PhD and higher doctoral graduates

Last Updated Friday 19th July

In addition to event details, ceremony livestreaming and merchandise, this page outlines event information specific to PhD and higher doctoral graduates.

PhD and higher doctoral graduates take part in the academic procession as part of the formal ceremony. Because of this, there is slightly different information for you to be aware of regarding your ceremony schedule, the academic procession and your moment on stage. These differences are outlined below.

Ceremony schedule

Select your ceremony start time to view the schedule for your ceremony. It is essential that you arrive on time for registration and gowning and attend the pre-ceremony briefing about the academic procession.

  • 10.00am ceremony

    7.30–9.40am

    Graduate registration and regalia collection

    You will scan your ticket and collect your regalia on the gallery level via door 2.

    Royal Exhibition Building is opened to graduates and guests and photography studios will be open during this period.  Graduates and guests must scan your seat tickets at the door.

    Graduates and guests enter via the Nicholson St entrance.

    9.20–9.25am

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients must check in at the briefing location by 9.25am. You will receive information about the briefing location via email in the lead up to the ceremony date.

    9.30am

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipient briefing. Our protocol team will brief you on the Academic Procession, receiving your degree and the recessional.

    9.40am

    Final time for graduates to be seated

    Please aim to be early: it is essential that you are in your allocated seat by this time or you will be excluded from the ceremony.

    Photography studios close at 9:40

    This service will close for the duration of the ceremony. They will reopen after the ceremony.

    9.40am

    Group photo

    A group photo of all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients will be taken.

    9.45am

    Academic Procession

    Our protocol team will order all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients for the Academic Procession.

    10.00am

    Ceremony commences

    The ceremony will run for approximately 90 minutes.

     

    Once ceremony concludes it is followed by post-event function

    Refreshments served upstairs on the gallery level (duration one hour).

     

    All hired regalia to be returned

    Hired regalia should be returned to the location from which it was collected no later than two hours post-ceremony.

  • 11.30am ceremony

    9.00–11.10am

    Graduate registration and regalia collection

    You will scan your ticket and collect your regalia on the gallery level via door 2.

    Royal Exhibition Building is opened to graduates and guests and photography studios will be open during this period.  Graduates and guests must scan your seat tickets at the door.

    Graduates and guests enter via the Nicholson St entrance.

    10.50–10.55am

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients must check in at the briefing location by 10.55am. You will receive information about the briefing location via email in the lead up to the ceremony date.

    11.00am

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipient briefing. Our protocol team will brief you on the Academic Procession, receiving your degree and the recessional.

    11.10am

    Final time for graduates to be seated

    Please aim to be early: it is essential that you are in your allocated seat by this time or you will be excluded from the ceremony.

    Photography studios close at 11:10am

    This service will close for the duration of the ceremony. They will reopen after the ceremony.

    11.10am

    Group photo

    A group photo of all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients will be taken.

    11.15am

    Academic Procession

    Our protocol team will order all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients for the Academic Procession.

    11.30am

    Ceremony commences

    The ceremony will run for approximately 90 minutes.

     

    Once ceremony concludes it is followed by post-event function

    Refreshments served upstairs on the gallery level (duration one hour).

     

    All hired regalia to be returned

    Hired regalia should be returned to the location from which it was collected no later than two hours post-ceremony.

  • 4.00pm ceremony

    1.30–3.40pm

    Graduate registration and regalia collection

    You will scan your ticket and collect your regalia on the gallery level via door 2.

    Royal Exhibition Building is opened to graduates and guests and photography studios will be open during this period.  Graduates and guests must scan your seat tickets at the door.

    Graduates and guests enter via the Nicholson St entrance.

    3.20–3.25pm

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients must check in at the briefing location by 3.25pm. You will receive information about the briefing location via email in the lead up to the ceremony date.

    3.30pm

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipient briefing. Our protocol team will brief you on the Academic Procession, receiving your degree and the recessional.

    3.40pm

    Final time for graduates to be seated

    Please aim to be early: it is essential that you are in your allocated seat by this time or you will be excluded from the ceremony.

    Photography studios close at 3:40pm

    This service will close for the duration of the ceremony. They will reopen after the ceremony.

    3.40pm

    Group photo

    A group photo of all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients will be taken.

    3.45pm

    Academic Procession

    Our protocol team will order all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients for the Academic Procession.

    4.00pm

    Ceremony commences

    The ceremony will run for approximately 90 minutes.

     

    Once ceremony concludes it is followed by post-event function

    Refreshments served upstairs on the gallery level (duration one hour).

     

    All hired regalia to be returned

    Hired regalia should be returned to the location from which it was collected no later than two hours post-ceremony.

  • 5.00pm ceremony

    2.30–4.40pm

    Graduate registration and regalia collection

    You will scan your ticket and collect your regalia on the gallery level via door 2.

    Royal Exhibition Building is opened to graduates and guests and photography studios will be open during this period.  Graduates and guests must scan your seat tickets at the door.

    Graduates and guests enter via the Nicholson St entrance.

    4.20–4.25pm

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients must check in at the briefing location by 4.25pm. You will receive information about the briefing location via email in the lead up to the ceremony date.

    4.30pm

    		PhD/higher doctoral degree recipient briefing. Our protocol team will brief you on the Academic Procession, receiving your degree and the recessional.

    4.40pm

    Final time for graduates to be seated

    Please aim to be early: it is essential that you are in your allocated seat by this time or you will be excluded from the ceremony.

    Photography studios close at 4:40pm

    This service will close for the duration of the ceremony. They will reopen after the ceremony.

    4.40pm

    Group photo

    A group photo of all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients will be taken.

    4.45pm

    Academic Procession

    Our protocol team will order all PhD/higher doctoral degree recipients for the Academic Procession.

    5.00pm

    Ceremony commences

    The ceremony will run for approximately 90 minutes.

     

    Once ceremony concludes it is followed by post-event function

    Refreshments served upstairs on the gallery level (duration one hour).

     

    All hired regalia to be returned

    Hired regalia should be returned to the location from which it was collected no later than two hours post-ceremony.

Academic procession

At the beginning of the formal ceremony, an academic procession takes place where university dignitaries enter the venue and march together wearing traditional regalia. As a PhD or higher doctoral graduate, you will be part of the procession along with your supervisor (if they have indicated they would like to take part during the invitation process).

During the ceremony

After entering the hall with the procession, you will be invited to take your allocated seat. Seating information can be found on your ticket. Graduation staff will guide you when it is your turn to be presented on stage.

Your moment on stage

  1. When it is your turn to be presented, you will be ushered from your allocated seat and directed towards the presentation point on the stage.
  2. Your name will be called.
  3. Acknowledge the Presiding Officer with a 'doff' (nod and pinch the front of your hat).
  4. A short citation of your doctoral thesis will be read by the Academic Board Officer at the lectern – smile, you’re on the big screen while this is happening!
  5. Walk to the Presiding Officer (the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of the ceremony) waiting centre-stage.
  6. Pose for a photograph with the Presiding Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor and exit the stage as directed by graduation staff.
  7. As you exit, 'doff' to the Academic Board Officer at the lectern in acknowledgement and return to your seat.

All graduates are to remain in their assigned seat until the end of the ceremony.

Academic recessional

At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates will stand and join the academic recessional, following the university dignitaries and academics along the aisle and up to the post-event celebrations.

Post-event celebrations

The post-event celebrations include refreshments for you and your guests. It will commence as soon as your ceremony has finished and will last for one hour. This is an opportunity to celebrate with your guests, supervisor and fellow graduates as well as take photos around the venue.

Back to Graduation Day