Register to graduate FAQ


Do I have to graduate from my course?

Yes, every student who completes their course must graduate. Graduating verifies that you have met the requirements for the award you have studied. Once you have graduated you will be issued your testamur and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

How do I graduate?

You will need to follow the instructions on the Register to graduate page.

What does 'in absentia' mean?

In absentia is Latin for 'in the absence'. If you graduate 'in absentia' you will not attend your graduation ceremony and, once you pay the 'in absentia' graduation payment, you will receive your graduation documentation via mail. When graduating 'in absentia' the Chancellor will confer your award 'in your absence'.

What does 'confer' or 'conferral' mean?

Confer means to grant or bestow something upon a person e.g. a title, degree, benefit, or right.

I can't access the MySR online registration, what should I do?

If you experience any issues accessing or completing the online graduation form, contact graduations@westernsydney.edu.au for assistance. Please note that you must notify graduations prior to the registration closing date, as late applications will not be considered under any circumstance

How do I register to graduate if I finished my degree some time ago and I do not have access to MySR or my old student email?

If you completed your degree some time ago, never graduated, and now wish to, email graduations@westernsydney.edu.au.  Please be aware you may have already graduated if you were identified as a clean up student as you completed study more than 6 months ago.

When do I find out the date of my graduation?

An email containing the date of your ceremony will be sent to you via your student email approximately six weeks before graduations are scheduled to commence. In December it will be approximately a week before the ceremony

Where will my graduation ceremony take place?

Graduation ceremonies are held in the Ian and Nancy Turbott Auditorium (Building EE), Parramatta campus, corner of Victoria Road and James Ruse Drive, Parramatta. For directions please visit the Parramatta campus page.

I am supposed to graduate in the current round of ceremonies, but now wish to graduate at a later date. How can I change this?

Email graduations@westernsydney.edu.au no later than the cut-off date advised on the graduation deadlines webpage for the relevant graduation round. If you have already paid to attend your ceremony you will not be required to pay again but you need to follow the same procedure above.

Important: You can only defer your graduation ceremony once. If you are unable to attend the future graduation ceremony you defer to, you will have to graduate in absentia from that ceremony. Deferrals are not reversible.

I want to participate in the December graduation ceremonies but have not received an email letting me know my course is included?

December graduation is only open to a small cohort of students in selected courses. Invitations are distributed via student email accounts to potential graduands. If you have not received this email, your course is not participating or your student record does not meet the required criteria. If you believe you should have received an invitation, and your course is listed as participating on the December Graduation webpage, please go to the MyGraduation form in MySR and see if the December graduation round is an option available to you. If so please register to graduate so we can assess if you are eligible to graduate.

If I submit a review of grade for my Summer results can I still graduate in April?

If you decide to submit a review of grade for your final Summer results released (for example you are applying for your pass to reconsidered to a higher grade) you need to email the Graduation team at graduations@westernsydney.edu.au to advise them of your application and you will no longer be eligible to graduate in April.

The Graduation team will ensure your registration is not processed for April graduations to account for your grade being reviewed.

If you submit a review of grade and do not email the Graduation team at graduations@westernsydney.edu.au, your official graduation documentation will be printed with your original mark and your official graduation date will be shown as April. If your review of grade application is then successful, you will then need to pay for a new AHEGS to show your new mark.

My Summer results email says I have an incomplete grade or I failed a unit – can I still graduate in April?

Your April graduation registration will have already been assessed based on the results you receive on results release day. Any changes or updates to these grades after this date cannot be considered due to the tight time frame between the final Summer Session exams and the April graduation ceremonies. There can be no extension for any reason.

Please note, you will not be eligible to participate in the April graduation ceremonies if:

  • you apply for a deferred exam
  • you apply for a supplementary assessment
  • are enrolled in Quarter 4
  • have advanced standing or course transfer details still pending
  • you have failed a unit, (even if applying for a review of grade)
  • your grades have not been processed or you have incomplete grades (because practical reports have not been marked/completed or for any other reason).

