Contacts, FAQs and Glossary
Graduation contacts
Graduation/Graduation Ceremony or Graduation Documents
For all enquiries relating to your Graduation, Graduation Ceremony, Testamur, Australian Higher Education and Graduation Statement (AHEGS) or Alumni Certificate, and including if you are unable to attend your nominated ceremony, please contact the Exams Team.
Gown Hire/purchase and Photography
For all enquiries relating to gown hire and purchase, gown return and official photography, please contact Silver Rose.
Graduation FAQs
Graduation Eligibility
No, you do not have to apply to graduate. Once you are enrolled in your final subjects, you will be allocated to a graduation ceremony based on your course of study and the course location. You must confirm your attendance at the ceremony via eStudent once you receive an invitation.
You must have fulfilled all the requirements of your degree and meet the eligibility requirements before you can graduate. Refer to Eligibility to graduate and conferral for the eligibility criteria. Your award will be conferred by university council, generally within 6 weeks of your final subject result being released.
See Graduation Ceremony Dates & Times to view graduation ceremony dates and times.
Graduation Attendance and RSVP
To confirm your attendance at the allocated ceremony, log-in to eStudent using your JCU username and password. Select My Results and Graduation at the top of the page followed by Graduation Details at the left-hand side of the page. The Course, Award and Ceremony details will be noted towards the bottom of the page - select Modify. Under Attendance Details select Ceremony - Attending followed by Save.
If you experience any issues, please email graduations@jcu.edu.au.
You will be permitted to attend an alternative ceremony provided your College is represented at the requested ceremony. You will need to email graduations@jcu.edu.au with details of the graduation ceremony you would like to attend.
No, you do not have to attend a graduation ceremony. Your award will be conferred by University Council separate to your graduation ceremony. Your graduation documents will be mailed to you following conferral.
In anticipation that you pass all required subjects, and are eligible to graduate, you will be allocated to a graduation ceremony. You will receive an allocation email when you are enrolled in your final subjects of your course, and the Enrolment Team have reviewed your record. Don’t worry if your friends have received an email but you haven’t, your record may still be under review.
For dates and venues of JCU's graduation ceremonies, visit the Graduation Ceremony Dates & Times web page.
Graduation Ceremony Guest Tickets
Guest tickets are complimentary and general admission with a maximum of four (4) guest tickets allocated per graduate. Graduates will be emailed the guest ticket link approximately four (4) weeks before the Graduation Ceremony.
Please note, graduates are not required to reserve a seat for themselves.
Graduates do not need to arrange a ticket for themselves. Several days prior to the ceremony graduates will be emailed a registration number. On the day of the ceremony, you will need to present to the registration desk and quote the registration number you were provided. You will then be given your registration card which details your allocated seat.
For Townsville and Cairns ceremonies there is a limit of four (4) guests per graduate. If any additional seating is made available closer to the ceremony date you will be advised of this by email.
For JCU Singapore please email graduation-singapore@jcu.edu.au
For JCU Brisbane please email enquire@jcub.edu.au
The Graduation Ceremony
It is estimated that each ceremony will take two (2) hours, but the duration may extend depending on the number of attendees.
It is expected that graduates arrive at least two (2) hours prior to the ceremony commencement time to allow time for parking, gown collection, photography and registration.
Please refer to Graduation Ceremony Dates & Times for information about the date, time and location of the upcoming Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane Graduation Ceremonies.
Yes, refreshments can be purchased at the venue.
All graduating students attending a ceremony must wear an Academic Gown. To find out which gown you should wear please refer to Preparing for your Graduation Ceremony.
It is recommended that you wear clothing that is neat, smart and comfortable under your gown. You’ll need shoes that are suitable for stairs, carpet and slippery surfaces. Thongs, shorts, t-shirts, jeans and ripped clothing are not considered appropriate.
It is compulsory to wear JCU approved academic dress at your graduation ceremony. You will receive the link to purchase or hire your JCU approved gown approximately four weeks before your graduation ceremony.
The pronunciation of some names is not obvious and may require some additional instruction. To assist the Dean with pronouncing your name correctly at your graduation, indicate the phonetic spelling of your name using the below format:
- Break your name into syllables and separate by dashes.
- Capitalise syllables that are emphasised when pronouncing your name.
- Include all letter sounds that might help a person say your name, even if those same sounds are not present in the actual spelling of your name.
An example of a phonetic name is Sophia Gonzalez: So-FEE-uh gon-SAH-les.
Yes, please email graduations@jcu.edu.au if you want a different name read at the ceremony. However, your graduation documents must legally display your legal name.
Doffing, or tipping one's hat as a salutation, involves raising your right hand to touch the front edge of your trencher (hat) and nodding slightly as a symbol of respect towards the Chancellor.
Review JCU’s Guide to Graduation for a video showing how to doff.
Diploma / Certificate
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate gown, no hood is worn.
Bachelor
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate. Black Oxford-style hood fully lined with blue satin.
