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Graduation
- COVID-19 graduations update
- Eligibility
- Prepare for graduation
- On the day
- Conferral schedule
- Graduating in absentia
Graduating in absentia
Semester 2 graduation ceremonies update
As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, restrictions have been put in place for events in New South Wales. We are following advice from NSW Health and taking the necessary steps to help contain the spread of the virus and protect the health of our staff and students, and the broader community.
Due to our adherence to NSW Health guidelines, we have made the difficult decision that in person graduation ceremonies which were scheduled for Semester 2, 2021 will take place remotely.
We share your disappointment in not being able to celebrate at a traditional graduation ceremony, however, the safety and wellbeing of our graduates, their families, our staff, and our community is our highest priority. Find out more information on the graduations homepage.
If you’re unable to attend your graduation ceremony, you will graduate in absentia. This means the University will automatically put you forward for conferral, the process where you are awarded your award course at the University.
Your degree will be conferred on the date outlined in your graduation invite.
Receiving your graduation documents
If you RSVP ‘no’ in your invite, your documents will be posted to the preferred address nominated in your Sydney Student account. The documents will be posted within four weeks of conferral. You will receive digital access to your documents within 2 days after conferral.
If you do not RSVP to the invite, we will send your documents to the preferred address nominated in your Sydney Student account. Make sure your address is up to date at least a week before your graduation.
Request to graduate in absentia early
If you know in advance that you will not be able to attend your ceremony you may be able to have your degree conferred by requesting to graduate in absentia early. If you request to graduate in absentia, then you will not be able to attend a ceremony in Sydney.
Here are a few examples of where applying to graduate in absentia early may be of interest.
For graduates seeking professional registration (e.g. Vet, Dentist, Doctor of Medicine), job application, international students returning home, application for further studies, or a visa application.
We will send your documents to the address nominated in your request.
Eligibility
Before you request to graduate in absentia early, you need to have received your completion letter and paid any outstanding debts to the University.
All appeals need to be lodged before your degree is conferred. If you have lodged an appeal, you will need to withdraw from the graduation or conferral process until your appeal is finalised. Find out more information about the appeals process.
When you need to apply
Applications for 2021 are provided in the table below.
You can submit a request to graduate in absentia early through Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, then ‘Assessments’).
You need to submit your request by the request deadlines. We will confer your degree according to the date we receive your request.
Request received by |
Conferral date (this date will be printed on your testamur) |
|---|---|
| Monday 11 January 2021 | Monday 25 January 2021 |
| Tuesday 12 January - Monday 8 February 2021 | Monday 22 February 2021 |
| Tuesday 9 February - Monday 22 February 2021 | Monday 8 March 2021 |
| Tuesday 23 February - Sunday 21 March 2021 | Tuesday 6 April 2021 |
| Monday 22 March - Monday 26 July 2021 | Monday 9 August 2021 |
| Tuesday 27 July - Monday 23 August 2021 | Monday 6 September 2021 |
Last updated: 23 September 2021
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