The graduation ceremony

Graduations

On arrival

Present yourself at the registration desk in the foyer and verify your identity by presenting your official identity document, passport, birth certificate or South African driver's licence. A seating card with your name, qualification and seat number will be handed to you, together with your guest tickets.

Please note the following important information:

You may be refused admission to the venue if you cannot show any proof of identification.
Graduands, diplomands and guests must be seated 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
Late arrivals or guests without tickets will not be admitted into the graduation hall.
Guest seats are not reserved.

If you have arranged to collect your academic dress at the graduation venue (except at the Pretoria venue which does not provide such a service), please collect it from the supplier's staff.

During the ceremony

The congregation

All graduands, diplomands and guests should rise when the academic procession enters the hall. They may only be seated once the Chancellor has given the signal to do so.
Graduands, diplomands and guests are requested to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony and not to leave the hall until the academic procession has exited the hall at the end of the ceremony.
All gradudates, diplomates and guests should remain standing until the academic procession has left the hall.

Graduands

Please follow these very important instructions when it is your turn to be awarded your degree:

When signalled by an official, the graduand whose name appears first in the programme should rise, and with the seating card in the right hand, ascend the stage from the right (as seen from the audience).
Hand your card to the college representative, who will read out your name. The college representative will then return the card to you.
You then walk towards and kneel with your right knee on the stool while the Chancellor confers your degree.
Approach the Registrar, standing to the Chancellor's right (left as seen from the audience), stop in front of the Registrar and turn your back to face the audience.
A photograph will be taken at that moment. Please stand upright and look directly at the camera.
Leave the stage on the left (as seen from the audience). Your certificate will be handed to you by an official.
A head and shoulder photograph will be taken of you as you return to your seat.

Doctoral candidates

The same process is followed as above, except that your supervisor will read a short validation immediately after the college representative has introduced you to the congregation. If your supervisor is absent, the validation will be read by the relevant college representative.

Diplomands

Please follow these very important instructions when it is your turn to be awarded your diploma:

When signalled by an official, the diplomand whose name appears first in the programme should rise, and with the seating card in the right hand, ascend the stage from the right (as seen from the audience).
Hand your card to the college representative standing at the lecturn who will read out your name. He or she will then return the card to you.
Approach the Registrar, standing to the Chancellor's right (left as seen from the audience), stop in front of the Registrar and turn your back to face the audience.
A photograph will be taken at that moment. Please stand upright and look directly at the camera.
Leave the stage on the left (as seen from the audience). Your certificate will be handed to you by an official.
A head and shoulder photograph will be taken of you as you return to your seat.

Last modified: 2020/03/25