Graduation

All UC students who complete their qualification must apply to graduate so their qualification can be conferred (legally awarded) by the UC Council.  Once a student has had the qualification conferred they become UC Graduates.  UC qualifications are conferred in advance of graduation celebration events, as these events celebrate our graduates' achievements.  Conferring qualifications is undertaken by UC Council each month, between February - December.

An application to graduate can be made at any time in the student's final year of study via myUC.  However, if a student wishes to attend a graduation celebration event, they must apply during specific time periods, choosing "Attend a graduation celebration" as their graduation option.  The specific time periods to apply to graduate and attend a graduation celebration will be detailed in the Apply to Attend a Graduation Celebration section.

If a student does not wish to attend a graduation celebration, they apply to graduate via myUC and choose the "in absentia" option.  The deadlines for the in absentia applications are listed below.

Conferment, the legal process of awarding the qualification, is subject to a successful completion check of academic requirements. An application to graduate must be received prior to the UC Council meeting by the deadline detailed below to ensure the completion check and conferment can take place. 

Usually within ten working days after the conferment by UC Council the graduate will be able to access their digital qualification testamur (certificate) and transcript, via the My eQuals document platform. The physical copy of the testamur will be couriered to those graduates who choose not to attend a graduation celebration.  All graduates attending a graduation celebration will receive the physical copy of their testamur at a celebration event. 

* If an application is not received by the deadline listed above, the conferment at Council will automatically be deferred until the following month.

Note:  No UC Council conferral occurs in the month of January.

UC students with a completed qualification who wish to apply to attend the next graduation celebration must do so in myUC by the deadline below.

Application deadlines - August 2026 Spring Graduation Celebrations

Applications to attend the August 2026 Spring Graduation Celebrations opened on Monday 13 April and will close on Sunday 12 July 2026. 

Late applications to attend the August Graduation Celebration may not be considered.  It is important to note that the qualification(s) must have been conferred in advance of the celebrations and this occurs on specific dates in each month.  Queries in relation to late applications to attend the August Celebrations should be emailed to graduation@canterbury.ac.nz after 12 July 2026.

Applications to attend the April 2027 Graduation Celebrations will not open until 24 August 2026 and will close on 13 December 2026.  Late applications to attend the April 2027 graduation celebrations may not be considered.
 

Graduating with multiple qualifications

If you are eligible to graduate with more than one qualification, you must complete a separate application to graduate for each qualification. 

You will attend only one Faculty celebration, with both qualifications being called out together, and with both testamurs (certificates) in the graduation folder presented to you.  You are not able to attend two different graduation celebrations in the one graduation event and you do not cross the stage twice even though you are celebrating multiple qualifications.  Please indicate in the graduation application 'Comments' field which Faculty Celebration you wish to attend to receive both qualifications

If your qualifications are from different Faculties, you can only choose one hood to wear at the celebration, and it must relate to the Faculty celebration you are attending. You may choose to hire more than one hood to be worn for photos before or after the celebration. 

Planning further study?

If you have completed the required points for a qualification, but intend to undertake further study towards that qualification to complete a second major, or you intend to transfer your courses to a higher qualification (for example, from a postgraduate certificate to a postgraduate diploma), you must seek further academic advice from your Faculty Office. See Student Advisors (Continuing Students) for details.

If you have completed the required points for a qualification and you are planning to continue to a new qualification, for example, you have completed a BA and plan to enrol in a BA(Hons), these are separate qualifications and you can apply to graduate and have these conferred (legally awarded) separately. You can also attend separate graduation celebrations for each of these awards. For example, you can apply to attend a graduation celebration for the BA in April one year, and apply to attend a graduation celebration after completing the BA(Hons) in August of the same year or the next year's April celebration (depending on when you complete your BA(Hons)).

Transcripts and Letters

If you require your official academic record or an official letter from the University confirming your eligibility to graduate, please see Academic Transcripts and Letters. Once your qualification has been awarded, your name will be added to the online Graduate Search which is publicly accessible. The University also gives names of graduates to their former secondary school.

Stay connected with UC

When you graduate, you become a member of the UC Alumni. To join the Alumni network and remain connected to UC, visit the Alumni and Fundraising website.

Future Graduation Celebration Dates

2026 Spring Graduation Celebrations 

25-27 August 2026

Dates and times for each of the August Faculty graduation celebrations will be confirmed after the applications to graduate and attend a celebration closes on 12 July.

