July ceremonies
6. Graduation day guide
Graduation day is here! Before you cross the stage, here's what you need to do:
Before you leave home
Check your eligibility to graduate
Ensure you have met the following requirements:
- Completed all academic requirements of your program.
- Registered to attend your ceremony.
- Provided your Unique Student Identifier (USI) or USI Exemption.
The University of Queensland is not responsible for any inconvenience or costs that may be incurred in failing to complete your USI requirement.
For more information about providing your USI, please visit the USI website.
Dress code
Wear smart attire under your academic dress. This means; no shorts, t-shirts, thongs, joggers or other casual clothing or footwear.
It may help to know that your academic gown will be black and is worn open at the front. Your legs and forearms will be exposed.
What to bring
Make sure your guests have their tickets and that you bring your:
- student ID card (preferred)
- receipt from GFP Events.
A student ID card is not required to attend your ceremony, but you may be asked for your student number. If you do not have a student ID card, please ensure you know your 8 digit student number, and bring another form of government issued photo ID (e.g. drivers licence) with you on the day.
Keep in mind that there will be no cloakroom facilities available. Any other items or bags that you bring with you will either need to be left with your guests or carried into the ceremony.
Plan your arrival time
We recommend arriving around 2 hours before your ceremony start time. This will leave plenty of time to find the venue, collect your academic dress, take photographs and check in at graduand registration.
If you or your guests require special assistance, read the 'Venues and transport' section for more information about parking and recommended arrival times.
When you get to campus
Collect your academic dress
You'll need to pick up your academic dress on the day of your ceremony. Read the 'Academic dress' section for more information.
Check in at graduate registration
On graduation day, all students need to register in the UQ Centre Lecture Theatre.
Registration opens 90 minutes before the start of your ceremony. Registration closes when the graduate briefing begins, 45 minutes before the ceremony.
Attend the graduate briefing
All graduates must attend a compulsory briefing 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony in the Exhibition Hall. This briefing will cover the ceremony order of events and what you need to do during the ceremony. You'll be seated in order for ceremony proceedings. You will remain in the Exhibition Hall following the graduate briefing.
Please ensure your guests have their tickets prior to entering the UQ Centre for the briefing.
You're welcome to take photos with your guests prior to you taking your seat for the briefing. The briefing will commence exactly 45 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony to ensure doors for guests open on time.
If you're delayed for any reason, please report to a staff member as soon as you arrive.
Guest information
Venue doors open approximately 40 minutes before the ceremony start time. Your guests are welcome to wait outside the venue until then.
While waiting in the UQ Centre you might like to visit the Brewpoint Café. Brewpoint Café is located in the foyer of the UQ Centre.
For safety reasons, there are restrictions on where strollers and prams can be placed in the venue. See an usher for assistance.
No flash photography is allowed during graduation ceremonies.
During the ceremony
Each ceremony will run from 60–90 minutes and follows a set order of events.
Graduates will sit in allocated seating and follow the instructions of staff to cross the stage. Graduates will be presented with a cylinder on stage and have their photo taken by a professional photographer as they cross the stage.
Graduates will doff the Presiding Officer at the ceremony following the announcement of their name. The Presiding Officer will not shake hands. The tradition of doffing towards the Presiding Officer is common at graduation ceremonies and is demonstrated by raising your left hand to your mortar board or bonnet. A demonstration will occur during the graduate briefing.
During the ceremony, coursework students are given the following graduation documents:
- testamur (degree certificate)
- academic transcript.
HDR students and coursework students who have already had their award conferred will have already received these documents by post. Digital copies will also be sent to your student email via MyeQuals.
After your ceremony
Congratulations! You're officially a UQ graduate.
Following your ceremony, you and your guests are invited to attend a reception with light refreshments in the Great Court. More details will be advised on the day.
The following official suppliers will be on campus on graduation day:
- GFP Events — plaques and engraving
- GFP Events — official photography
- GFP Events — degree framing, ticketing and academic dress
- Patina Alumni Court — food and drink
- Brisbane Market Flowers — florist. (You can pre-order flowers using code UQGRAD23).
Return your academic dress
Remember to return your hired academic dress on time. See 'Academic dress' for more information.