Attending your ceremony
Location
Parking
Arrival time and registration in Building EB
The Australian Graduate Survey
GradLife
Seat allocation
Regalia fitting
Guest tickets
After you've registered
The ceremony
Regalia return in Building EB
Graduation Services
Alumni and graduation feedback
Location
Sir Ian and Nancy Turbott Auditorium (Building EE) on the Parramatta campus, corner of Victoria Road and James Ruse Drive, Parramatta. For directions please visit the Parramatta campus page.
Parking
On-site yellow and blue parking is available at no cost on the day of your graduation ceremony. All parking rules displayed must be observed.
Arrival and registration in Building EB
You must arrive and register at Building EB no later than 1.5 hours before the beginning of your ceremony.
If you have not registered by this time, you may not be on the attendance list for inclusion in the ceremony.
Family and friends must wait outside building EB while you register. You will exit through the same door you entered.
Please note, you must have your Student ID card or another form of photo identification with you.
Registration includes:
- Completing the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS)
- Receiving your GradLife membership
- Receiving your seat allocation for the ceremony
- Being fitted with your regalia (hire and pre-made purchases only)
- Signing for your guest tickets
- Receiving your graduation bag, which includes:
- Graduation book
- Graduation day guide
- GradLife magazine
The Australian Graduate Survey (AGS)
The AGS is a notational survey which asks you to tell us about your plans for your career or further study. It also asks you to identify the aspects of your university experience that you value most. The results of the survey are used by UWS to identify areas of good practice and also aspects for further development. The survey will only take 15 minutes to complete.Please note: due to the short turnaround times for December ceremonies, students graduating in December will be sent the AGS via email after your graduation.
GradLife
UWS GradLife membership is free and open to all our graduates. During the registration process you will receive your UWS GradLife membership card. For more information on GradLife and Alumni benefits please go to the GradLife and Alumni benefits webpage.
Seat allocation
You will receive your graduation seat allocation and receipt of regalia return slip when you register. This slip includes the following details;
- Your seat number for the ceremony – this is allocated by your course and in alphabetical order. Unfortunately we cannot change where you are seated as your details for the announcer and documents have been sorted in this order
- Your ceremony number – to ensure you are in the correct ceremony
- The type of course you are graduating from – to ensure you are dressed in the correct regalia
- Return stamp – you will need to present this slip when returning your regalia and receive a stamp as proof of return
Please note: you must keep your Graduation seat allocation and receipt of regalia return on you at all times, as graduation staff will check your details to ensure you are fitted with the correct regalia and seated in the correct seat when you arrive at the auditorium.
Regalia fitting
After you have registered you will be fitted with your regalia by UWS staff members.
Please note: hired regalia must be returned no later than 45 minutes after the conclusion of your ceremony.
If you have purchased regalia please ensure you advise the staff in the gowning room before you leave. For more information about regalia please go to to the regalia webpage.
Guests tickets
You will receive a maximum of four tickets for your guests. No extra tickets are available by request under any circumstances.
If the guests of some students do not attend and there are extra seats in the auditorium for your ceremony, security will let additional guests in until these seats are filled.- Additional guests can view a live feed of the entire graduation ceremony. This is via a large screen located in the marquee adjacent to the auditorium
- Guests with tickets must be at the auditorium entrance door no later than 30 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony and will be seated shortly after
- Guests that arrive after the ceremony has commenced may not be admitted to the auditorium
- Due to fire regulations, prams are not permitted in the auditorium, however storage is available upon entry to the auditorium
- All guests are requested to remain in the auditorium until the ceremony has finished and the graduates have exited
- Children over the age of two must occupy their own seat and count as a guest for ticketing purposes
- Tickets are not replaceable if lost
After you’re registered
Once you have completed the registration process, you will meet your family and friends outside building EB, exiting through the same door you entered. You can then make your way to the auditorium and hand out your guest tickets to your family and friends.
Graduands (you) must enter the auditorium 30 minutes before your ceremony starts so you can be seated in the correct seat and watch a short demonstration on how to cross the stage. Please note, if you’re running out of time, photos can be taken after your ceremony.
Doors will open for guests once all graduands have been seated.
The ceremony
The ceremony will be held in Auditorium Building EE and will take approximately one to two hours
During your ceremony you will be asked to stand as graduands and your award will be conferred. You will then be called, row by row to await individual presentation in sequence. A UWS staff member will complete a final check of each row. It is important that you remain in your allocated seat to ensure your name is called in the correct order.
On the day, we will provide you with a demonstration of the protocol for receiving your award.
When you cross the stage you will be presented with the below items:
- Testamur – which includes your name, course and level of award. Approved key programs appear on testamurs, but majors and sub-majors only appear on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS)
- AHEGS (Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement) – which includes information about your award, academic results, course details, special awards or achievements and information about the Australian higher education system. The statement will be in addition to your testamur
If you are unable to attend your ceremony due to illness or misadventure, you will graduate 'in absentia' and your testamur and AHEGS will be posted to you after the ceremonies have taken place. If you require a refund for your graduation fees, you must email the Graduations team at graduations@uws.edu.au with the following details:
- Student ID
- Name
- IP order number (iPay receipt)
- Date of payment
- Reason for refund
- Amount paid
Please note: A fee applies to graduate in absentia. This fee will be deducted from your graduation fee payment and you will be refunded the remaining amount owing to you.
Regalia return in Building EB
Out of respect for your fellow graduating students requiring regalia hire, you must return your regalia no later than 45 minutes after your ceremony. You must present your GradLife card and seating allocation and receipt of regalia return slip. This slip will be stamped as proof that you returned your regalia – you need to keep that slip for 30 days in case any issues arrive. Charges will be incurred if you do not return regalia within this time, or at all.
Alumni and graduation feedback
Alumni services will facilitate your ongoing involvement in the university community. After you graduate, UWS Alumni will send out an email asking you to update your details so they can stay in touch, as well as to fill in a short online feedback survey for your chance to win a $100 Event Cinemas Gold Class gift voucher courtesy of UWS Alumni.
