Process
Nomination
Completing the Graduation Nomination form
To expedite your graduation process, please complete a Graduate Nomination form (.pdf, 72KB) once you have completed your course requirements.
Invitations
Completing all the requirements
It is your responsibility as a student to ensure you have completed all the requirements for your course before you are eligible to graduate. This may mean ensuring all exemptions or any Recognition of Prior Learning applications have been processed by your faculty for the course you are completing. This process does not happen automatically; you need to apply for exemption by completing an Application for Exemption, Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer form (.pdf, 52KB).
If results are outstanding you must ensure these are completed in the semester before you graduate. For example, students who graduate in May will usually have completed all the requirements for their course by December of the previous year. Those graduating in October will have completed the requirements in June of the same year.
To enable this process to be completed efficiently you are invited to complete a Nomination to Graduate form (.pdf, 134KB).
Your invitation
All students who are eligible to graduate will be sent an invitation to attend the next ceremony. Students will also be sent a Final Academic Record, listing their subjects and grades, and stating that the student has completed all the requirements and is eligible to receive the award. In relevant courses the specialisations will also be included.
Invitations will be sent from the Information Centre about six weeks before the ceremony date. Invitations are sent out in batches from this initial date with a sending date recorded. If your eligibility is processed late you will receive your invitation on a later date than this. Check with your faculty early to ensure you are eligible to graduate.
You can elect to attend the ceremony or receive your award in absentia which means you do not attend the ceremony.
Please respond to this invitation by logging into My Student Info and checking that all of your details are correct.
We require a response from all students as to whether you are attending the ceremony or not as this also confirms your personal details are correct.
For further queries regarding your Invitation please email graduation@cdu.edu.au or call the Information Centre on 1800 061 963.
Outstanding debts to the university
Any student with outstanding fees, loans or accommodation debts to the university will not be sent an invitation to the Graduation Ceremony. A letter will be sent advising of the debt with a request to pay immediately if they wish to attend the ceremony. Payment can be made at the Cashier in the Information Centre or by credit card by telephoning 08 8946 7191.
A student who does not complete payment will not be sent their Academic Record, Certificate of Completion or Testamur until the debt is cleared. If you have any queries regarding outstanding debts and completing your course, please contact the Information Centre on 1800 061 963.
Tickets
Guest tickets
Students who elect to attend the ceremony will be able to request up to three guest tickets for family and friends. Children over two years of age will require an individual ticket. Tickets will be sent out about three weeks before the ceremony with information about proceedings on the night and gown hire. Where people do not use all their allocation some spare tickets may be available for graduands wishing to include other guests. Please contact the Information Centre as soon as possible to reserve spare tickets; these will be distributed about a week before the ceremony date.
Gowns
Gown hire
Students participating in the ceremony are required to wear academic dress. Those who are receiving a certificate wear a gown, those receiving a diploma, a gown and stole, bachelor degrees and higher degrees, a gown, mortar board (trencher) and hood. Gown hire is processed on the night of graduation in the gowning area. A fee is charged, currently $20 per item hired and a returnable $50 deposit on all items.
Testamurs
The certificate or testamur is produced for the Graduation Ceremony and will be presented to you on the night if you are attending or sent out by registered mail two weeks after the ceremony date if you are not attending. You can also collect your testamur from the Information Centre in the week after the ceremony. On collection you will be asked for identification such as a drivers license, and to sign for collection. If you are collecting on someone's behalf you will need a letter from that person authorizing you to collect their testamur. If there are any errors on the testamur please contact graduation staff as soon as possible after the ceremony or contact the Information Centre to organise a replacement.
Graduation checklist
The following are things that you can do to help you with graduation and ensure the ceremony runs smoothly:
- Return all paperwork promptly and by the due date. Late acceptances to attend the ceremony will hinder ticketing and may mean that you cannot be seated with your peers.
- Ensure that we have your correct mailing address.
- Ensure that we have your name correct and in the correct format. The name that appears on your invitation is what will appear on your testamur.
- Please let us know, even at the last minute, if you are unable to attend. This will assist us with the smooth running of the ceremonies.
- Ensure that you arrive early and register at least an hour and a half prior to the commencement of the ceremony.
- Remain in your allotted seat as seating will be arranged in the order in which you will be called to walk across the stage.
- Please move quietly and promptly when your row of graduates is called to come forward.
- Please move quietly and promptly back to your seat after receiving your testamur to avoid congestion along the aisles.
- Respect other Graduands and remain in your seat until the ceremony is finished.