry into both the ceremony and the reception.

Guest seating isn’t allocated. The ceremony can last up to two hours, so it may not suit children under 5 years. Children under 2 are free, but a ticket will need to be purchased for children from the age of 2 and over. If a guest of yours requires accessibility seating, please reach out to the Student Centre.

If you or your guests are unwell and unable to attend, refunds will be available only up until 2 weeks after Graduation. Please contact the Student Centre for a refund and ensure you provide supporting documentation with your request. Refunds may take up to 4 weeks to be processed.

Am I ready to graduate?

You can find UC's graduation eligibility criteria and checklist on MyUC.

View on MyUC

Academic dress

The University of Canberra's academic dress is a Cambridge-style black gown and hood with a coloured lining, worn over your clothes, and a mortarboard cap or bonnet. The colour of your hood reflects the full-time length of the course you've completed.

Attending your graduation ceremony in the correct academic dress is very important. You won't be able to graduate if you’re wearing the wrong coloured gown or cap. The University of Canberra won't accept any responsibility if you choose to hire or purchase your gown from someone other than Reed Graduations.

You will need to return your academic dress one hour after the ceremony.

Types of gowns

Diploma/Undergraduate Certificate

Gown: Black
Hood: Black with turquoise blue lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on left-hand side

Associate Degree (2 year)

Gown: Black
Hood: Black with green lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on left-hand side

Bachelor Degree (3 and 3.5 year)

Gown: Black
Hood: Black with red lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on left-hand side

Bachelor Degree (4 year)

Gown: Black
Hood: Black with maroon lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on left-hand side

Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate

Gown: Black
Hood: Black with gold lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on right-hand side

Master Degree

Gown: Black
Hood: Royal blue with horizon lining
Headwear: Black trencher with tassel on right-hand side

Doctor of Philosophy

Gown: Royal blue with gold facings
Hood: Royal blue with horizon lining
Headwear: Black bonnet

Doctor of the University

Gown: Royal blue with gold facings
Hood: Royal blue with gold lining
Headwear: Black bonnet

Login to the Reed Graduations portal below to hire your cap and gown.

Reed Graduations portal

Photography and framing

Reed Graduations is the official photographer for the University of Canberra’s Conferral of Awards ceremonies and will photograph you and your fellow graduates after the Chancellor hands you your award certificate (testamur).

You can purchase this photograph and commemorative photographic packages online before or on graduation day. If you’d like Reed Graduations to frame your testamur, you should order and pay for this service in advance. You’ll need to give them your testamur after the ceremony and pick it up once it's been framed.

Personal, self-arranged professional photography and/or filming are prohibited.

Login to the Reed Graduations portal below to book your professional photography and/or framing packages.

Reed Graduations portal
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Contact us

UC Graduations
Student Centre, Building 1
Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm

Student.Centre@canberra.edu.au
1300 301 727

Email us