Three graduates laughing inside arched hallway.

Graduation day

Everything you need to know about your graduation ceremony.

Graduation venue

All graduation ceremonies will take place at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens.

  • 15-to-20 minute walk from the Parkville campus
  • Easy to reach by public transport
    • Trams, trains, and buses
    • Check the map for more details
  • Parking available at Melbourne Museum
  • This is a sustainable event, please bring along your own water bottle
  • You will need to scan your ticket for entry to the venue.

Ceremony schedule

Select your ceremony start time:

Take note of key timings like where to register, collect your regalia and when to arrive for your ceremony – this will help your day run smoothly.

You must arrive on time for registration and gowning.

Accessibility and support

If you or your guest would like help during the ceremony, please advise the Graduations team when you RSVP or at least 3 days before your ceremony to discuss yours or your guests needs.

  • Please see the venue map for accessible entries, lift access, and bathrooms
  • An AUSLAN interpreter interprets all ceremonies
  • Hearing loops can be collected from the information booth at the Nicholson Street entry
  • Ceremony stage access is via either:
    • Three steps or;
    • Ramp with a gradient of 1:14 (DDA compliant)
  • Wheelchair friendly regalia is available
  • Accessible parking
    • Available in the Melbourne Museum car park
  • All gender, accessible toilets are available
    • Including baby changing facilities
    • They are located on the ground floor next to the public restrooms.

Venue access

Please enter the venue when the doors open (check your ceremony schedule for times).

  • Ushers will be there to help you
  • All bags must be checked by security on entry, large bags can be cloaked at the information desk
  • Please see the venue map for accessible entries, lift access and bathrooms.

Ceremony seating

  • Ushers can help seat you and your guests first if you:
    • Use a wheelchair, walker, frame or cane
    • Are vision impaired
    • Find crowded spaces challenging
    • Please make sure you make yourself known to our ushers on the day so that we can assist you and your guests in a timely manner.

Your regalia

When you arrive, head to the regalia collection point, register and get gowned.

  • Please present your graduate ticket when you come to collect your regalia
  • The person gowning you will make sure your gown and hat are the right size
  • Our graduation team will also arrange your regalia properly before you cross the stage
  • Please return the regalia to the collection point within two hours after your ceremony ends
  • You cannot return regalia during the ceremony.

During the ceremony

Graduation ceremonies are important events. They celebrate a key milestone in our students’ lives. Every graduate should take a moment to think about what they achieved during their studies.

To keep the ceremony on time, please abide by the following rules.

Etiquette

  • We encourage you to celebrate our students, applause is welcome. Please be mindful of all students and allow each of them to enjoy their special moment
  • Follow the terms and conditions, rules and protocols
  • Stay in your seat until the ceremony ends.

Photography

  • All guests and graduates are asked to remain seated. Photography is welcome! Just be mindful of others. Avoid blocking their view or experience
  • Graduates, you are not permitted to take your phone on stage.

On-stage presentation

  • Do not bring items onto the stage
  • Exception: Necessary accessibility items.

Please note: violating these rules will result in:

  • No official on-stage photo
  • Exclusion from the official event video.

Facilities

Ushers can help locate:

  • Bathrooms
  • Parents' room
  • Quiet room.

Remember:

  • Be respectful throughout the entire ceremony
  • Stay seated even after your on-stage moment. All Graduates must remain in their allocated seat for the duration of the event.

Your moment on stage

Bachelor/Master degrees

  1. When it's almost your turn to cross the stage, a staff member will guide you from your seat to the presentation spot on the stage
  2. All personal items must be left at your seat, you will need to take your presentation tube on stage
  3. They will call your name, and you will come forward to be presented as a new graduate
  4. To acknowledge the Dean or presenting officer, “doff” (nod and pinch the front of your trencher)
  5. We will take a photo of you after you greet the presenting officer
  6. Exit the stage via the highlighted stairs and return to your seat.

How to graduate (Bachelor and Master degrees)

PhD and higher doctoral degrees

PhD and higher doctoral graduates join the academic procession at the start of the Graduation ceremony.

Please refer to specific information for PhD and higher doctoral graduates, including:

  • Ceremony schedule
  • The academic procession
  • Your time on stage.

PhD and higher doctoral graduates

Photography during the ceremony

  • Once you enter the venue for the ceremony, you can only take photos from your seat. This way, you won't disturb other guests
  • University photographers will capture photos of each graduate on stage
  • These will be available for sale after the ceremony
  • The venue will not allow other professional photographers in.

