Michael Fowler Centre ceremonies

Graduation ceremonies follow a formal structure. Find information on guests, parking, access and announcements.

Tuesday 14 May 2024—Ceremony 1—9.30 am

  • Wellington School of Business and Government—School of Government, School of Information Management, School of Management, and School of Marketing and International Business

Tuesday 14 May 2024—Ceremony 2—2.30 pm

  • Faculty of Law
  • Wellington School of Business and Government—School of Accounting and Commercial Law, and School of Economics and Finance

Wednesday 15 May 2024—Ceremony 3—9.30 am

  • Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
  • Wellington Faculty of Health

Wednesday 15 May 2024—Ceremony 4—2.30 pm

  • Wellington Faculty of Engineering
  • Wellington Faculty of Science

Thursday 16 May 2024—Ceremony 5—9.30 am

  • Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences—School of Languages and Cultures, School of Philosophy, Political Science, and International Relations, School of Social and Cultural Studies, and Te Kawa a Māui

Thursday 16 May 2024—Ceremony 6—2.30 pm

  • Wellington Faculty of Education
  • Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences—International Institute of Modern Letters, New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, School of English, Film, Theatre, Media and Communication, and Art History, and School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies

Inviting guests and getting tickets

All tickets to the ceremony are free and, as a graduate, you are guaranteed three tickets for your guests. Graduates do not need a ticket to attend.

We’ll email you with a personal link to order tickets, and you must order tickets by the deadline indicated in the May or December timelines for any guests you would like to bring. There is an opportunity to give up your tickets or ask for additional tickets. Additional tickets will be granted on an equal basis and will depend on the capacity of the venue.

The Graduation Office will let you know by email how many tickets you have been allocated approximately two weeks before your ceremony. All ticket allocations are final.

Bringing children to the ceremony

Children are welcome at graduation ceremonies, but need to be with an adult who isn't graduating. We don't allow any children in the graduates’ marshalling area or on stage.

Children over the age of two need a ticket to attend. There is not enough room in the auditorium for buggies, prams, or pushchairs, so children under two need to sit on an adult’s knee for the whole ceremony.

Getting to the venue and parking

The Michael Fowler Centre is on Wakefield Street and is adjacent to Te Ngākau Civic Square.

There is a taxi stand directly outside the venue on Wakefield Street and buses stop on nearby Manners Street. Street parking near the Michael Fowler Centre is very limited.

Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the venue.

Graduates arrive at the ceremony 45 minutes early

Graduates need to be at the Michael Fowler Centre 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony for marshalling.

Wear academic dress

Graduates must wear academic dress to the ceremony.

Venue access

There is lift access to all floors and step-free access to seating on the lower level of the auditorium. Guests who require easy access to seating at the Michael Fowler Centre should arrive early to seat themselves (auditorium doors open 45 minutes before the ceremony).

Any graduate requiring specific assistance for themselves or a guest should email the Graduation Office as soon as possible or phone +64 463 6390.

Photos and video

Official photos will be taken by Photography by Woolf. A livestream video will be available on the day and a video of the event will be available on YouTube after the ceremony.

Read more about photos and videos.

Order of ceremony

Arrive at the Michael Fowler Centre 45 minutes before the start of your graduation ceremony. Your guests must be seated in the auditorium 15 minutes before your ceremony begins.

  • The official procession of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington staff will enter the main auditorium and move to sit on the stage.
  • You will be called into the main auditorium by Te tangi puoro and haka whakatau, followed by a haka pōhiri.
  • Address by the Chancellor.
  • Doctorate graduates will be called up onto the stage to be congratulated and presented with their qualification certificate before moving to sit with staff on stage.
  • All other graduates will be called up onto the stage to be congratulated and presented with their qualification certificate.
  • Address by the graduate speaker.
  • Chancellor’s closing remarks.
  • The official staff procession leaves the stage and graduates follow.

If you’re no longer able to come to the ceremony

You should contact the Graduation Office by email as soon as possible if you are unable to attend. If you let us know by 31 March for May ceremonies, or 31 October for December ceremonies, we can defer you to another ceremony. After this date, deferrals are granted on a case-by-case basis.

If you do not wish to attend another ceremony, confirm your postal address in your email so we can send your certificate to you after the ceremonies.

If you are no longer able to attend the May 2024 graduation ceremonies, there will be a form to complete.

If you are unwell

If you are unwell, do not attend the event. Contact the Graduation Office by email to let us know that you won’t be coming. Let us know if you wish to attend another ceremony instead.

If you do not wish to attend another ceremony, confirm your postal address in your email so we can send your certificate to you after the ceremonies.

If you are unwell and unable to attend the May 2024 graduation ceremonies, there will be a form to complete. The Graduation Office will be in touch about your wishes.

Speak to someone

Graduation Office

Phone: +64 4 463 5389
Email: graduation@vuw.ac.nz