Collecting tickets and academic dress

Find out when and where to pick up tickets for your guests, and to collect and return your academic dress.

The dates and times when you can pick up and drop off your academic dress will depend on the date and time of your graduation ceremony.

On this page:

• collecting tickets
• collecting academic dress
• returning academic dress
• academic dress details for each ceremony

Collecting tickets

If you're attending a ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre (MFC):

• Collect your guest tickets from the Hunter building reception desk, Kelburn Parade.
• Plan to collect your tickets with time to spare—we strongly recommend that you pick up your tickets when you come to Kelburn campus to collect your academic dress.
• We will move uncollected guest tickets to the MFC. For morning ceremonies, this will be completed the night before. For afternoon ceremonies, this will be completed an hour before the start of each ceremony. Last minute collection will add significant stress to your graduation experience.
• We will email you a unique QR code that you’ll use to collect your tickets.
• If you want a friend or family member to pick up your tickets for you, they will need to sign for them. Forward the QR code email to them (or print it out) for much faster service.
• Keep your guest tickets safe. We will not be able to replace guest tickets if you misplace them.

Your guests don't need tickets if you’re attending Te Hui Whakapūmau.

Collecting academic dress

Whether you're attending a ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre (MFC) or Te Hui Whakapūmau:

• Collect your academic dress from the ground floor (Level 0) of Murphy building, Kelburn Parade.
• Bring your Grad Gear receipt for faster service, or a form of photo ID.
• Plan to collect your academic dress with time to spare—ideally a day or more before your ceremony. Last minute collection will add significant stress to your graduation experience.
• For ceremonies at the MFC, you need to be signed in and wearing your academic dress at least 45 minutes before the ceremony starts.

We strongly recommend that you collect your own academic dress. The Grad Gear team will then be able to do an 'in person' check of the length of the gown and the size of the cap, and make sure you get the best possible fit for both. If you do ask someone else to collect your academic dress, you should provide them with your Grad Gear receipt.

Returning academic dress

You can return your academic dress to the ground floor (Level 0) of Murphy building, Kelburn Parade. You may have the option to return your academic dress at the Michael Fowler Centre.

Bring your receipt when you return your academic dress.

May 2026 ceremonies

You need to collect and return your academic dress at one of the designated times for your ceremony:

• MFC 1—Tuesday 9.30 am
• MFC 2—Tuesday 3 pm
• MFC 3—Wednesday 9.30 am
• MFC 4—Wednesday 3 pm
• MFC 5—Thursday 9.30 am
• MFC 6—Thursday 3 pm
• THW 7—Friday 9.30 am
• THW 8—Friday 2 pm

MFC ceremony 1—Tuesday 26 May at 9.30 am

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

MFC ceremony 2—Tuesday 26 May at 3 pm

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences & Faculty of Law

MFC ceremony 3—Wednesday 27 May at 9.30 am

Faculty of Education, Health and Psychological Services

MFC ceremony 4—Wednesday 27 May at 3 pm

Faculty of Science and Engineering

MFC ceremony 5—Thursday 28 May at 9.30 am

Faculty of Architecture & Design Innovation

MFC ceremony 6—Thursday 28 May at 3 pm

Wellington School of Business and Government

THW ceremony 7—Friday 29 May at 9.30 am

Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Wellington School of Business and Government, and Faculty of Law.

THW ceremony 8—Friday 29 May at 2 pm

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences