Your graduation ceremony

Finishing your degree is a big achievement. Your graduation ceremony is a chance to celebrate all the hard work you’ve put in to complete your course. 

Learn all you need to know about attending your ceremony, including dates for upcoming ceremonies, how to arrange guest tickets and what to do if your guests are travelling from overseas.

Graduation Ceremony dates

Graduation ceremonies are held in Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney in Semester 1 (March - May), and in Melbourne and Sydney in Semester 2 (September - October).

If you finish your course in a semester when your campus doesn’t hold ceremonies, your award will be conferred soon after your course completion. Conferral at ACU occurs in December, March, July and September and each conferral period has its own unique deadlines. You can then choose to attend a ceremony at your home campus within 12 months of your conferral – see If you’re deferring for more information.

Upcoming ceremonies

Our graduation ceremonies run in accordance with all relevant state and territory COVID-Safe regulations, which may include mandatory vaccination and wearing masks indoors for all attendees. The nature of the pandemic has meant that government regulations and public health orders can change rapidly. ACU continues to monitor and abide by all public health orders. The safety and wellbeing of our graduates, their families, our staff, and our community is our highest priority.

The Semester 1 graduation ceremony dates are below.

View our live stream ceremonies 

2023 Semester 1 - Graduation Ceremony Schedule

*NOTE: Bachelor of Nursing graduates are spread over multiple ceremonies in Sydney and Melbourne. Ceremony allocations can be viewed when graduation registration opens in Student Connect.  

Graduation Mass

Complete your graduation experience by attending Mass with your family and fellow graduates, celebrated in Ballarat and Canberra. It’s a great opportunity to give thanks before the graduation ceremonies, and all are welcome to attend.

Find out dates, times and details about the Mass

Ceremony fee and guest tickets

The fee to attend your graduation ceremony is $165 (incl. GST), which includes: 

• your attendance at the ceremony
• the cost of your academic dress hire
• guest tickets* (as a graduate, you do not require a ticket) 
• light refreshments after the ceremony.

*Guest ticket numbers will be informed by graduate numbers and capacities at each venue. Further information will be provided to graduates when ceremony registration opens in late March 2023.

To learn more about paying your ceremony fee, organising your guest tickets and arranging additional ones, visit the page below.

Find out more about ceremony fees and guest tickets

Graduates with special needs

If you’re attending a ceremony and have special requirements relating to mobility, sight, hearing impairment or cultural practices that may impact your ability to cross the stage, simply answer ‘yes’ to the special requirements question when you complete the Ceremony Registration form  in Student Connect. The graduations office will then contact you to discuss your needs in detail.

To ensure appropriate arrangements can be made, it is essential you let the graduations office know no later than four weeks before your ceremony.

International guests

The Confirmation of Graduation for International Guests is used when you have international guests that require confirmation of your course completion and graduation for Australian immigration purposes. You can apply by submitting the online form once you are officially approved as ‘course complete’. You will receive an email with the letter attached as a PDF.

Academic dress

Not sure how to organise your academic gown for the big day or what your faculty colour is? Our academic dress page explains it all to you.

Learn more about academic dress

What happens on the day

Not sure what to expect during your graduation ceremony? We’ve put together a guide that walks you through your graduation day. 

It contains important information such as what time to arrive, what your guests should do, and when the official photographers will snap your big moment.

Read what to expect on your graduation day

Live streaming ceremonies

We live stream the graduation ceremonies so your friends and family can share the experience.

Watch the graduation ceremonies streamed live