Graduation at Waikato
Graduation is a special time for students, and the university offers a variety of resources and support to help make the most of this important milestone.
Graduation is a special time to celebrate your success and academic achievements with your family and friends.
- If you are completing at the end of A Trimester 2025 you are eligible for the October Graduation ceremonies being held at The Pā Hamilton Campus.
- If you are completing at the end of B Trimester, G Trimester, H Trimester or C Trimester you are eligible for the 2026 April Graduation ceremonies being held at The Pā Hamilton Campus and Tauranga Campus.
- If you are an International (student visa) student completing at the end of B Trimester you are eligible for the December Graduation ceremony being held at the Pā Hamilton Campus.
For those completing a qualification outside of a normal Trimester an invitation will be sent on completion of your qualification.
There are also a number of Council meetings throughout the year for those not wishing to attend a ceremony and you graduate in absentia. You may not attend this meeting and your certificate will be sent you by mail at the conclusion of the graduation period to the address in your MyWaikato portal.
If you have any questions regarding graduation, please contact us on 0800 WAIKATO or email info@waikato.ac.nz.
Graduation locations
The Pā - Hamilton
Information you need to know when graduating at The Pā. From parking, to registration for guests, the order of proceedings, and refreshments; what you need to do, and useful info for your guests.
Tauranga
Planning your graduation day on Tauranga Campus; everything from guest registration and parking, to ceremony details and info about refreshments. Your essential guide with key information for both graduates and guests.
Regalia / Academic dress
The academic dress you'll wear at graduation carries centuries of university tradition. Each element of your regalia holds special significance, from the style of your gown to the colour of your hood.
Graduation ceremony dates
Celebrate your academic achievements at graduation. Find the dates for graduation ceremonies at The Pā on the Hamilton campus or on the Tauranga campus.
Registration and tickets
As a graduand, you don't need tickets to your own graduation, but your family and guests who want to attend will. Find out how to register tickets for your guests.
Graduation checklist
Prepare for your graduation without missing a step or getting too stressed. Get your academic dress, arrive early, and enjoy your special day!
Graduation photographs and programmes
Capture your graduation memories with official photographs and programmes. Our ceremonies have celebrated graduates' achievements since 1967, with each event professionally documented for posterity.
Frequently asked questions
Due to capacity restrictions in Tauranga, all graduands graduating there are allocated three guest tickets for the ceremony. You do not require a ticket for yourself if you are graduating.
Tauranga graduation tickets are available approximately 2 weeks before the ceremony.
Additional guests are encouraged to attend and join in the ongoing celebrations held at our award-winning Tauranga CBD campus. The tickets include food and beverage service, along with a live stream of the graduation ceremony.
No problem — underneath where it says you've been invited to The Pā, select YES to the option that says "Would you like to graduate at an alternate venue?"
From there you can choose what you want to do. An email to your MyWaikato portal will be sent confirming the change of venue.
Ceremony lengths vary by location and graduate numbers.
- The Pā ceremonies typically last 90 minutes.
- Tauranga ceremonies average 60 minutes.
Depending on cohort size, ceremonies may be 15 minutes shorter or longer.
Invitations for the April Ceremonies will be sent out for those completing at the end of B Trimester mid-December.
Invitations for the October Ceremonies will be sent out for those completing at the end of A Trimester mid-July.
You will receive an email inviting you to complete your invitation through the graduation tab in MyWaikato. You may select to attend in person or if you choose in absentia you will be moved to the first available Council meeting. For those completing at the end of C, G or H Trimester an invitation will be sent mid-January for the April ceremonies.
You will be sent an invitation to graduate once you have completed your qualification. You can then click on the 'Graduation' tab and respond from there. There are options to change to the Tauranga ceremony (April only), or to graduate 'in absentia' or to defer to next year. Please call 0800 WAIKATO if you require assistance.
Once your grades are final for the previous semester, we start processing this information. Shortly after your grades are final you should receive confirmation that you are included in the ceremony.
If you are completing at the end of C, G or H Trimester you will be eligible for the April 2025 ceremonies and an invitation will be sent to you mid-January.
We are happy to help with any problems or questions, call 0800 WAIKATO or email info@waikato.ac.nz.
You must complete your graduation invitation regardless of whether you plan to attend the ceremony or graduate in absentia (without attending). If you don't respond:
- Your qualification conferral will be deferred to the next graduation period.
- After one year, your qualification will be automatically conferred and your certificate mailed to your address listed in MyWaikato.
After your grades are finalised, you can request official degree completion verification through the "Results" tab in MyWaikato.
Graduation and conferral are related but distinct terms:
- Graduation refers to the ceremonial event where you receive your qualification in person.
- Conferral is the official act of awarding your qualification.
Your qualification can be conferred in two ways:
- At a graduation ceremony, where you receive your qualification in person during the capping ceremony
- In absentia (without attending a ceremony), where your qualification is conferred at a University Council meeting and your certificate is mailed to you afterward
As graduates of the University of Waikato, we welcome you to our global alumni and friends community.
We encourage you to stay in touch with us as we seek to connect you with valuable learning opportunities to increase your knowledge and help you in your careers. With more than 84,000 alumni worldwide, this community also provides valuable opportunities to expand your networks and stay connected with the University of Waikato.