How to graduate

You've come to the end of your course. Now what? Here's everything you need to know about receiving your documents and registering to attend a graduation ceremony, as well as what to do if you won't be attending a ceremony or wish to defer.

The graduation process

Before you can graduate, you need to complete critical checks of your name and course and then register to let us know whether you'll be attending a ceremony, not attending or deferring.

Each step below is important and needs to be completed by the deadline to ensure you're able to graduate and attend a ceremony.

1. Course completion

Course completion is the process of getting your subjects and results checked to make sure that you have completed all of the requirements of your degree.

You may be identified as potentially eligible for course completion during your final semester of study. A confirmation email will be sent to you and your transcript will be sent to your Course Coordinator to check that you have met the requirements of your degree.

If you have not received an email and intend to complete your course, then you must apply for course completion during your final semester of study.

Course completion deadlines apply. Check the Important Dates.

2. Prepare to Graduate

Once you've received confirmation that you are course complete, you will need to complete the Preparing to Graduate form through Student Connect. This step requires you to:

• Check your name and degree are correct for graduation.
• Request the release of your graduation documents by confirming and updating your mailing address and personal email.
• Indicate whether you plan to attend your graduation ceremony.

Deadlines apply. Check the Important Dates.

Semester 2 Instructions for Ballarat, Brisbane and Canberra Students

Graduation ceremonies are not held in Ballarat, Brisbane or Canberra in Semester 2.

If you would like to attend the next available ceremony in these locations in 2025, you must complete the Preparing to Graduate form and indicate your intention to attend a ceremony. Completing this form will then give you access to ceremony registration, where you can select to defer attending your graduation ceremony for 6 months. Only students who complete the Preparing to Graduate form will be eligible to attend graduation.

Hardcopy testamurs will be posted after conferral in September 2024. We recognise that graduation documentation is often required for employment and further study, and we want to provide you with this documentation as soon as possible. Receiving your testamur does not impact your ability to participate in a ceremony in 2025.

See If you're deferring for more information.

3. Ceremony Registration

Graduates who complete the Preparing to Graduate form and indicate their intention to attend a ceremony, will also need to complete the online ceremony registration.

Ceremony registration opens in March for the Semester 1 ceremonies and August for the Semester 2 ceremonies. An email with instructions will be sent to graduates when the form opens. Ceremony registration is compulsory and includes paying the ceremony fee and ordering guest tickets and academic dress.

The response options within the graduation registration form are:

• Attend a 2024 Semester 2 graduation ceremony. Ceremonies are held in Melbourne and Sydney only in Semester 2. Ceremonies are held in Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney in Semester 1 each year.
• Defer attendance to a future semester. Allowed for a maximum of 12 months after graduation.
• Not attend a graduation ceremony.

Ceremony registration deadlines apply. Check the Important Dates.

Attending your ceremony

Graduation is a special day to share with family and friends. So that you can relax on the big day, prepare in advance by finding out:

• the schedule of upcoming ceremonies
• how to order your guest tickets
• how to arrange your academic gown
• what time to arrive
• what happens on the day.

Learn more about your graduation ceremony

If you're not attending

Even if you don't plan on attending your graduation ceremony, you'll still need to submit the Preparing to Graduate form in Student Connect after completing your course. This allows you to check your name and degree are correct before your award is conferred and request the release of your official graduation documents.

If you're deferring

If you would like to defer your ceremony, you'll still need to submit the Preparing to Graduate form in Student Connect when you complete your course. There is a question on the form that asks you to indicate whether you wish to attend your graduation ceremony. You must select YES when answering this question.

Then, when you later complete the Ceremony Registration form, you'll have the option of selecting the future semester in which you would like to attend a ceremony. You can choose to attend one of the graduation ceremonies held in the 12 months after you graduate.

You'll receive an email to your personal email address from our Graduations Office about two months before your nominated ceremony, confirming your attendance and finalising payment of the ceremony fee. If your contact details change, please email the Graduations Office.

If you are attending a deferred ceremony, you will have already received your testamur (see Receiving your testamur). You can bring your testamur to your ceremony if you would like to be presented with it on stage. Please ensure that you provide it to graduation staff at the ACU Help Desk no later than 90 minutes before your ceremony. Testamurs that are framed, laminated or photocopied documents cannot be included in the ceremony proceedings.

Receiving your testamur

You will receive a hardcopy and a digital testamur (graduation certificate) after your degree is conferred. Check the Graduation - Important Dates for the release schedule.

Your digital testamur will be issued through the My eQuals portal to your personal email recorded in Student Connect.

If you are attending a ceremony, you will receive your hardcopy testamur at the ceremony. If you are not attending or choose to defer, you will receive your testamur via registered post to your mailing address recorded in Student Connect. Testamurs are posted after conferral of awards.

Testamurs are sent by registered post to your mailing address recorded in Student Connect. Registered post requires a signature upon delivery. If nobody is available to sign for your testamur, Australia Post will require you to collect your parcel from your local post office. The parcel will only be held at the post office for 7 working days, after which it will be returned to sender. If your parcel is returned to the Graduation Office, a re-posting fee of $15 (domestic) or $25 (international) will be charged for any subsequent postage requests.

It is your responsibility to ensure your mailing address and personal email are correct in Student Connect. If you are an international student returning home to an overseas address, please make sure that all address fields in Student Connect are entered correctly and include a city and a country.

2024 Semester 2 Graduation - Important Dates

Why are there two conferral rounds?

We know that accessing your graduation documents as quickly as possible is important to you. Having two conferral rounds means that we can issue your official digital graduation documents much closer to when you finish studying. These documents can be used for employment and further study opportunities.

Students from both conferral rounds (July 2024 and September 2024) are eligible to attend our Semester 2 graduation ceremonies in October 2024. Ceremonies are held in Melbourne and Sydney only in Semester 2.