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 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.
December 2025 ceremonies
You need to collect and return your academic dress at one of the designated times for your ceremony:
- MFC 1—Wednesday 9.30 am
- MFC 2—Wednesday 3 pm
- MFC 3—Thursday 3 pm
- Marae 1—Friday 9.30 am
- Marae 2—Friday 2 pm
MFC ceremony 1—Wednesday 10 December at 9.30 am
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Iho Maōri—Te Kawa a Māui, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health
| Collect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday 8 December | Noon–6 pm | Murphy |
| Tuesday 9 December | 9 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Wednesday 10 December | 8–8.30 am | Murphy |
| Return | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 10 December | Until 6 pm | MFC |
| Thursday 11 December | After the parade | MFC |
| Thursday 11 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Friday 12 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Saturday 13 December | 10 am–2 pm | Murphy |
MFC ceremony 2—Wednesday 10 December at 3 pm
Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science
| Collect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monday 8 December | Noon–6 pm | Murphy |
| Tuesday 9 December | 9 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Wednesday 10 December | 9 am–2 pm | Murphy |
| Return | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 10 December | Until 6 pm | MFC |
| Thursday 11 December | After the parade | MFC |
| Thursday 11 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Friday 12 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Saturday 13 December | 10 am–2 pm | Murphy |
MFC ceremony 3—Thursday 11 December at 3 pm
Wellington School of Business and Government, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
| Collect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 9 December | 11 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Wednesday 10 December | 9 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Thursday 11 December | 9 am–2 pm | Murphy |
| Return | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 11 December | Until 6 pm | MFC |
| Friday 12 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Saturday 13 December | 10 am–2 pm | Murphy |
Marae ceremony 1—Friday 12 December at 9.30 am
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation, Faculty of Health
| Collect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 10 December | 9 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Thursday 11 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Friday 12 December | 8–8.45 am | Murphy |
| Return | ||
|---|---|---|
| Friday 12 December | Until 5 pm | Murphy |
| Saturday 13 December | 10 am–2 pm | Murphy |
Marae ceremony 2—Friday 12 December at 2 pm
Wellington School of Business and Government, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science
| Collect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 10 December | 9 am–6.30 pm | Murphy |
| Thursday 11 December | 9 am–5 pm | Murphy |
| Friday 12 December | 9 am–1.15 pm | Murphy |
| Return | ||
|---|---|---|
| Friday 12 December | Until 5 pm | Murphy |
| Saturday 13 December | 10 am–2 pm | Murphy |