Major Graduation

We hold our annual Major Graduation Ceremonies in May each year for all eligible graduands.

This is an important milestone in every student's journey and is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the achievements of all graduands.

The 2024 Graduation Ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th May 2024 at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

All eligible graduands will receive their invitation via email in 2024.

To ensure you receive further communication about your Graduation, please ensure your contact details are up to date via the Student Request Form.

For further information, please contact graduation@melbournepolytechnic.edu.au

Frequently Asked Questions

I did not receive my testamur

All eligible students will receive their testamur via My eQuals.

If you have any questions regarding your testamur, please submit your enquiry via the Student Request Form.

I need to update my personal details

To update your personal details please submit your enquiry via the Student Request Form.

Terminology

• Graduand A person who is eligible to attend their graduation ceremony and who is about to receive their testamur.
• Graduate A person who has successfully completed an academic course and who has been awarded their testamur.
• Testamur Your certificate of academic completion, a legal document, issued by Melbourne Polytechnic that states the name of your qualification and the area(s) of major study.
• Stole A decorative long shawl worn loosely over the shoulders by students for the purpose of denoting achievements in academics.
• Hood A hood shaped piece of apparel that is worn over the shoulders with the decorative section displayed on the back by students for the purpose of denoting achievements in academics.
• Gown A formal black gown with lose sleeves and of calf length which is traditional form of clothing for academic settings.
• Mortarboard A square academic cap consisting of a horizontal square board fixed upon a master students head, with a tassel attached to the centre.

Academic Dress

Melbourne Polytechnic has a long history of following the University of Cambridge academic dress graduation code. Every qualification which is awarded has its own distinct academic dress code in addition to having its own hood or stole which follows the colours of the school the graduand belongs to.

Diploma and Advanced Diploma

If you are graduating from a diploma or an advanced diploma, you will wear a black academic gown and a stole of your school colour. The black gown is worn over formal clothes with the front of your outfit visible and the stole is placed over your shoulders with the two long panels falling over your chest. One side of the stole is twisted to show the black underside while the coloured panel that remains flat faces the audience when crossing the stage.

Bachelor Degree

If you're graduating from a bachelor degree, you will wear a black academic gown and a hood of your school colour. The black gown is worn over formal clothes with the front of your outfit being seen and the hood is placed over your shoulders with the hood falling over your back. The hood is hooked onto your shirt button or pinned to a blouse or dress at your chest to secure it from the front.

Master Degree

If you are graduating from a master degree,  you will wear a black academic gown and a white striped hood of your school colour. The black gown is worn over formal clothes with the front of your outfit visible, the hood is placed over your shoulders with the hood falling over your back. The hood is hooked onto your shirt button or pinned to a blouse or dress at the chest to secure it from the front. You will also wear a black mortarboard which will have tassels placed on the right of the mortarboard and moved to the left upon receipt of your qualification.

Certificate I - IV

If you are graduating from a certificate I, II, III, or IV you will wear a black academic gown. The black gown is worn over formal clothes with the front of your outfit visible.

Gown sizes

Our black academic gowns are stocked in the following sizes: 

Academic Colours

Cylinders

When you walk across the stage to be awarded your qualification and congratulated by an executive of your school, you will receive a ceremonial cylinder which is yours to keep. The cylinder is for ceremonial purposes only and will not have your testamur inside. All eligible students will receive their testamur via My eQuals.

If you have any questions regarding your testamur, please submit your enquiry via the Student Request  Form.

International Graduands

International students who are looking to invite friends or family from overseas, or extend their own visa so that they can attend their ceremony should check with their visa contact or the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to see what information they require to apply for necessary visas. In the past many of our students have used their invitation once it is received, as it includes the date, location, time and purpose of the ceremony stated on it.

Please contact our international office if you need any help to figure out what you may need to do before attending graduation.

international@melbournepolytechnic.edu.au

Ticketing

Once you receive your invitation, you'll be asked to RSVP and this process will include the purchase of your graduand ticket. You can also purchase additional tickets for friends and family, you will find more information on additional ticketing when you receive your personal invitation.  

Photography

Event photography is available and you'll see photographers taking photos of the pre-ceremony atmosphere, the ceremony itself and the celebration afterwards. These photos will be made available to you after the ceremony date. Additional professional photographers will be available on the night of your ceremony to take set graduation photographs of yourself, your friends and your fellow graduands. Please note that these photos are not included in the graduation fee.

Our set photographer will have an empty cylinder to use as a prop for photographs so that they can be taken before the ceremony.

Ceremony

You will need to arrive early to register, collect and dress in your graduation gown and also participate in your ceremony run-through. Please allow at least four hours for the whole event while guests are typically invited for the ceremony only. All details regarding arrival times and duration will be in your information pack that is made available to you before your ceremony. The official graduation ceremony takes approximately two hours.