In these circumstances, you will need to register for the September graduation ceremonies. Please check the graduation deadlines webpage for key graduation deadlines for April graduation ceremonies.

If I submit a review of grade for Spring Session can I still graduate in December?

If you decide to submit a review of grade for your final results (for example you are applying for your pass to reconsidered to be a higher grade) you need to email the Graduation team at graduations@westernsydney.edu.au to advise them of your application and you will no longer be eligible to graduate in December.

The Graduation team will ensure your registration is not processed for December graduations to account for your grade being reviewed.

If you submit a review of grade and do not email the Graduation team at graduations@westernsydney.edu.au, your official graduation documentation will be printed with your original mark and your official graduation date will be shown as December. If your review of grade application is then successful, you will then need to pay for a new AHEGs to show your new mark.

My Spring Session results email says I have an incomplete grade or I failed a unit – can I still graduate in December?

Your December graduation application will have already been assessed based on the results you receive on results release day. Any changes or updates to these grades after this date cannot be considered due to the tight timeframe between the final Spring Session exams and the December graduation ceremonies. There can be no extension for any reason.

Please note, you will not be eligible to participate in the December graduation ceremonies if:

  • you apply for a deferred exam
  • you apply for a supplementary assessment
  • are enrolled in Quarter 4
  • have advanced standing or course transfer details still pending
  • you have failed a unit, (even if applying for a review of grade)
  • your grades have not been processed or you have incomplete grades (because practical reports have not been marked/completed or for any other reason).

In these circumstances, your registration and any payment you have made will automatically move to be considered for the April graduation ceremonies. Please check the graduation deadlines webpage for key graduation deadlines for December and April graduation ceremonies.

Can I change the ceremony I am attending to a different one in the same round of graduation ceremonies?

Unfortunately it is not possible to change the ceremony you are attending.

What if I am unable to attend my graduation ceremony?

If you are unable to attend your ceremony, you will graduate 'in absentia' and your testamur and AHEGS will be sent to you after you pay your RSVP in absentia graduation fee through OneStop and once graduation ceremonies are finished.

The in absentia fees are as follows:

  • $30 for postage within Australia
  • $45 for postage outside Australia

Your testamur and AHEGS will be posted to the address you add to your OneStop order.

Can I graduate from my master and undergraduate degrees at the same time?

No, you must graduate from your undergraduate degree before you graduate from your masters. If you do not wish to attend both ceremonies, you can graduate in absentia from one degree and attend the ceremony for the other.

If I am graduating from a double degree with Bachelor of Laws, can I participate in December graduation?

Only if you have already graduated from the first component of your double degree or you are eligible to graduate from both components. For example, if you are graduating from Bachelor of Business and Commerce/Bachelor of Laws, then you will need to have graduated from the  Business component in a previous graduation round to enable you to graduate from your Law component in the December ceremonies or you are graduating from both components.

If I am graduating from a double degree with Bachelor of Laws, do I attend two ceremonies?

No, you will graduate in the School of Law ceremony. You will receive your graduation documents for both components of your double degree at the same time.

I am an International student and my parents need confirmation for visa purposes, how do I get a letter to send to them?

This letter (Graduation application confirmation) is produced by Student Central. You will need to order the letter via OneStop, and an administrative fee of $25 applies. The letter will be emailed to you. To select the letter; in OneStop under Category go to 'International Students', tick' International Student Letters' and under Letter Type, select 'Graduation application confirmation'.  If you have any enquiries regarding this letter please email studentcentral@westernsydney.edu.au.

How do I keep access to my student email once I have applied to graduate and no longer a currently enrolled student?

Your email address will remain active for up to 90 days after graduating. If you are having trouble accessing your email account, you may need to reset your password (https://westernaccount.westernsydney.edu.au/). Alternatively, contact the IT Service Desk (http://myit.westernsydney.edu.au or email itservicedesk@westernsydney.edu.au) and make sure you include your student ID number.

Please note, this will only give you access to your email account. You won't have access to Western Sydney University online systems (MyWestern, My Student Records (MySR) and vUWS).