Your graduation day

1. Reserve your tickets
   As part of your graduation fee, you can register for up to 3 tickets for your guests. You’ll receive an email with details on how to claim guest tickets in the lead-up to your graduation ceremony. Children are welcome and infants who do not need their own seat do not require a ticket.
   

2. Accessibility
   If any of your guests require special assistance, please contact UNSW Graduations before your ceremony.
   

3. Getting to UNSW
   Please plan ahead and allow enough time to get to the venue for your ceremony. Public transport options include the Light Rail and Buses. If you’re driving, limited parking is available.
   
   

4. Arrival and ceremony times
   Graduates should arrive:
   - 2.5 hours before ceremony: Academic dress collection opens
   - 45 minutes before ceremony: Graduates must arrive and register at their ceremony venue
   - 30 minutes before ceremony: All graduates should be in the correct academic dress, registered and seated for their ceremony
   
   Guests should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the graduation ceremony start time to find their seats.
   

5. Collect your academic dress
   If you're hiring academic dress, you can collect these from your ceremony venue at the allocated collection times on Graduation day. Please follow the ‘Academic Dress Collection’ signs.
   
   For all Graduates attending a ceremony at Sir John Clancy Auditorium, please collect from The Pavilions, opens in a new window.
   
   You should arrive at least 1 hour and 30 minutes before your ceremony to allow time to be fitted in your academic gown. See more information on Academic Dress.

6. Registration and briefing
   You must arrive and register at the venue at least 45 minutes prior to your ceremony. The registration desk is located inside your ceremony venue. You must be gowned, registered and in your allocated seat 30 minutes before the ceremony starts.
   
   Graduation staff will explain graduates' participation in the ceremony. You must follow the instructions of staff during the ceremony. Please leave all your belongings with your guests prior to registration.

1. Seating
   Graduates are in allocated seats to ensure they cross the stage in the correct order. If you are a graduate and require special seating arrangements, please contact UNSW Graduations as soon as possible.
   
   Guest seating is general admission. If your guests require special seating, please contact UNSW Graduations. Prams are not permitted inside the auditorium because of fire and safety regulations. They can be left in the cloakroom in the auditorium foyer.
   
   

2. Order of events
   Ceremonies run for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Ceremonies begin at 10.30am, 2:30pm and 6:30pm. Graduation ceremonies typically follow the below structure:
   
   - Announcement of the members of the official party
   - Academic procession enters
   - National anthem
   - Chancellor’s welcome
   - Graduates invited to the stage one-by-one to accept their testamur
   - Guest speaker
   - Vote of thanks
   - Academic procession retires

1. Celebrate with us!
   You and your guests will be invited to enjoy some light canapés and refreshments after the ceremony outside the main entry of your ceremony venue. Here, you’ll be welcome to take photos, purchase merchandise and mingle with your fellow graduates and their families.
   


2. Return your academic dress
   Once you've graduated and had your photograph taken, return your academic dress to The Pavilions. Please follow the Academic Dress Return signs.
3. Graduation services
   Services such as portrait photography, degree framing, plaques, gifts and UNSW merchandise are available on graduation day.
   
   Arc @ UNSW
   Academic dress, flowers and memorabilia
   View website, opens in a new window 
   
   Silver Rose Photography
   Family and portrait photography is available before and after the ceremony in the Matthews Pavilions.
   View website, opens in a new window
   
   Ambassador Productions
   Digital stage photographs, ceremony video download and graduation Plaques. Each graduate will be emailed a link to a live stream and ceremony recording.
   View website, opens in a new window
   
   Jackson Frames
   Get your testamur framed after graduation.
   View website, opens in a new window
   
   UNSW Gift Shop
   Purchase UNSW gifts and merchandise.
   View website, opens in a new window

Parking is limited at UNSW Kensington campus. We encourage graduates and guests to take public transport. If you’re travelling to UNSW via the Sydney light rail network, please use the L2 Randwick light rail line and disembark at the UNSW High Street stop. There are also multiple express bus services available.

Car Parking

All day and short-term is parking available at UNSW close to the Sir John Clancy Auditorium venue. See Kensington Campus Parking Map (PDF).

• For morning graduation ceremonies during term, we recommend that graduates and their guests use public transport, as parking is limited on campus and in surrounding side streets.
• For afternoon and evening ceremonies there is some parking in surrounding streets, although some restrictions apply.
• Parking is free from 7.30 pm to 7.30 am the following day on weekdays, all day on weekends and public holidays.

All-day meter parking is available on campus at the top level of Botany St carpark. Enter through Gate 11 Botany Street and park on level 6. Payment is required on arrival and can be made through Pay-by-Plate meter or by downloading the CellOPark App.

Limited short-term meter parking is also available at:

• Gate 11 entry (4P max 4 hours)
• Gate 8 entry (2P max 2 hours)
• Western Campus Carpark (near NIDA)
• and on ground-level outdoor parking areas.

Payment is required on arrival and can be made through Pay-by-Plate meter or by downloading the CellOPark App.

UNSW is committed to disability inclusion and ensuring that graduation ceremonies are a milestone that can be enjoyed by all.

Sir John Clancy Auditorium has unobstructed and flat access. The foyer and auditorium have a hearing loop. Accessible and assisted listening seating can be arranged inside the auditorium for graduates and guests.

Closed captioning will be available at your graduation ceremony. Please ask staff on the day for assistance with accessing closed captioning services. 

There are some steps to negotiate for graduates crossing the stage, but an access ramp is also available if required. Please notify Graduation staff if this is required.

For disabled parking options close to the Sir John Clancy Auditorium ceremony venue, there are a small number of disabled parking bays available if you enter through Gate 9 on High Street and immediately turn left. More mobility bays are available in the open carpark at Gate 11 on Botany Street.

More information on accessibility in venues can be found here.

Maps showing accessible routes, accessible parking, accessible toilets and more can be found on the maps page.