2027 Autumn Graduation Celebrations *

13-15 April 2027 Faculty Celebrations

16 April 2027 Eke Tangaroa and Pacific Celebrations

2027 Spring Graduation Celebrations *

Week commencing 30 August 2027, inclusive of both Faculty, Eke Tangaroa and Pacific celebrations

2028 Autumn Graduation Celebrations *

11-13 April 2028 Faculty Celebrations

Dates for Eke Tangaroa and Pacific Celebration yet to be confirmed

2028 Spring Graduation Celebrations *

Dates yet to be confirmed

*Please note these dates are subject to change 

Autumn and Spring Graduation Celebration Events

UC holds two graduation celebration weeks throughout the year, with these events held during the Autumn (April) and Spring (August) mid-semester breaks.

These ensure graduates and their whānau and friends can celebrate their achievements together. 

The Faculty Graduation Celebrations will take place from Tuesday 25 August to Thursday 27 August 2026 at Wolfbrook Arena, Addington, Christchurch.

Faculty Celebration days/times will be advised as soon as possible but may not be available until early July 2026.

Eke Tangaroa | Māori Srping Graduation Celebration

Date:  TBA
Time:  TBA
Venue:  TBA

Please note: If you are not also attending a Faculty Graduation Celebration but will be attending the Eke Tangaroa Graduation Celebration you will need to order regalia from GWC Regalia Hire.  You need to indicate in the order that you are only attending the Eke Tangaroa Graduation Celebration.  

Students must have had their qualification conferred (legally awarded) by UC Council to be able to attend this celebration.

Pacific Spring Graduation Celebration

Date:  TBA
Time:  TBA
Venue:  TBA

Please note: If you are not also attending a Faculty Graduation Celebration but will be attending the Pacific Graduation Celebration you will need to order regalia from GWC Regalia Hire.  You need to indicate in the order that you are only attending the Pacific Graduation Celebration.  

Students must have had their qualification conferred (legally awarded) by UC Council to be able to attend this celebration.

Graduation is a special event, to ensure the day is enjoyable we have a couple of things to help you prepare for your celebration.

Here's a video on what to expect at your graduation.

Full academic regalia is required to attend a graduation celebration, and Aotearoa New Zealand universities have a system of academic regalia which is worn by graduates to indicate their degree. The colour of the hood denotes the different faculties or disciplines, except for the peony red PhD hood.

The stock of academic dress for Ōtautahi Christchurch graduation celebrations of the University of Canterbury is owned and maintained by GWC Regalia Hire. You will receive an email from the Events Team when you can order your regalia.  Please do not try to order regalia prior to this.  The process to follow is outlined below and the link will become available when regalia can be ordered. 

What to wear to graduation

Graduation is a special milestone and a formal university event, we ask all graduates to dress in a way that reflects the significance of the occasion. This includes wearing the correct academic regalia, which is required in order to cross the stage. 

• Only your trencher can be carried across the stage (for example: no framed photos).

• You’re welcome to wear a cultural or heirloom brooch on your regalia—these are the only accessories allowed, wearing garments of honour from your own tradition such as a kākahu/korowai or ta’ovala is welcomed.  

• Expect plenty of walking and standing, sometimes on stairs. We recommend wearing shoes that are comfortable and practical for the day.

• You’ll be photographed and videoed throughout the day, so wear something that helps you feel confident and proud.

Wearing the correct academic regalia is required to take part in the celebration.

Ordering regalia

A detailed step-by-step regalia guide can be found here.

• Follow the link provided in the email from the UC Events Team to GWC Regalia Hire 
• Click on 'University of Canterbury'
• Follow the GWC Regalia Hire step-by-step process to the end, and ensure you select your correct qualification and celebration
• Please include your height and, if you are not picking it up yourself, your head circumference.
• Once your order is complete you will receive a confirmation email.

Collect your regalia from GWC, Dovedale Campus, Wairarapa building, Block ED15, Ilam.

If you are unable to collect your regalia at the specified time, you may ask a friend or relative to collect it for you.

On the day of your graduation celebration, you must wear appropriate academic regalia when taking part. Please note, if you are not wearing academic regalia, you will not be able to attend the graduation celebration.

Outstanding credits with GWC Regalia Hire

If you have outstanding credit from a previous order when you did not hire your regalia, please email info@gwcregaliahire.nz to receive an individual credit code.

If you place an order for a graduation celebration, which you then find you are unable to attend, email info@gwcregaliahire.nz for a refund of your order.

Late orders

A late fee will apply for any orders placed later than two weeks prior to graduation. 

