Graduation Ceremonies
Proceedings
Your graduation ceremony will commence with the entry of the academic procession into the Courtyard. The Presiding Officer for your ceremony (either the Chancellor, the Deputy Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor) is the last member of the procession to enter the Courtyard. The Presiding Officer is preceded by the Mace Bearer who carries the University Mace – the symbol of his or her authority.
When the members of the academic procession have taken their places on the dais, the musical group will play Advance Australia Fair. All male Graduands should remove their trencher for the National Anthem. It is not compulsory for female Graduands to remove their trencher. At the conclusion of the National Anthem, the audience resume their seats and the ceremony will be formally opened with a brief welcome.
The Academic Registrar will then introduce the graduand who will give the graduate address.
Following the graduate address, the Presiding Officer will thank the speaker and the admission to degrees will follow.
The Academic Registrar will ask all graduands to stand; he will testify that the Academic Senate of the University has certified that you have completed the requirements for the award of your degree or your diploma. The Presiding Officer will then, by the authority conferred on him or her by the Council of the University, admit you to the degree or diploma for which you have qualified. At this point, you become a graduate.
Each graduate enters the dais from the northern side and is presented individually to the Presiding Officer, in the order set out in the printed graduation program, by the Head of their Division (or the Divisional Head’s nominee). The Presiding Officer will say a few words to you and shake your hand. A photograph is taken of each graduate at this point.
You collect your testamur as you leave by the ramp at the southern end of the dais before returning to the graduate seating area.
At our overseas ceremonies, you leave the dais by the centre stairs and collect your testamur at the foot of the stairs before returning to the graduate seating area.
At the end of the presentation of the graduates, there is a brief musical interlude.
At some ceremonies, awards for outstanding teaching and/or honorary degrees are presented at this point. At other ceremonies, the Occasional Address immediately follows the musical interlude.
At the conclusion of the Occasional Address, the Presiding Officer will speak briefly before the Academic Registrar closes the proceedings.
The Presiding Officer, accompanied by the Occasional Speaker and preceded by the University Mace will lead the academic procession from the dais. The graduates join the academic procession which moves from the Courtyard along the North Colonnade of Building E7B to the Eastern Terrace of the U@MQ Building where light refreshments are served for you, your guests and the dais party.