Post-event celebrations

  • At the conclusion of the ceremony you will be led to the post-event celebrations
  • The post-event celebrations include refreshments for you and your guests
  • It will begin as soon as your ceremony has finished and will last for one hour
  • This is a chance to celebrate with your guests and fellow graduates
  • You can also take photos around the venue.

Guests

  • The Royal Exhibition Building requires tickets for guest seating
  • Please note that seating is not allocated
  • All bags must be checked by security on entry
  • Large bags can be cloaked at the information desk.

Children and babies

  • We recommend that children and babies do not attend the ceremony due to the length and formal nature of the proceedings
  • If children attend, a carer other than the graduate must supervise them
  • Carers can exit and enter the venue with their children as needed.

Terms and Conditions

Please see the terms and conditions of entry. These apply to both graduates and guests.

More graduation information

Find out more about graduation fees, what to wear and services available on graduation day.

Help and support

Graduation ceremonies

  • Conferral: The Conferral is the date your course is officially complete, and you become a graduate of The University of Melbourne. Your conferral date is listed on your official Graduation documentation. This process takes place before the Graduation ceremony and occurs automatically on set dates. You won't be able to attend a Graduation ceremony unless you have been officially conferred.

    Graduation Ceremony: The Graduation ceremony is the date the University holds a public celebration of the successful completion of your course. It marks a significant milestone in your academic journey, providing you with an opportunity to celebrate with your friends, family and peers.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended) Enquiry

  • After you've received your final results and completed your course, you'll receive an email confirming your official conferral date (this date will appear on your testamur).

    After your degree has been conferred, you'll be invited to the next available in-person graduation ceremony. You can view the current graduation schedule here.

    Please note, Stop 1 can’t confirm the date of your conferral or graduation ceremony until it has been made available by the Graduations team. Stop 1 also can’t confirm when you’ll graduate if you haven’t completed your course yet.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended)Visit us (recommended)Enquiry

  • It's not possible to join a Graduation ceremony after the deadline to RSVP to your invitation. However, you can request to be included in the next ceremony round if you haven’t already postponed your attendance at a ceremony for more than 12 months. Please submit an enquiry to the Graduations team to request an invitation to the next ceremony round.

    View Ceremony dates.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended) Call us Visit Stop 1

  • If you have RSVP'ed to attend an in-person graduation ceremony, you will be emailed by our Graduations team in the lead-up to your ceremony with further details on how to book your tickets and regalia. Please continue to monitor your student and personal inbox for this correspondence.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended) Enquiry

  • Due to limited availability, these tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Once any extra allocation is exhausted, there will be no more tickets available. Find out more about graduation fees and tickets here.

    You can book these tickets online via the Reed Graduations website.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended) Enquiry

  • You’re unable to change your Graduation ceremony date once you’ve been allocated to a ceremony. However, you can:

    Postpone your attendance:

    Respond to your invitation link before the RSVP deadline to postpone your ceremony for up to one year. If you miss the deadline or need to change your response later, you can submit an enquiry to the Graduations team.

    Please be aware of the specific Graduation ceremony rounds, as you may not be able to postpone your ceremony an additional time.

    Exceptional Circumstances:

    If you have exceptional circumstances for why your ceremony date needs to be changed, you can submit an enquiry to the Graduations team for consideration. Please note, reasons such as employment, study, or wishing to attend the same ceremony as friends will not be considered.

    Refund for Non-Attendance:

    If you don't attend the ceremony on your registered date and have purchased tickets, you will automatically receive a refund if you don't check in on the day of your graduation. Please allow 5 business days after the final ceremony of the graduation round for your refund to be processed. Any additional guest tickets purchased are not eligible for a refund.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended) Enquiry

  • Please submit an enquiry to the Graduations Office below to request a change to your ceremony attendance response.

    Please note that if the deadline has passed to secure your place in a ceremony, it may not be possible to change your response in order to attend.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended)

  • You must have your degree officially conferred before being eligible to attend a graduation ceremony.

    If your conferral has been deferred, you will not receive a graduation ceremony invitation until that conferral happens.

    Please submit an enquiry to the Graduations team below to have your degree conferred.

    Conferral dates usually take place at the end of each month.

    Check conferral dates

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended)

  • The Graduations team does not send invitation letters to guests. Invitations are only sent to graduating students.

    For further assistance, contact Stop 1.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended)

  • If your visa is not granted in time, you can submit an enquiry up to one day before the ceremony to cancel your attendance.

    If you’ve already paid the ceremony fee, your payment will be automatically refunded after the graduation ceremony round concludes.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended)