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Graduation
On the day
Your graduation ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate your academic achievements with your invited guests and fellow graduates. Held at our Great Hall, you'll be presented with your testamur and hear from inspiring academics and fellow graduates.
You're invited to attend a reception in The Quadrangle with your guests at the conclusion of your ceremony.
Before your ceremony begins
Science Road, on the western side of the Great Hall, is closed to general traffic. Please consider this when collecting your gown and arriving for your ceremony. We suggest using the University Avenue entrance, on the northern side.
There will be a drop-off zone on Science Road for graduates and guests with accessibility needs. Traffic staff will be on-site to provide directions.
Getting to campus
To allow enough time to collect your academic dress and register, arrive 90 minutes before your ceremony.
We recommend using public transport or taxis as your first option for getting to campus. Alternatively, metered parking is available at the University. The most convenient place is in the Shepherd Street carpark building.
Seating
You will need to be seated in your assigned seat at least 15 minutes before the ceremony commences so you can be briefed on ceremony procedures. It’s important to sit in your allocated seat as this is the order in which your name will be read out.
If you have personal belongings, leave these on your chair as you will be returning to your original seat after walking across the stage.
Arriving
The Great Hall will be open an hour before the ceremony. When you arrive, you'll need to show your digital tickets at the door.
If you didn't register for your digital tickets, you can visit the helpdesk in the graduation marquee.
Guests
Guests can enter the Great Hall half an hour before the ceremony commences.
Non-ticketed guests are welcome to watch the ceremony live stream from the Courtyard Restaurant and Bar located in the Holme Building, and join us after the ceremony in the Quadrangle.
Cloakroom
Check in bulky items, including flowers and balloons, with our complimentary cloakroom service. You’ll find us in the graduation marquee.
Academic dress
You can collect your academic dress from the USYD Store in the Holme Building. The University of Sydney Union (USU) will send you an email ahead of your ceremony, requesting you book a time.
Collection times vary, but generally:
- 9.30am ceremony - appointment times will commence at 7.30am
- 12pm ceremony - appointment times will commence at 9.30am
- 2.30pm ceremony - appointment times will commence at 12pm
Before you leave the University grounds, and no later than one hour after your ceremony, you will need to return your academic dress to the Nicholson Museum. The trencher hat is yours to keep.
Dress standard
You'll wear full academic dress appropriate for your degree or diploma. This comprises a gown, bonnet/trencher cap, and hood or stole.
Each degree or diploma has its own colour or combination of colours.
When wearing academic dress, it is important that the tassel on your trencher remains on the left side when preceding to the dais to receive your testamur.
What to wear underneath
We recommend you wear clothing that is neat, smart and comfortable. You’ll need shoes that are suitable to walk on both the marble floor in the Great Hall as well as on The Quadrangle grass. Thongs, shorts, t-shirts, jeans and ripped clothing are not considered appropriate.
The gowns can be quite heavy, so we recommend removing suit jackets and other additional layers before your fitting.
Proceedings
Ceremony
Your ceremony will take around 90 minutes and involves the following:
- Organ recital
- The academic procession enters the Great Hall, the assembly standing
- Welcome to graduands and guests
- The occasional address
- Students receive their testamurs
- Conclusion of the ceremony
- The academic procession retires, the assembly standing
- Carillon recital
Reception
You and your guests are invited to join us for a reception and light refreshments after your ceremony.
- Exit the same way you entered, turn right and be guided by our ushers to the location of catering.
- You can meet your guests on the lawns of The Quadrangle.
- Photos, framing and plaque sales will be available in the MacLaurin Hall which is adjacent to The Quadrangle.
- University merchandise will be available at a pop up store located in The Quadrangle.
When called to receive your testamur
When it's time for you to receive your testamur, your name will be called by the presenting Dean. Proceed to the dais, where you’ll receive your testamur on stage from the Chancellor (or delegate). Once the photograph of you and the Chancellor (or delegate) is complete, take a step back and salute the Chancellor (or delegate). Then turn and walk down the stairs to take your new seat with direction from the return seat usher.
Gifts and memorabilia
Photography, framing and plaques
Professional photographers and videographers will capture the moment of your graduation. You can book photography, view and buy photographs as well as order frames and plaques from GFP EVENTS both before the ceremony and on the day.
Within 3 business days after your graduation ceremony, you will be able to download a free copy of your digital stage photo. Go to grads.gfp.com.au, select ‘already graduated’, then ‘find your stage photo’ and select your graduation date and time from the dropdown menu. Select ‘View your photo’ and then scroll to find your photo. At the checkout, you will need to enter your student ID number to download your photo for free.
Souvenir programs
If you'd like to purchase a printed souvenir program, these are available for $6 from the cloakroom (we accept card only).
If you've already pre-purchased a program, you can collect this from the USYD Store on the day of your ceremony.
Personalised video clip
A video of the moment you receive your testamur on stage will be available to purchase one hour after your ceremony. These are professionally shot from multiple angles and include your name and University logo. You can purchase a single video or a pack of three in different social media formats on the Gradcut portal.
Gift shops
If you’re looking to purchase a lasting souvenir, visit the USYD Store located in the Holme Building or our pop-up shop located in The Quadrangle cloisters. You can also shop online through the USYD Store.
The Chancellor’s Committee Gift Shop, located under the Clocktower in the Quadrangle, also has a range of jewellery, clothing, books, stationery and graduations bears.
Last updated: 16 May 2025