Bachelor Honours
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate gown. Black Oxford-style hood fully lined with blue satin with an edging strip in gold satin.
Graduate Certificate
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate gown, no hood is worn.
Graduate Diploma
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate gown, no hood is worn.
Master
CAP – Black trencher with black tassel.
GOWN – Black Cambridge-style undergraduate gown. Black Oxford-style hood fully lined with gold satin.
Professional Doctorate by Coursework
CAP – Royal blue trencher with blue tassel.
GOWN – Royal blue Cambridge gown with front facings and sleeve linings of red. Sleeves caught by gold cord and blue button. Red hood fully lined in royal blue.
Professional Doctorate by Research
CAP – Red velvet bonnet with gold cord and tassel.
GOWN – Royal blue Cambridge gown with front facings and sleeve linings of red. Sleeves caught by gold cord and blue button. Red hood fully lined in royal blue.
Doctor of Philosophy
CAP – Tudor bonnet of royal blue velvet with gold cord around crown with two small gold tassels
GOWN – Cambridge design gown of royal blue fabric with facings and sleeve linings of faille of ‘doctor’s red’. Hood of same fabric as gown lined with same red faille. Sleeves caught with gold cord and blue button.
Graduation Documents
A digital Testamur and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) will be available via My eQuals the next university working day following your conferral. An email with a link to create your account will be sent to your preferred email address listed in eStudent once your documents are available. Please check your clutter folder for My eQuals correspondence.
A hardcopy Testamur will be posted to you in the weeks following your conferral. Please note, if your address is not current after this date, you may be liable to pay for a replacement testamur.Please allow 4 weeks for delivery within Australia.
For International posts, please allow up to 6-8 weeks.
JCU Australia graduating students do not receive Official Academic Transcript. Students receive a hard copy of their Testamur and a Digital copy of their Testamur and Australian Higher Education Statement (AHEGS).
If you would like to order an Official Academic Record, you need to complete the online application.
Only certain programs have approved the printing of majors on testamurs (degree certificates). You can find out if your course has approved for award majors to be printed on testamurs by navigating to the Handbook webpage and checking the 'Award Details' section.
If you do not receive your hard copy Testamur and AHEGS in the months following conferral, please contact graduations@jcu.edu.au. It is important that you update your current address when prompted via email in anticipation of your conferral. Ensure that you contact us within six (6) months, or you may be liable to pay for a replacement testamur.
Can't find the answer you were looking for?
Please visit our Ask Us page for more Graduation answers, or to ask any other question you may have about graduating at JCU.
Graduation Glossary
Academic Dress
An academic gown, hood and a trencher (mortar-board/hat) worn at Graduation Ceremonies. Academic dress standards vary based on the officers and graduates of the University.
Academic Transcript
An Academic Transcript, also known as an Official Academic Record, is the official record of your study at JCU. It details all subjects studied, results, credit points, Grade Point Average (GPA) for each semester and the overall GPA for your studies. If you have graduated, the record will also include the date your award was conferred.
Alumni
Alumni is the network of JCU graduates. It provides you with networking, resources, and career opportunities.
Apostille
The apostille or authentication certificate verifies the signature, stamp or seal on the original document, or that of the Notary Public for documents they've notarised (DFAT, 2024).
Australian Higher Education Statement (AHEGS)
The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) describes a higher education qualification in an easily understandable way, relating it to the system in which it was issued and describing qualifications in a clear and consistent way to potential employers and other higher education institutions.
Conferral
Conferral means that you have officially been awarded your degree. To be eligible for conferral, you must have completed all academic and practical requirements of your award and have no outstanding debts owing to the University. You are legally a graduate upon conferral and can use your postnominals.
Doffing
Tipping one's hat as a salutation, involves raising your right hand to touch the front edge of your trencher (hat) and nodding slightly as a symbol of respect towards the Chancellor.
Graduand
A person who is approved to graduate but has not yet been conferred by University Council.
Graduate
A person who has had their award conferred.
In Absentia
Refers to graduates who do not attend their Graduation Ceremony and receive their Graduation Documents via mail.
Phonetic Name
A name as it is pronounced, rather than how it is written. For example, Ravish Singh would be written phonetically as RAV-eesh Sing.
Post-nominals
Letters placed after your name to indicate the qualification that the person holds. Go to our handbook website and select your course in the Course Information. Scroll down to Award Details > Approved abbreviation for the post nominals for your course. You may use the post-nominals once your award has been conferred.
Sanction
If you have in some way breached any of JCU's rules, regulations or policies, a certain type of restriction will be placed on your enrolment. These are known as sanctions. Any sanctions that have been applied to your student account can be viewed in eStudent in the My Details tab. See Types of sanctions for information about the different sanctions and the steps to remove it.
Testamur
The legal certification of a degree that is presented upon conferral of an award from James Cook University. A Testamur will be printed and sealed with the University Seal in accordance with the University Seal Procedure. A Testamur will include the full legal name of the student, the conferral date and the award title.