When and how to apply for graduation

What do I need to do to complete my qualification?

Your qualification is granted once you’ve completed all academic and any other requirements set out in your programme regulations, including the payment of any pending fees. You can find the regulations for your programme in the AUT Calendar.

Your qualification can be granted soon after you finish your studies, no matter the time of year. Qualification granting and graduation ceremonies don’t always happen at the same time. You might be granted your qualification without attending a ceremony, or you may not be invited to a ceremony depending on the type of qualification you complete. Either way, once your qualification is granted, it’s official.

When will my final results be confirmed?

Once the semester ends, your results are reviewed by an AUT faculty assessment board before confirming final grades.

If the board confirms you’ve met all academic and any other programme requirements, they formally recommend that your qualification be granted. At this point, you become academically eligible for the granting of your qualification.

After a final set of checks, your name will normally be recommended to the AUT Council, which then grants the qualification, and your faculty will communicate your final results.

When will I meet the requirements?

For most students, it’s straightforward. You’re eligible to receive your qualification once the assessment board confirms you’ve met all programme requirements.

Some qualifications have extra requirements that need to be completed first. These can delay when your qualification is granted and affect which graduation ceremony you can attend. In some cases, these requirements come from external professional bodies – for example, in the Bachelor of Laws and some health clinical programmes.

If you’re not sure whether your programme has additional requirements, your faculty is the best place to check.

When will my qualification be granted?

Most qualifications are granted shortly after the end of semester, but some are granted monthly.

The decision to grant the qualification and the date of granting are at the discretion of the University. Your parchment and academic record will show the date of granting approved by the AUT Council.

Some qualifications may be granted each month, including:

  • Certificates
  • Qualifications for students who have been granted an extension of study
  • Qualifications for students whose programme has additional or external completion requirements
  • Programmes that don’t follow the normal semester-based enrolment pattern

When will my final results be confirmed?

Once the semester ends, your results are reviewed by an AUT faculty assessment board before confirming final grades.

If the board confirms you’ve met all academic and any other programme requirements, they formally recommend that your qualification be granted. At this point, you become academically eligible for the granting of your qualification.

After a final set of checks, your name will normally be recommended to the AUT Council, which then grants the qualification, and your faculty will communicate your final results.

How do I apply to graduate online?

If we think you’re eligible to graduate, you’ll get a graduation application notification by email, inviting you to apply online.

You can apply to graduate on My AUT or through the AUT App. Go to ‘My account’ and then ‘My graduation’ on My AUT or in the main menu in the AUT App.

You should see a button that says ‘Apply to graduate’ if we think you may be eligible to graduate.

If you’ve graduated from AUT before, the ‘My graduation’ screen will also show you details about your previous graduation.

My AUT

How do I check or update my legal name for graduation?

During your application, you’ll be asked to confirm your legal name. This is the name that will appear on your official graduation parchment, so make sure it is accurate.

If it’s correct, you can confirm and continue. If it’s not, follow the on‑screen instructions to update it so that your name is correct for your graduation.

Do I have to attend a graduation ceremony?

No. Attending a graduation ceremony is your choice. When you apply, you can choose one of the following options:

  1. In person – I wish to attend this graduation ceremony and have my parchment presented to me.
  2. In absentia – I won’t attend a graduation ceremony and wish to receive my parchment by courier as soon as it’s available. Parchments will be dispatched after the graduation ceremonies.
  3. Defer ceremony – I won’t attend this graduation ceremony and wish to delay the ceremonial presentation of my qualification and parchment to a later date (12 months maximum). If you’ve already reached the maximum deferral limit, your deferral option will expire, and you’ll be sent a notification.

If you choose ‘in absentia’, confirm your address

Not graduating in person? We’ll courier your parchment to you once the graduation ceremonies are complete.

Make sure your contact details are up to date, including your phone number and full mailing address. If you’re overseas, check that we have your full overseas address and contact number.

There’s no cost, but if your parchment is returned, you need to email graduation@aut.ac.nz to arrange delivery. If that happens, you’ll need to pay for the additional courier costs, so it’s important that your physical delivery address is up to date.

Can I tell AUT how to pronounce my name?

Yes. If you’re planning to attend a graduation ceremony and want your name pronounced in a particular way, you can provide guidance during your application. If you choose to provide guidance for how to pronounce your name, you can:

  • Type in the phonetic spelling of your name – follow the on-screen guidance if you need help
  • Upload an audio file with a clearly recorded pronunciation of your name

Will there be graduation photography?

Yes. Our photographers will capture the moment you cross the stage and receive your qualification. You’ll also have the option to take portrait photos before and after the ceremony.

During your application, you can indicate whether you’re happy for your photos to be made available.

Can I get accessibility support at my AUT graduation?

We want to make your graduation ceremony enjoyable for you. If there’s anything that may affect your participation in the graduation ceremony, like a physical or other impairment, you can let us know during your application. This helps the AUT graduation team arrange any additional assistance so you can fully enjoy your day.

How many guests can I bring to graduation?

During your application, you’ll be asked how many guests you plan to bring so AUT can plan the ceremony.

You don’t need a ticket for yourself. This isn’t your ticket order – you’ll receive more information later about how and when you can claim tickets for your guests.

What happens after I apply to graduate?

After submitting your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email. We’ll send more detailed information closer to your ceremony date.