CSU Graduation
FAQ
Graduation Related Questions
- When and where are the graduations?
- How long is the ceremony?
- Do I have to wear Academic Dress?
- Do I need to pre-book and/or pay for my academic dress prior to the event?
- What should I wear under the gown?
- How do I doff?
- Which side does the tassel on the hat go?
- What do I do if I can't make the grad but would like to have photos taken?
- Is there anything I can wear to indicate I am Indigenous or a TSI?
- I have a higher degree from previous study – can I wear that hood?
- What do the colours signify?
- What is the difference between a trencher and a mortarboard?
Student Administration Related Questions
Graduation Related Questions
When and where are the graduations?
Dates can be found by clicking on the 'home' tab.
How long is the ceremony?
Graduation ceremonies are usually 1 ¼ to 1 ¾ hours long. Ceremonies include conferral of awards and presentation individually of graduates to the Chancellor, a musical interlude and an occasional address. Graduands are required to be registered, dressed and seated 20 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony.
Refreshments are served for graduates and their guests. Graduation services (photography, framing etc) are located in the same area.
Do I have to wear Academic Dress?
You must be in full academic dress appropriate to the award being conferred in order to participate in the ceremony.
Do I need to pre-book and/or pay for my academic dress prior to the event?
You do NOT have to pre-book or pay in advance for any items you will be hiring. CSU has sufficient stock to ensure that you will be correctly attired for your ceremony. All you need to do is turn up on the day to the gowning and registration area at the notified time and we will be there to "dress" you.
What should I wear under the gown?
The gowns have an open front so the clothes you wear will still be noticeable. It is advisable that you wear, at a minimum, smart casual.
The masters and PhD gowns have an open sleeve so your arm from the elbow down is exposed. The undergraduate gowns cover most of the arm.
The gowns are quite warm so if you are graduating during warmer weather we suggest, for your own comfort, that you do not wear a coat under the gown.
Most graduates will need to negotiate a set of stairs, cross the stage and off the other side so it is advisable that you wear shoes that you are confident in. A new pair of shoes may need a little wearing in so you do not slip.
The trenchers (hats) are skull caps so it is not possible to have your hair in a pony tail unless it is at the nape of you neck. It is also not possible to fit the trencher over large clips in your hair.
How do I doff?
Doffing, which is to tip one's hat in salutation, is simply lifting your trencher (hat) slightly while nodding. It is a sign of respect to the Chancellor.
If your hat is pinned to your head or you are wearing a 'one-size fits all' souvenir trencher issued by CSU's gowning staff, you may simply touch the right-hand corner and nod to the Chancellor.
If you are unsure of what to do, please ask the staff that dress you on the day for a demonstration.
Which side does the tassel on the hat go?
Traditionally the tassel is worn on the left hand side until such time as you graduate when it goes on the right. At most of the graduation ceremonies where there is a professional photographer they will request that you wear it to the right so that it does not obscure your face when stage photos are taken.
What do I do if I can't make the grad but would like to have photos taken?
You can contact CSU's graduation staff and we will arrange for the academic dress to be posted or freighted to you. Click for costs & details.
GFP Studios is contracted to provide studio photos at all graduation ceremonies and this company has shops in most capital cities. You can contact GFP to obtain costs and locations or arrange your own photos.
Is there anything I can wear to indicate I am Indigenous or a TSI?
Indigenous and TSI students have approval to wear a sash of the appropriate colours. Maldhan Gilanna has a stock of these sashes and they will be available at all on-shore CSU graduations. If you would like to wear one, please advise staff when you pay for academic dress hire and they will provide one for you. There is no additional charge for the stoles.
I have a higher degree from previous study – can I wear that hood?
No, you must wear the colours for the course from which you are graduating on the day. If you have a plain black academic gown or trencher, you can use those.
What do the colours signify?
The hood (colours) are distinctive to the award you are receiving within CSU. There is no other University in the world that has the same hood as CSU.
All of the hoods and stoles up to and including Master level are in University red with varying degrees of silk lining in the faculty colour. PhD hoods are fully lined red hoods but the silk colour does not change with the faculty. Professional doctorates are blue hoods lined with the faculty colour. More information about the University colours can be found on the Graduations website.
What is the difference between a trencher and a mortarboard?
The only difference between a trencher and a mortarboard is the name: trencher is from the English and mortarboard is from the American system.
Student Administration related questions
Do you have Student Administration related questions ?
Any questions you have on graduations that are required to be answered by Student Administration can be found by visiting the the Student Administration website.