Applying to graduate
Find out when your AUT qualification may be granted, when you may be invited to attend an AUT graduation ceremony and how to apply to graduate.
Understanding graduation: graduation ceremonies and granting of qualifications
AUT operates a flexible graduation model throughout the year – this means that your qualification can be granted soon after you’ve completed your studies, no matter the time of year.
The granting of a qualification and a graduation ceremony are related – but they can be two separate events. Sometimes, students are granted a qualification but choose not to attend a graduation ceremony, or they may not be invited to attend a ceremony due to the type of qualification they receive.
To complete your programme of study you must satisfy the academic and any other specific requirements prescribed in the programme regulations. You can find regulations for your programme in the AUT Calendar.
When will you meet the requirements?
For most students this means they will complete their studies and be eligible to receive their qualification after the final examinations or assessments at the end of their last semester.
However, some qualifications have extra requirements that must be met, and this may delay the final completion of your qualification and impact which graduation ceremony you can attend. In some cases, these are the requirements of external professional bodies. Check with your faculty if this applies to you.
What happens next
Faculty assessment boards meet at the end of semester to review student results before confirming final grades.
If the board determines you’ve met all the academic completion and any other related requirements for your programme, they will formally recommend that your qualification be granted. This is when you become academically eligible for the granting of the qualification.
Following some further checks, your name will normally be recommended to the AUT Council, which then grants the qualification.
Graduating if you have any outstanding fees
If you have any outstanding fees, you can still apply to graduate but your parchment will be withheld.
An outstanding debt to AUT may prevent you from meeting the requirements of your programme. Once the debt is paid, the hold will be removed from your account, and your parchment will be made available physically and online.
The decision to grant the qualification, and the date of granting, is at the discretion of the university.
Your parchment and academic record will show the date of granting approved by the AUT Council.
Most qualifications will be granted after the end of semester, but some qualifications may be granted each month.
Qualifications that can be granted monthly
- 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
What you need to do
In the case of certificates above, you don’t need to do anything. We will courier or mail your parchment to you. You won't usually be invited to attend a graduation ceremony.
For all the other cases above, we'll contact you and explain what the next steps are, including options for attendance at a graduation ceremony.
Qualifications that are granted at the end of semester
If you’re getting any qualification other than the ones listed above, your qualification will normally be granted shortly after the end of semester.
What you need to do
Before you finish your studies, AUT will email you to invite you to apply to graduate.
If you’re granted an eligible qualification, AUT will offer you the opportunity to take part in a graduation ceremony and explain the options.
Follow the instructions below to apply to graduate.
Graduating if you have any outstanding fees
If you have any outstanding fees, you can still apply to graduate but your parchment will be withheld.
An outstanding debt to AUT may prevent you from meeting the requirements of your programme. Once the debt is paid, the hold will be removed from your account, and your parchment will be made available physically and online.
You’ll receive a graduation application notification by email, advising you to complete the application in Arion.
If you want to attend a ceremony, it is important that you apply before the application closing date* so that a place can be reserved for you.
You do not need to wait for your final results.
What to do after receiving your graduation application notification
- Visit arion.aut.ac.nz
- Enter your AUT Student ID number as the username
- Enter your password**
- Log in
- Select ‘Academic Details’ > ‘Graduation Application’> click on your qualification
- You should see the available graduation options and then confirm your attendance
*Indicated in the correspondence we send you.
**If you do not remember your password, you can reset your password. Make sure you have access to your recovery email to reset your password.
Choose from 3 options to graduate
- “In Absentia” – I will not attend the ceremony. Please courier my parchment to me. Parchments will be dispatched after the graduation ceremonies. Make sure we have your up-to-date contact details and mailing address, including phone number. If you’re overseas, make sure you give us your full overseas address and contact number. We can’t change the address after you’ve submitted your application.
- “In Person” – I wish to attend this graduation ceremony.
- “Defer” – I will not attend the graduation ceremony and wish to delay the ceremonial presentation of my qualification and parchment at a later date (12 months maximum). If you’ve already reached the maximum deferral limit, your deferral option will expire and you will be sent a notification.
If you change your mind
If you want to change the way you graduate, we will try to accommodate your request, but depending on how much notice you give us, your options could be limited.
Make sure you apply to graduate by the advertised closing date – if you apply late, there’s no guarantee we can accommodate your late request. This means that you may need to attend a later graduation event.
The process below outlines the steps that happen between your faculty confirming that you may be meeting the requirements to complete your qualification, and you attending your graduation ceremony and officially receiving your AUT qualification.
Graduation process step by step
- AUT faculties recommend students who may be eligible for the granting of their qualification
- If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a graduation application through Arion and are invited to confirm your attendance at the graduation ceremony if you successfully complete your qualification(s)
- The application includes ceremony details, regalia and when ticketing information will be provided
- Check that your legal name and qualification is correct
- Confirm your attendance by completing the graduation application by the due date
- You’ll receive an email confirming your preferred attendance method
- If you’re eligible to graduate, you’re sent confirmation of your completion – you won’t receive this if you didn’t meet the requirements to graduate
- Confirmed that you’ll attend graduation and graduate in person? You’ll receive ticketing information 2 weeks before graduation
- Your attend your graduation ceremonies
- Confirmed that you’ll graduate in-absentia? Your parchment will be dispatched after the graduation ceremonies
On the day: what to expect at graduation
Find out what to expect at your graduation ceremony – including when to arrive and register, how long ceremonies are, and what happens during your graduation ceremony.
Dates and times for graduation
Learn more about the dates and times for upcoming AUT graduation ceremonies.
If you don’t hear from us
Think that you’re eligible to graduate and haven’t heard from us? You should contact your AUT faculty or school office immediately.