When you have completed, or have fulfilled the requirements of your qualification, you're eligible to graduate.
You can choose to graduate at a graduation ceremony or have your qualification granted in absentia, and then posted to you. Below are the things you need to know about graduating at Victoria.
On this page:
Contacts
If you have any queries about graduation ceremonies or how qualifications are granted contact the Graduation Office.
Graduation Office
Phone: 0-4-463 5389
Fax: 0-4-463 5424
Email: graduation@vuw.ac.nz
How To Apply For a Graduation Ceremony
Once you have completed your qualification or fulfilled the requirements of your qualification you will be sent an email about the graduation process. The email will give you instructions on how to apply to have your qualification granted.
It is important you keep your contact details in Student Records up to date and provide an alternative email address to your student email address.
You may apply to graduate in person at a graduation ceremony, or in absentia (in your absence) at a meeting of the University Council.
You must apply within 12 months of completing your qualification to attend either a graduation ceremony or graduate in absentia at a council meeting. Your qualification will be granted in absentia if the Graduation Office does not hear from you within 12 months.
If you do not receive an email about the graduation process, please contact your Faculty Student Administration Office.
Deferring Graduation
From 10 November 2008 all students must apply to have their qualification granted within 12 months of completing that qualification. If you would like to defer your graduation beyond 12 months you must choose to defer when completing the online graduation application form, or contact the Graduation Office.
Students will be required to provide the Graduation Office with valid reasons why a deferral should be approved.
If you are unsure about this please contact the Graduation Office.
About the Graduation Ceremonies
Ceremonies are held twice a year, in May and December, at the Michael Fowler Centre in central Wellington.
Which Graduation Ceremony do I take part in?
If you complete your qualification at the end of the year, you would normally graduate in the May ceremonies of the following year; if you complete mid-year, you would normally graduate in the December ceremonies. If you wish, you can apply to graduate at a subsequent ceremony as long as it is within 12 months of completing your qualification.
The Parades
These processions are a highlight of graduation celebrations and graduating students from all ceremonies are encouraged to take part. During graduation week staff and students parade in full academic dress through Wellington city, proceeding from the Law School, Old Government Buildings on Lambton Quay through to the Civic Centre.
To find out about the dates of the parades, please visit the graduation page specific to the time of year of your graduation ceremony – May or December.
Friends and Family
The number of friends and family you can invite to your graduation ceremony is limited due to space restrictions at the Michael Fowler Centre. You will be informed about the number of guests you can invite in the material sent by the Graduation Office six weeks before your ceremony.
Advance Graduation
Some students who complete a qualification at the end of the year can graduate at the December ceremonies of the same year. This is called advance graduation. Criteria for applying for advance graduation are:
- International students returning home.
- Students leaving the country to take up a scholarship overseas - supporting documentation must be provided.
- PhD and Master's students.
- All Māori students who have declared themselves as such on the student records system who wish to attend the Toihuarewa Faculty graduation at the Michael Fowler Centre. (Note: students are also eligible to attend Hui Whakapūmau - a celebration organised separately by the Marae.)
- Students facing exceptional circumstances – a written application outlining your circumstances must be made to the Manager of your Faculty Administration Office.
All applications for advance graduation for the December ceremonies must be received at the appropriate faculty office by 1 September and are subject to the conditions outlined above.
Contact your Faculty Student Administration Office for more information.
Students completing a qualification over the third or summer trimester and PhD and Master's students are also eligible to apply for advance graduation at one of the May ceremonies. You must apply by 1 February and your application is subject to the conditions outlined above.
Contact your Faculty Student Administration Office for more information.
Academic Dress
When taking part in any Victoria graduation ceremony you must wear academic dress, which consists of a gown; a hood or stole lined with the colour attributed to your degree, diploma or certificate; and a trencher (Bachelor’s and Master’s) or Knox Bonnet (PhD). Failure to wear the correct academic dress will mean that you will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. Your degree will therefore be conferred in absentia.
Embellishing your graduation regalia with garments of honour from your cultural tradition, such as a korowai or ta’ovala, is a welcome enrichment to the colour of the ceremony. These are worn under the hood or stole.
Academic dress for your graduation can be hired from Academic Dress Hire, which is owned by the Wellington Branch of New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women (NZFGW). NZFGW is a voluntary organisation of female graduates which focuses on education. Funds provided from the hire of academic dress are distributed for academic scholarships and other educational causes.
Academic Dress Hire
Room 109
Murphy Building
Victoria University
PO Box 600, Wellington 6140
Tel: 0-4-463 5022
Email: gown-hire@vuw.ac.nz
Dress Code for Graduation Ceremonies
Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and we request that graduands dress appropriately. Gentlemen are advised to wear a shirt and trousers. Ties are optional but the neckband for the hood fits perfectly under a tie. Ladies are advised to wear buttoned clothing to ensure you can attach your hood securely. For health and safety reasons all graduands must wear footwear inside the Michael Fowler Centre, and while crossing the stage to receive their award.
Hire Charges
The new Academic Dress Hire application form will be posted on the Victoria University website as of 1 October 2010.
| Item | Hire Charge |
|---|---|
|
Gown |
$35.00 |
|
Hood/Stole |
$15.00 |
|
Trencher |
$20.00 |
When hiring academic dress, a $60.00 refundable bond is required with all orders. The bond will be refunded when the academic dress is returned in good condition and within the allocated return times.
A receipt will be mailed to you within four weeks of your order being received at the Academic Dress Hire office. This will acknowledge your order and inform you of collection and return times.
To hire academic dress and/or purchase a hood/stole, please download and fill in the Academic Dress Hire Form below and return to Academic Dress Hire with your payment (including the $60 refundable bond) by 1 March for May ceremonies or 1 October for December ceremonies. Orders received without payment will not be processed.
Academic Dress Hire Form
This document requires Acrobat Reader.
| Academic Dress Hire Form | File size | File type |
|---|---|---|
 Academic Dress Hire Form |
479 KB |
Hoods and stoles may be purchased ready-made.
Purchase Prices
| Item | Purchase Price |
|---|---|
|
Bachelor Hood |
$90.00 |
|
Honours' Hood |
$95.00 |
|
Master’s Hood |
$70.00 |
|
Master's Stole |
$95.00 |
PhD graduates wishing to purchase full academic dress should contact Academic Dress Hire.
Roll of Graduates
Use the searchable online Roll of Graduates to check qualification details of people who have graduated from Victoria University of Wellington from 1998 onwards.
Flowchart of Graduation Process
- You can download the diagram below as an easy-to-print PDF:
The document requires Acrobat Reader.
| Graduation Flowchart | File size | File type |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Flowchart |
40 KB |
