Graduation

Role of Graduation Section

The Graduation Section of Student Administration is responsible for the planning, preparation, coordination and staging of the University's graduation ceremonies and the administration of the graduation of students.

There are three graduation evaluation periods (GEPs) per year, during which University staff assess eligibility for graduation. The GEPs commence on the first working day after the official Certification of Results date for each term.

All assessment must be finalised prior to the Certification of Results date for the term that is recorded as the expected graduation term (EGT).

Following each GEP, graduates will be notified of their eligibility and provided with information about obtaining graduation documents and dates, times and locations of graduation ceremonies.

Student Responsibilities

Students must be aware that it is their responsibility to:

Testamurs will not be released until all debts to the University have been finalised, in accordance with the University's Collection Policy.

Addresses will be downloaded from e.rolment on the first working day after each GEP. After this date, students must ALSO advise the Graduation Section of any change of address. CQU does not accept responsibility for any official communication that fails to reach a student who has not followed the above procedure.

Students who do not correctly maintain their EGT information on e.rolment may not be identified as eligible to graduate in that term's graduation evaluation period.

Change of Name

Students who wish to change their name details on the University's records must write to the Manager, Student Records, providing a specimen of their former and current signatures and supporting certified documents.

Where changes are made after each term's Confer Date, students must ALSO advise the Graduation Section of this change. Testamurs will be printed according to the University's Student Records System and a fee will apply for any reprints required for name changes.

Where a name change occurs after the presentation/collection of a testamur, this change may not be printed onto the testamur.

Graduation Ceremonies

Graduation ceremonies are held in various locations each year and attendance is optional. The Schedule of Graduation Ceremonies can be found on CQU's website, together with relevant deadlines for attendance confirmation. CQU does not guarantee that attendance at a ceremony will be permitted if these deadlines are not adhered to.

Graduation Rules

Graduates will only be permitted to attend a graduation ceremony that occurs on a date after the end of the relevant GEP.

Once testamurs have been released, graduates may not attend a subsequent graduation ceremony.

Academic Dress

Academic dress should be worn at special University ceremonies and on occasions as determined by Council.

Academic Colours

  ASC Name ASC Number
Arts, Health & Sciences    
- Arts Silver Grey N24
- Health Apricot X23
- Sciences Vivid Yellow Y13
Business & Law Rich Blue B11
Education & Creative Arts Lilac P23
Engineering & Physical Systems Claret R55
Informatics & Communication Turquoise T15
Interdisciplinary Rose Pink R25

Dress for Awards

(a) Doctor of the University

Gown: Cambridge Doctorate pattern of scarlet cloth with facings and sleeve linings in University blue, piping at end of sleeve and between scarlet and blue facing in University gold.

Hood: Cambridge pattern of scarlet cloth, fully lined in University blue and piped with gold.

Headwear: Black velvet Tudor bonnet with gold cord and tassels.

(b) Companion of the University

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Stole: University blue with University Coat of Arms.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(c) Member of the University Council

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Stole: University gold with University Coat of Arms and bands of University blue and green satin.

Headwear: Black mortar board with gold tassels.

(d) Doctor of Philosophy

Gown: Oxford Doctorate pattern of blue cloth with facings of green, red and gold satin. The sleeves are fully lined with University green satin, with red and gold satin edging.

Hood: Oxford pattern of blue cloth, fully lined with University green satin with red and gold satin edging, and fastened onto the front of the gown with "hoodlinks" designed according to CQU's Coat of Arms.

Headwear: Blue velvet Tudor bonnet with gold cord and tassels.

(e) Professional Doctorate

Gown: Oxford Doctorate pattern of green cloth with facings of blue, red and gold satin. The sleeves are fully lined with University blue satin, with red and gold satin edging.

Hood: Oxford pattern of green cloth, fully lined with satin of appropriate Faculty or University colour with red and gold satin edging, and fastened onto the front of the gown with "hoodlinks" designed according to CQU's Coat of Arms.

Headwear: Green velvet Tudor bonnet with gold cord and tassels.

(f) Masters Degree (by Research and Thesis)

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, fully lined with satin of appropriate Faculty colour.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(g) Masters Degree (by Coursework)

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, fully lined with satin of appropriate Faculty colour together with a 50 mm border of white.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(h) Graduate Diploma/Honours Degree

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, lined with 100 mm band of satin of appropriate Faculty colour together with a 25 mm border of white.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(i) Bachelors Degree

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, lined with 100 mm band of satin of appropriate Faculty colour.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(j) Diploma

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, lined with 50 mm band of satin of appropriate Faculty colour placed 50 mm from the inside edge of the hood.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(k) Advanced Diploma

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Hood: Black, lined with 25 mm band of satin of appropriate Faculty colour placed 50 mm from the inside edge of the hood.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(l) Advanced Certificate

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Stole: Black, edged with a 50mm band of pale blue satin.

Headwear: Black mortar board.

(m) Certificate

Gown: Black, Cambridge pattern.

Stole: Black, edged with a 25 mm band of pale blue satin.

Headwear: Black mortar board