Graduation ceremonies during COVID-19
The University’s response to the COVID-19 crisis is consistently guided by two priorities: to safeguard the health of our members and the general public, and to ensure continuity of our educational mission especially for students. Graduation ceremonies are occasions where large groups of people gather together to celebrate the success of students. Attendance of graduating students and their guests will be determined in the weeks prior to each upcoming graduation ceremony, depending on any restrictions on public gatherings that may be in place at that time.Attending your graduation ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate your academic achievement and we strongly encourage you to select and attend a ceremony.
Checklist to prepare to attend your graduation
Once you have been approved to graduate by the University’s Academic Board, you will receive an email inviting you to:
- Register for your graduation ceremony (select the date).
- Select “attend” in the attendance section
- Check your full legal name with your College.
- Check your email and postal addresses are correct with your College.
- Ensure you have no outstanding tuition fees or library fines and outstanding loans.
A few weeks prior to the graduation ceremony date you will receive an email inviting you to confirm your attendance at the ceremony. This correspondence will include ceremony-specific information and instructions for regalia, guest tickets, photography and what to expect on the day.
What to wear
If you are attending the ceremony to receive your award, you must wear the correct Academic Dress (Regalia) for the award you are receiving, regardless of any other awards you may already have. Anyone not wearing the correct academic dress will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. What you wear under your regalia is up to you, but as this is a formal occasion we encourage you to choose suitably smart attire.
You can hire or purchase the regalia for your award from Reed Graduations. See Academic Dress (Regalia) for more information.
Punctuality
Those who arrive later than the assigned time on the day of the ceremony will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony in person and will receive their academic documents by mail. The graduation ceremony is a formal academic occasion. Check your ceremony-specific information for the arrival time. Consider traffic and other delays when planning your arrival.
Photography
Photographs are taken of each graduand as they receive their award from the Chancellor (termed ‘stage photos’).
If you attend the Melbourne ceremony, the photographs are taken by Reed Graduation Services and will be available for purchase after the ceremony and online afterwards through the Reed Graduations website. Reed Graduation Services also offer graduands the opportunity to book portrait studio photos. These may be booked in advance and are generally taken in a studio at the graduation venue, prior to the ceremony.
If you attend the Adelaide or Perth ceremony, stage photos will be available following the ceremony via a link emailed to you from the University, as Reed Graduations are not able to service these locations.
Guest Tickets
Melbourne
Each graduating student is initially allocated two guest tickets, which can be booked online through the University of Divinity. Bookings will open by 1 March. You will receive an email with a link to book guest tickets. There is no cost for guest tickets. If there are spare seats available, additional tickets will be made available on the Monday prior to the ceremony.
Note: A guest ticket restriction applies to the Melbourne ceremony only, due to the large number of graduands and guests who attend this ceremony. The Melbourne ceremony is live-streamed to allow family and friends to watch who may not able to attend the ceremony due to the restriction.
Adelaide
Guest tickets are not required for the Adelaide ceremony.
Know what to expect on the day
Make your graduation day as enjoyable as possible by taking the time to read what to expect on the ceremony day.
Get help and advice
Help with booking regalia and photography
Contact Reed Graduation Services: 1300 361 806
General enquiries
Contact your College Registrar or email graduation@divinity.edu.au