Overview

Flinders holds graduation ceremonies twice a year. The main ceremonies are held on campus in April for students who completed their studies in the previous year. 

Ceremonies are also held in the city in December for international and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students, and other students who completed their course in Semester 1. 

It is not compulsory to attend a graduation ceremony but most students do. They see it as a great way to formally celebrate their success and to share the moment with family and friends, many of whom may never have come to Flinders.

Graduands each receive 3 complimentary guest tickets for April graduation ceremonies and 5 for December ceremonies.

December 2009 Graduation

There will be two graduation ceremonies held on 16 December 2009 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Students will be allocated to one of the following 2 ceremonies, and will be advised of their ceremony date and time via http://i.flinders.edu.au/.   Applications for December graduation are now open and will close on Friday 14 November.

Wednesday 16 December - Morning Ceremony 10:00am

• Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology
• Faculty of Social Sciences

Wednesday 16 December - Afternoon Ceremony 3:00pm

• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Science and Engineering

Students wishing to have their degrees conferred in absentia may also apply for conferral at a Council Meeting if they prefer.  

• How do I get my parchment?
• What if I don't want to attend a graduation ceremony?
• Can I defer my graduation?
• How do I apply for a graduation ceremony?
• How do I view and update my individual ceremony details?
• What about guest tickets?
• What about my academic dress?
• Degree conferral at a University Council meeting

How do I get my parchment?

All students need to apply for degree conferral in order to get a copy of their parchment. Degree conferral is the official awarding of your degree, diploma or certificate by the University. This can only be done by applying for a Graduation Ceremony or a meeting of the University Council.

What if I don't want to attend a graduation ceremony?

When you fill in the online form to graduate you will select from two options for degree conferral. The most common option is to attend a graduation and have your degree conferred on the day. The second option is to have your degree conferred in absentia. This means you will not be attending the ceremony, but your degree will be conferred by the University on the day of your ceremony, in your absence. If you choose this option you will be able to collect your parchment after the ceremony. You will not be able to attend a later graduation ceremony if you have your degree conferred in absentia.

Can I defer my graduation?

If you wish to postpone this, please do not submit a form - we will automatically send you graduation information in the following year if you do not respond. Please note you will not receive a parchment until you do attend a ceremony.

How do I apply for a graduation ceremony?

There are several steps you need to ensure you can graduate:

Step 1 - Check eligibility: are you 

• an international or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student who will complete their degree in semester 2, 2009 or earlier?
• a domestic student who completed their degree in semester 1 2009 or earlier?

If you answered yes to the above, you are eligible to apply for graduation in December.

If you answered no to this question, the next ceremony which you may be eligible to apply for will be in April 2010. Applications for this will open in February 2010.

Step 2 - Online application: Submit an online application form by Friday 13 November. If you are attending and wish to hire your academic dress, you will need to know your height and head circumference before you submit this, you can measure your head with a tape measure. If you submit your application correctly you will receive a confirmation of application at your nominated e-mail address.

Step 3 - Payment: Pay for your academic dress hire if you wish to hire it. This can be done by downloading a Payment Form (DOC 145KB) online. Please also arrange for prompt payment of postage for your parchment, using the Payment Form (DOC 145KB) , if you are not attending the ceremony. Parchments will not be sent until payment has been received. Students must also pay all debts to the University, these include debts to the library, as well as other fees.

Step 4 - Check your graduation status online: Check your Graduation Status on iFlinders. This will become active within 10 days after you apply to graduate (usually 2-3 days). If your status shows as "Expected to Graduate", your eligibility to graduate is yet to be confirmed. A status of "Pass" indicates your degree is completed and you are approved for graduation. If your status is still showing as "Expected to Graduate" after 8 December, you will not be eligible to graduate in December. Your graduation will be automatically be deferred until April 2010.

Step 5- Check your confirmation letter: Eligible graduands will receive a confirmation letter after 8 December, please ensure you read this carefully. If you have not received one by 11 December, please contact the Graduation Office immediately to confirm your participation in the December ceremony.

Step 6 - Academic Dress and Tickets: Collect your academic dress and tickets from the Function Centre at Flinders University at least one day prior to your ceremony. There will not be enough time to do this on the morning of your graduation, so please arrange a friend or relative to collect this for you if you are unable to do so yourself.

Step 7- Graduation Day Procedures: Register on the day one hour prior to the ceremony.

How do I find out my individual ceremony details?

Students are strongly advised to check their allocated ceremony on iFlinders for confirmation. After you have logged into iFlinders you will need to select Student System, enter your Student ID and password and then select 'My Graduation'.

This will provide information on:

• the ceremony you have been allocated to (eg Faculty)
• the ceremony time and date
• whether you have applied to attend or have your degree conferred in absentia
• how many tickets you have requested
• your formal name to be printed on your parchment (you can view this under the 'My Details' menu).

Students can also update information on name pronunciation. This will be used by the speaker on the day of the graduation ceremony and is useful for students who have names that are more difficult to pronounce.

What about my academic dress?

Academic dress may be hired from the University for the following cost: Gown $29.00, Hood $13.00, Mortar Board $7.50 (all incl GST). Cheques/Money Orders to be payable to Flinders University. The University can also accept payment of $A10.00 or higher through Visa or Mastercard. Please contact the Cashiers Office on (08) 8201 3146, or complete the Payment Form (DOC 145KB) .

What about guest tickets?

Guest tickets are complimentary and five tickets are permitted for each graduand for family and friends. Graduands do not require a ticket. Students may request more than five tickets, but the University cannot guarantee extra tickets will be available. Final ticket allocatons will be advised in your confirmation letter.

Tickets must be collected with academic dress at least one day prior to the ceremony.

Degree conferral at a University Council meeting

Students wishing to have their degree conferred in absentia can apply to have this done at the next meeting of University Council by filling out a council application form.doc (DOC 204KB) and returning this to the Graduation Office by the due date.

Please note that if you choose this option you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony at a later date.