Graduation

The ceremony commences with the procession of all graduands followed by academic staff and the official party.

The assembly is requested to stand for the academic procession and remain standing until the music concludes and the official party are seated.

The ceremonial host opens the ceremony.

The ceremonial host introduces the presiding officer who delivers the official address on behalf of the QUT Council.

The ceremonial host and presiding officer certify graduands have fulfilled the conditions prescribed for their awards.

Graduands are presented to the presiding officer to be awarded their degrees.

The presiding officer congratulates the graduates and acknowledges their achievements.

The special award presenter introduces the special award recipient and speaker.

The presenting officer introduces the ceremony student representative to provide an address to the students and guests.

The ceremonial host concludes the ceremony and asks the audience to stand as the academic procession retires.

The academic procession leaves the theatre, followed by graduates and audience members.

The gowns and hoods worn at QUT graduation ceremonies stem from a distinctive style of academic dress which emerged in the first universities in Europe in the twelfth centry. The style was influenced by the fact that masters and scholars at that time were usually members of the clergy.

Standard gowns of different shape, length and sleeve design indicate the degrees of bachelor, master and doctor. The robes of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor signify the office rather than the award of the wearer.

The gowns worn by the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of QUT retain a link with the style of academic dress in the older English universities. However, the QUT base material is a cooler wool blend rather than the traditional black silk damask or faille, and the blue colour is in keeping with the corporate identify of the university.

The embellishment used on the QUT ceremonial gowns (gold for Chancellor, silver for Vice-Chancellor) gives a distinct Queensland identify. Whereas traditional English festal robes are embellished with bullion braids in oak leaf or plate lace patterns, the Queensland floral emblem, the Cooktown Orchid, provides the theme for the QUT braids. The braids were manufactured in Australia on computer-controlled machines. The robes and trencher caps were also made in Australia.

Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander graduates may choose to wear an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stole as part of their academic dress.

QUT's Indigenous Australian visual identify is used as the design for the stoles and represents the 'connected worlds' of our QUT community and the Turrbal and Yugara peoples, the First Nations owner of the lands where QUT now stands.

The design is further complimented by the use of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag colours.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stoles are provided by QUT's Oodgeroo Unit, to celebrate student achievement and to proudly recognise the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

QUT’s sterling silver mace, 80 centimetres long, is of simple design. It has three sections, each symbolising the different levels of tertiary education. The knob at the base represents the bachelor degree, the start of a professional career. The handpiece in the middle represents the master degree. The flame-shaped head, symbolising the torch of learning, represents the doctorate. The open top acknowledges that education is an ongoing process.

In the middle ages, the mace was preferred by soldier churchmen (in particular Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux, who was the half-brother of William the Conqueror) as it was a crushing instrument which did not draw blood. Over time the mace became a symbol of authority.

The QUT mace was designed and built by Mr Alan Place, a former part-time lecturer in fine arts.