2025 Spring Graduation Recordings

• Faculty of Arts, UC Business School and Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Education, Health, Science and Engineering

Click here to download the Spring 2025 Graduation Programme

UC graduation processions and celebrations are filmed and photographed. Footage and photos will be publicly accessible on UC's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube pages. Photos may be used in university publications, promotional material (digital and print) and social media content. While a wide range of images are captured, we cannot guarantee all photos will be shared.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding graduation photography, please email communications@canterbury.ac.nz

Graduation Photography 

Linton Photography are the Official University of Canterbury Graduation Photographers.  They have been photographing graduation celebrations since 1994 and have the skills and ability to create graduation photos that you and your family can be proud of.

They will be photographing every graduand as they are presented on stage.

A studio portrait service is available either at their studio or at the venue on the graduation celebration day, so you can have formal portraits taken with family or friends. Portrait session times may be booked in advance, plus it is also possible to be photographed without a booking on a first in, first served basis following your celebration. 

To learn more about the portrait services available or to view your on stage photos after the celebration visit https://lintonphoto.com/events/graduation/

After graduating

Your years of study at UC may be over, but we want your connection with us to last a lifetime.

Having your qualification conferred and becoming a UC Graduate may mark the beginning of your career, or you might be considering further study. Whatever you do next we'd love to hear about it.

Stay connnected with UC 

Further Study

We offer a wide range of postgraduate qualifications. Find out more about your options. 

Alumni networks

As a UC graduate you become an alumni and can benefit our extensive networks. 

Career support

UC graduates have full access to Careers, Internship and Employment services. 

Graduation through the ages

University graduation celebrations are part of an 800-year tradition which stretches back to the establishment of the first universities in Europe in the 12th century, when Latin was the language of scholarship.

Origin of the word 'university'

A universitas was a guild or union of masters (MAs) who had a licence to teach. Both "degree" and "graduate" come from gradus, meaning "step"; the first step was admission to a bachelor’s degree, followed by the second masters step which won the graduate admission to the universitas.

Why gowns are worn

The University of Canterbury's foundation in 1873 owes much to the graduates of Oxford University's cathedral/college Christ Church and the Canterbury ceremonies reflect that tradition. The gowns and hoods which characterise academic dress have evolved from the daily dress of university staff in the Middle Ages, which was in turn based on the attire worn by medieval clergy. Nowadays the gown and the hood are strictly controlled and indicate the wearer’s university and degree.

The gowns for Canterbury graduates are the same as for Cambridge University graduates; the hoods are of a standard shape and size with a slate grey exterior. The colour of the lining indicates the degree of the wearer. The rich variety of academic dress worn by Canterbury staff reflects the many universities which they attended.

Graduation celebration

At each celebration the procession of graduands and staff is led by the Esquire or Madam Bedel carrying the University mace, the symbol of institutional authority. Historically the Bedel had a number of functions but in a modern university only the ceremonial role at graduation survives. The University mace provides a tangible link with Christ Church, Oxford, where it was designed and made. The shaft of the mace is of oak from a beam removed from Big Tom Tower when the bell was rehung in 1953. Even in 1680, when the beam was installed in the Sir Christopher Wren-designed tower, the timber was described as ‘well-seasoned oak’. The mace has been used for every graduation celebration since 1957.

Graduation at UC

The first Canterbury degrees were conferred in 1878 in the Canterbury Provincial Chambers with the ceremonies (now called celebrations) moving to the College Hall, now the Great Hall of the Arts Centre, after its completion in 1882.

The early graduation ceremonies, known as Diploma Days, were decorous affairs but by 1884 discordant notes were sounded in the form of ‘tootings on a very unmusical instrument’. A tradition of specially-composed songs developed, reaching its heyday in 1899.

After a break during the First World War, ceremonies resumed in the College Hall in 1921 but pressure of numbers forced a move in 1946 to the Civic Theatre, the first year in which an academic procession through the city was held. This format continued, apart from three occasions when it was held in the St James Theatre, until 1962 when further pressure of numbers prompted a move to King Edward Barracks.

In 1968 the ceremony was divided into two and in 1971 it was made voluntary. The Christchurch Town Hall became the venue in 1973, with a move to three ceremonies in 1987, four ceremonies in 1994 and to five ceremonies, four in autumn and one in summer, in 1997. Following the merger with the Christchurch College of Education on 1 January 2007, there are now eight ceremonies, including a ceremony held in Rotorua for College of Education students based in the North Island.

In April 2011, graduation celebrations were held in a marquee on Ilam fields. To accommodate greater numbers of students opting to graduate in person with their whānau and friends in attendance, the modern Christchurch graduation ceremonies are held in the Christchurch Arena, with several large ceremonies planned each year in Autumn and Spring graduation weeks.

Academic Regalia

Refers to the academic gown, hood and trencher worn at the graduation celebration (also known as Academic dress).

