When you become eligible to apply to graduate, an email inviting you to submit an application will be sent to your student email address during the week prior to applications opening. Once applications open you will then be able to see the “Your graduation application” link within your eVision student portal.
You can choose whether to graduate in person or in absentia. If you choose to graduate in person then you will attend the ceremony, and your degree or diploma will be presented to you on stage during the ceremony.
If you choose to graduate in absentia, you will not attend the ceremony. Your name will be listed in the ceremony booklet but it will not be read out during the ceremony. Your diploma certificate will be sent to you by courier following the ceremony.
You are not able to graduate in absentia outside of an official graduation ceremony.
Graduation marks your admission to the full and permanent membership of the University. It is also an opportunity for you to mark the completion of your studies and to celebrate your success with your family, friends, and the University community.
Applying to graduate
To ensure that you receive your emailed invitation, please either check your student email address regularly, or else set up email forwarding to your preferred email address.
If your student email address is forwarded to a Hotmail or other Microsoft email account, please ensure that you have followed the instructions contained in the link below to add the University of Otago to your Safe senders or white list. This is vital to ensure that you receive emails about your graduation. If you are unsure if your email address is a Microsoft account, please click on the link below to check the list of affected email providers.
While we endeavour to contact everyone who is eligible to apply to graduate, it is vital that you monitor the Opening and Closing Dates for Applications section of our webpages. If your invitation has not been received by the time that applications open, contact the Graduation Office immediately.
Each round of graduation ceremonies has a specific time-frame during which applications can be made. The onus is on you to submit an application during this time-frame.
You must submit an application even if you do not wish to attend a graduation ceremony.
How to add the University of Otago to your Safe senders or white list
Further information about Applying to Graduate
Applying to graduate
To ensure that you receive your emailed invitation, please either check your student email address regularly, or else set up email forwarding to your preferred email address.
If your student email address is forwarded to a Hotmail or other Microsoft email account, please ensure that you have followed the instructions contained in the link below to add the University of Otago to your Safe senders or white list. This is vital to ensure that you receive emails about your graduation. If you are unsure if your email address is a Microsoft account, please click on the link below to check the list of affected email providers.
While we endeavour to contact everyone who is eligible to apply to graduate, it is vital that you monitor the Opening and Closing Dates for Applications section of our webpages. If your invitation has not been received by the time that applications open, contact the Graduation Office immediately.
Each round of graduation ceremonies has a specific time-frame during which applications can be made. The onus is on you to submit an application during this time-frame.
You must submit an application even if you do not wish to attend a graduation ceremony.
How to add the University of Otago to your Safe senders or white list
Further information about Applying to Graduate
August 2020 Graduation Ceremony Guides
For information about the deadlines you need to meet, collecting your guest tickets, collecting your regalia, the graduation ceremony, and associated events, visit the appropriate Graduation Ceremony Guide:
Saturday 15 August 2020 3:00pm – Graduation Ceremony Guide
Saturday 29 August 2020 3:00pm – Graduation Ceremony Guide
Graduation ceremony dates, and application dates
The University currently holds graduation ceremonies in May, August and December each year. You may choose when to graduate, but this must be at the ceremony allocated to your particular qualification.
To view the graduation ceremony dates, the application opening and closing dates, read information on booking flights, and choosing your graduation date:
visit the Graduation Ceremony Dates, and Application Opening and Closing Dates page
At a Graduation Ceremony
For information about what you need to bring with you, and an overview of a ceremony:
visit the At a Graduation Ceremony information page