FAQs

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Q. Do I need to apply to graduate?
A.Only students who fall into one of the three categories below need to submit an Application for Conferring of an Award by the due date (31 March for July graduation/31 August for December graduation):

• If you are enrolled elsewhere on a Cross Institutional or Exchange basis or otherwise need to have credit transferred to your current award. If you are in this category and wish to graduate you must also arrange to have an official transcript of results from the host institution forwarded to your home College (Program/Prescribed Authority at ANU) together with a request to have the status recorded by 1 June for the July graduation session or by 1 November for the December graduation session.
• Students who have applied to have credit transferred to their current program.
• If you are not enrolled in the semester immediately proceeding the graduation ceremony. (Semester 1 for July graduations and Semester 2 for December graduations)

See the Eligibility & Application section for more information

Q. When will I know if I am approved to graduate?
A. If you have received a "conditional" invitation, you must check ISIS after results are released.

Q. Under what circumstances will I not be able to graduate?
A. If you have late results, outstanding fees/rent or other money owing to the University you will not be able to graduate until the matters are finalised.

See http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/graduation/eligibility_&_application/index.php for more information

Q. What do I do if I’m made Not Eligible to Graduate?
A. If you are made "Not Eligible" to Graduate due to late or unresolved grades you will not be eligible to graduate in the current session. Please note that if you are appealing a grade, which may affect the overall level of your award, you will not be permitted to graduate unless the appeal can be resolved at least five days before the first graduation ceremony. If any corrections are made to your graduation eligibility after results are released, your name and/or changes will not appear in the Conferring Program.
If your graduation status changes from "Conditional" to "Not Eligible" and you believe your academic area has made an error, you must contact your academic area by close of business on 9 July. The Graduation Office cannot change your graduation status without written authorisation from the academic area.

Q. Do I have to respond to my Graduation Invitation if I am not attending a ceremony?
A. Yes. If you do not return your Response to Invitation, your award will not be conferred and you will not receive your testamur. 

Q. Can I have my award conferred now and attend a ceremony later?
A. Yes. If you have had your award conferred 'in absentia' at the most recent ceremonies or between then and the next round of ceremonies, you are eligible to attend a graduation ceremony. Interested students must submit a Previously Graduated Student: Ceremony Attendance Application to the Examinations and Graduations Office. Please ensure you read all information on this form to ensure you are eligible.

If you only require proof that you have completed prior to graduation, you can request a letter of completion from your College Administration Area. You can also order a transcript with your "approved" status showing which proves you have completed the requirements of the award.

Q. I don’t want to graduate this semester/until I finish my honours; what do I do?
A. You may defer your graduation up to 12 months. When you receive your Graduation Invitation, fill out the Response to Invitation Form, marking the “Deferred” section, and return the form by the due date.

See http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/graduation/preparation_for_graduation/index.php for more information

Q. How much does it cost to graduate?
A. There is no charge to attend the ceremony for either the graduand or guests. However, there is a fee for the academic dress hire. On graduation days, you may purchase optional photographs, frames, and memorabilia.

Q. How do I find out my ceremony date and time?
A. Refer to Ceremony dates.

Q. I can’t find my degree in the ceremony date and time tables – what do I do?
A. Only double degree programs are listed in the tables. Single degree programs (example Bachelor of Arts) will be awarded in the ceremony represented by their academic area. Refer to Ceremony dates.

Q. How do I arrange extra guest invitations?
A. All graduands who indicate they are attending the ceremony will be guaranteed two (2) guest invitations.  You can apply for up to 3 additional guest invitations by entering the ballot on http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/graduation/preparation_for_graduation/index.php  The ballot will open when invitations are sent out and close on the same day the Response to Invitation is due. You will be notified by email the week before the ceremonies if you have been successful in obtaining additional guest invitations.

There is no guarantee that extra tickets will be available as ticket numbers depend on the number of students who are eligible to graduate after the release of final results.

Student MUST enter the ballot in order to receive additional tickets. Contacting the Graduations Office will NOT result in tickets being allocated.  

Q. Where do I pick up my guest invitations?
A. Guest invitations for the 11th and 12th December ceremonies must be collected from the ANU Information Centre, Union Court on the date indicated on your checklist for your graduation ceremony. 
If you cannot pick up the invitations on these days, you can pick them up from the Llewellyn Hall ticket office 1 hour before your ceremony.  No invitations will be issued in the last half hour prior to the ceremony.
To collect invitations you will need to show photo identification. If you are collecting guest invitations on behalf of another student, you must have written authorisation from that student with you when you collect the guest invitations.  The authorization should include the name and student number of the student graduating, the ceremony date and time and the full name of the person collecting the tickets.

Q. How do I order my academic dress?
A.  Academic dress is hired (or purchased) from the ANU Union.
Fill out the Academic dress hire form and return it to the following address by the due date indicated on the form, together with the hire charge:

ANU Union
The Australian National University
Canberra, ACT, 0200

Q. How do I put on my academic dress?
A. There will be staff available to help you gown when you pick up your academic dress and at Llewelyn Hall.

Q. What do I wear under my academic dress?
A. Most people choose to wear smart casual clothes on graduation day, however, this is your day and we encourage you to express your individual style and personality and wear what you feel most comfortable in.

See http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/graduation/eligibility_&_application/index.php for more information

Q. If I do not attend the ceremony, when will I receive my testamur (certificate)?
A.If you have elected to be conferred 'in absentia' your testamur will be sent to you after the ceremony by registered mail (within Australia) or by courier (outside Australia). You should allow 6 weeks after the date of the ceremony to receive your testamur.

Q. How do I obtain a transcript of my results?
A. Graduating students will receive 1 free copy of their transcript with their testamur.  

For additional copies, or copies required before you receive your testamur, you will need to fill out an Application for Transcript of Academic Record and submit it to Student Administration Services, Pauline Griffin Bldg #11.

Q. I have lost my testamur (certificate). How do I get another?
A. You may apply for a replacement if the original is lost, damaged or destroyed. Refer to Replacement Testamur section for details of letter, statutory declaration, and payment methods.

Q. How long will I be able to use email/ISIS/library and other services?
A. Your access to all services will cease on the last day of the month following your graduation ceremony. Example if you graduate in December, your access will cease on 31 January.

You can continue email service by signing up for an Alumni ongoing email account.