Awarded

When you officially receive your diploma.

Conferred

When you officially receive your degree.

Testamur

The official certificate you receive when your degree has been conferred or your diploma awarded.

Graduand

When you are eligible to graduate but have not yet done so.

Graduate

Once your degree has been conferred or your diploma awarded.

In absentia

You will not be attending a graduation celebration and instead receive your diploma by mail.

We can’t wait to celebrate you in the city! 

Your friends and whānau are also invited to line the streets and cheer you on as you parade through the city centre, led by the New Zealand Army Band.  

• If you’re taking a bus from Wolfbrook Arena, make sure to be there by 9am for 9.15 departure and have your bus tickets ready. You can book tickets for the bus here.  

• If you’re meeting us there, head down to Hack Circle, outside H&M.  Please arrive by 9.45am. Speeches will commence at 10am. 

• In the procession, all graduates will follow the UC Senior Leadership Team and Council Members and will be followed by UC Staff members. 

• Once the parade reaches Victoria Square, all graduates will receive a toasting glass.  Please walk toward the stage with your toasting glass, where we will continue the celebrations.  

• You are welcome to take away your complimentary toasting glass and a t-shirt from the Alumni stand. 

• You can also collect a scoop of Rollickin Gelato and get your photos taken at the photo booth. 

• The buses returning to Wolfbrook Arena will depart from the Town Hall at 12.30pm. 

• Remember to come in your regalia and wear comfortable shoes. If you have booked regalia for the parade, your regalia collection and drop off time will allow for this.

How many friends and whānau can I bring with me, and can they walk beside me?

As many as you like - the more the merrier. They can walk with you in the Street Parade or choose to line the streets and cheer you on as you walk past.

Are dogs or pets allowed?

No, unless they are guide dogs, pets must stay at home.

Will the roads be closed?

Yes, roads will be closed, and traffic management will be in place.

Does the Street Parade start on time and how long is the walk?

Yes, the parade starts at 10am sharp, and the walk will take about 15 minutes.

Can I eat and drink before or after the Street Parade?

Yes, you can. There are many places to eat in the central city you can visit. 

Once the parade concludes in Victoria Square, there will be vendors there with hot and cold drinks as well as ice cream and a toasting glass for graduates. 

We recommend that, once the festivities have concluded, you plan to have lunch either in the park (self-catered) or by making a booking, or plan to visit a restaurant, café or food stall in the CBD.

How do the buses work?

Buses are available to take you to and from the Street Parade, leaving from Wolfbrook Arena (Arena). These can be booked via the humanitix link.  

This is the easiest way for you and your guests to get to and from the Street Parade without worrying about parking or paying for other transport. 

Buses leave from the Arena at 9.15am and will leave from the Town Hall to return to the Arena at 12.30pm, providing you with plenty of time to get lunch.

Please note, you do not have to be graduating on Wednesday to use this service.

What should I wear at the Street Parade?

Wear your graduation clothes and regalia over the top. We advise you wear comfortable footwear, especially for the parade.

What about bad weather? 

In the event of bad weather, we will have to cancel the Street Parade. This includes rain, snow, hail and severe wind. You will be texted on the morning of the Street Parade if it is cancelled.

Is this Street Parade filmed?

Yes. We have Shipley’s Audio Visual live streaming to UC Facebook for anyone wanting to watch. We will also have UC photographers and videographers capturing the Street Parade. If you don’t wish to have your face on either of these platforms, please contact events@canterbury.ac.nz.

Why is there only one parade?

Due to the planning requirements for the Street Parade and the guests who attend, UC can only accommodate one Street Parade during graduation week.

What is the timetable for the parade?

All graduates gather at Hack Circle (outside H&M in Cashel Mall) by 9.45am. The Street Parade begins at 10am sharp.

The Street Parade is led by the NZ Army Band and concludes at Victoria Square. There, you and your guests will be provided with a non-alcoholic drink for a toast. The toast will be led by the Vice-Chancellor. Once the whole Street Parade is in Victoria Square, there will be speeches, the toast and then you can mix and mingle and purchase a coffee, before heading to your afternoon celebration or your other activities. 

Are there parking options for the Street Parade?

Christchurch CBD has plenty of parking options, which can come at a cost. The closest option will be The Crossing carparking building, which you can enter off Lichfield St. However, there will be road closures and changes around the area for this event that may cause you to take longer to access the building.

The cheapest and easiest method to get parking for the event is to park for free at the Arena and catch the free bus to Hack Circle before returning from the Town Hall to the Arena.  You can use this service even if you are not graduating that day.