Graduation 2024
NZSE holds an annual graduation for students across our schools to come together and celebrate their academic success. It is a milestone every tertiary student looks forward to, an uplifting conclusion to your journey at NZSE and the start of your journey into the wider world.
Date: 20 September, 2024
Time: Registration opens at 12 noon
Venue: The Civic Theatre
Address: Corner of Queen Street and 269-287 Wellesley Street West, Auckland 1010
Graduation FAQs
How do I get tickets for me and my friends/whanau?
If you have either completed or are close to completing your programme when graduation approaches, you will receive an email from NZSE on Friday, 9 August. Through this email, you will be able to book tickets for yourself, your friends, and whanau.
E-tickets will be issued to you. You (the graduand) will need to bring your e-ticket. Each of your guests will require their own ticket for admission. Children over the age of 2 need a ticket. They must be closely supervised and accompanied by an adult who is not graduating at all times. As children can sometimes find these formal ceremonies uncomfortable, we recommend guests with young children sit next to an aisle to easily leave the hall if necessary.
Graduands will be seated in a reserved section of the auditorium, while guests will be seated in the balcony area. Our staff helpers will direct you to your seat. Guest seating is unreserved. Note your guests will only be admitted to the auditorium if they hold a ticket.
If you need special seating arrangements due to disability, or need space for a wheelchair, email [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than the response closing date. Include:
- Your student name and id number.
- The qualification with which you will be graduating.
- The details of your special requirements.
You will be contacted prior to the ceremony to confirm arrangements. We will also assist you on the day. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
If you have invited guests from overseas, we can provide you with a letter for immigration visas. Please contact [email protected]
You will receive 2 free tickets for your guests. You will then be able to purchase 5 extra tickets for the cost of $5 each. You can purchase these online here or email your request. If you still require more tickets, then you will be placed on a waiting list, and if numbers allow you will be able to purchase extra tickets. If you have tickets you will not use or require more, please contact [email protected] so we can reallocate these tickets to those on the guest seating waitlist.
If you need to cancel, please contact [email protected]. There is a no refund policy.
How early should I arrive?
What should I do if I have special requirements due to a disability?
. If you need special seating arrangements due to disability, or need space for a wheelchair, email [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than the response closing date. Include:
- Your student name and id number.
- The qualification with which you will be graduating.
- The details of your special requirements.
You will be contacted prior to the ceremony to confirm arrangements. We will also assist you on the day. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Is there parking at the venue?
There is no onsite parking at The Civic Theatre. The nearest car park building is the Civic Car Park. Cash payments are not available for parking. Due to construction on Wellesley Street, and Queen Street being closed to private motor vehicles and taxis, the best drop-off location for attendees is on Elliott Street behind Smith and Caughey’s.
What is the dress code?
Your graduation is a formal celebration, so you must wear the correct academic dress (called regalia). It’s your responsibility to buy or hire the items you need in time for your graduation ceremony.
NZSE College has a preferred supplier arrangement for hiring academic dress with The Graduation Place. Click here for NZSE’s hiring page. They will provide all the information you need about:
- What you should wear
- How to wear academic dress
- How to hire gowns and academic dress
- Due dates for hiring academic dress
- Where to pick up and return hired academic dress
There are a small number of gowns that can be hired from NZSE. This will be done on a first come, first served basis. Don’t wait until the last minute!
You may choose to wear clothing of garments of honour from your culture or home country such as a korowai, ta’ovala or sari as well. This is a welcome enrichment to the colour of the graduation ceremonies and a celebration of our different cultures.
Undergraduate gowns
Undergraduate or Short Gowns are worn by certificate and diploma recipients. Note: One size fits all.
Diploma Scarves / stoles
They may be worn by diploma, graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma recipients. The colour denotes the qualification being awarded. The colour is different for each school. Healthcare is light green, and technology is blue.
What happens on the day at graduation?
When you arrive, dressed in your regalia, you will need to check-in and complete a graduation survey. Check-in will begin at 12pm and close at 1.30pm. If you have not already received your programme completion certificate you will be able to collect it.
Your whanau and friends can enter the venue from 12.00pm and must all be seated by 1.30pm. Please leave any handbags, satchels, cameras or any small items with your guests.
All graduates will receive a complimentary copy of the programme at the ceremony.
At the start of the ceremony the audience is expected to rise as the academic and official processions enter. The audience will be advised when to sit.
At the appropriate time, various qualifications will be announced. Graduates will be guided by an usher to the stage before your qualification is announced. When your name is announced, approach the sage and stand directly before the academic director. The director will shake your hand and hand you your scroll. When the entire cohort has been called, graduates will stand in the centre of the stage for a final cohort photo before exiting the stage. Recipients will be guided back to their seats by an usher.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone will remain standing until those on stage have withdrawn. Graduates will then follow the staff in procession out of the auditorium. Students and guests are to remain in the auditorium until the ceremony has concluded.
Our graduation
ceremony will be live streamed to allow friends and whānau from around the
world to view your graduation as it happens.
A video recording of
the full ceremony will also be available online shortly after the ceremony.
What if I can't make the event?
If you need to cancel, please contact [email protected]. You will be unable to make a cancellation after the closing date of August 28, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you have tickets, you will not use, please contact [email protected] so we can reallocate these tickets to those on the guest seating waitlist. There is a no refund policy.
