December 2024 graduation timeline

Get all the information you need to attend a graduation ceremony in December, and find out when your ceremony will be held.

The University holds graduation ceremonies in May and December each year. The December ceremonies are typically held during the second week of the month.

Graduation ceremonies are held during the day. The ceremony times will be 9.30 am and 2.30 pm.

Our graduation parades leave from the Law School, Government Buildings, Lambton Quay at 1 pm.

December 2024 timeline

Take a look at the calendar of dates below, add them to your calendar, and find out what you need to do next to be ready for your December graduation ceremony.

We will email you everything you need to know, so make sure your email address is up-to-date. Update your details by logging into Pūaha, or emailing info@vuw.ac.nz.

27 September

• Final day for Trimester 2 international students to complete the Expression of Interest Form (this has been emailed to you).

1 October

• Final day to apply to attend the December 2024 ceremonies.
• Order your academic dress through Grad Gear for an early bird discount.
• Email certified documentation of legal name changes to enrolments@vuw.ac.nz.

6 October

• Final day for Trimester 2 international students to complete the application form on Student Records.

7 October

• By the end of this week (11 October), the Graduation Office will send you an email to confirm your ceremony allocation.
• Early bird discount for academic dress ends at 11:59 pm.

14 October

• By the end of this week (18 October), you will be emailed an online form to order your guest tickets for your Michael Fowler Centre graduation ceremony (you do not need tickets if attending Te Hui Whakapūmau).

You are automatically allocated three guest tickets. If you require three guest tickets only, there is no need to complete the form.

You do not need a ticket for yourself, tickets are free, and you can use the form to request additional tickets OR to return some or all of your three automatically allocated tickets.

31 October

• Last day to request more or fewer guest tickets than the three automatically allocated to you. This is done via a form that is linked to your email communications from the Graduation Office.
• Last day to complete the withdrawal form to confirm you are no longer attending and wish to transfer to another ceremony. (This also impacts on students' additional ticket requests so please be considerate if you have decided not to attend and complete this form promptly). After this date, we will not be able to guarantee a transfer to another ceremony.

4 November

• By the end of this week (8 November), the Graduation Office will confirm your guest tickets. Ticket allocations are final.

6 November

• Last day for Doctorate graduates to submit their abstract.

10 November

• Last day to confirm the pronunciation of your name. This is done via the NameCoach form which is linked in your email communications from the Graduation Office.
• Last day to update your preferred name in Pūaha. Your preferred name and your surname will be read out as you cross the stage. If you have not chosen a preferred name, your legal name will be read out.

27 November

• Late Fee will now occur on academic dress orders.

1 December

• Final day to email the Graduation Office to advise if you or your guests have additional requirements via this form (eg.  a disability, require wheelchair access, a serious medical condition etc.).

2 December

• You will be sent an individual QR code that you will use to collect your tickets. You can ask a friend or family member to pick up your tickets for you. They will need to sign for them, and our service will be much faster if you have forwarded them the email with your QR code or printed it out for them.
• Keep your guest tickets safe. We will not be able to replace your guest tickets if you misplace them.

8 December

• Academic dress orders will close at 11.59 pm.

9 December

• First day academic dress and tickets available for pick up at Murphy Building, Kelburn Campus. Check your academic dress receipt or this webpage for collection times for your ceremony.

11–13 December

• All ceremonies and the parade will take place during these dates.

Graduation ceremony dates

Te Hui Whakapūmau is an official university graduation ceremony based on tikanga Māori (Māori cultural practices).

Te Hui Whakapūmau will be held at the new Living Pā, which will be completed in November 2024.