Unisa graduation ceremony is held every year for University of South Africa students who have completed a degree, a three-year diploma or a postgraduate diploma.
This post will cover how to get your Unisa graduation certificate, the attire to wear for the graduation, and how to know if you have completed your Unisa degree and are eligible for graduation.
How to know if you have completed your Unisa degree
After examination results are released, Unisa will audit your final-year records to verify that your qualification is complete before the Unisa qualification status is changed from “final year” to “completed.”
The official University of South Africa statement you receive confirming your qualification is a legal and valid document that can be produced as proof of completion, pending receipt of your degree/diploma certificate.
Suppose the qualification audit confirms that you have completed your qualification. In that case, the Unisa Graduation department will send an email to your myLife email account or an SMS informing you that you have completed your qualification and confirm the details of the appropriate graduation ceremony.
An Advance Statement of Results that will also confirm your qualification completion will be emailed to your myLife email account.
How to check your unisa graduation status
To check your Unisa graduation status,
- Log into myUnisa with your student number and password to access your graduation information.
- Then click on “myAdmin,” “Student Admin,” and “Graduation information.”
Once you have checked the information, submit the form. Remember, this form can only be submitted once. Once you have submitted the form, your attendance / non-attendance will be automatically updated on the Student System. You will not receive any notification (SMS/email) after submitting this form.
If you believe that you should graduate, but have not received information regarding your graduation ceremony within eight weeks of your final examination results being released, send an email to DSAR-FIaudit@unisa.ac.za (remember to include your student number in the subject line).
Unisa graduation ceremony
Unisa Students who have completed a three-year diploma, postgraduate diploma or a bachelor, honors, master’s or doctoral degree will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony.
Students who have completed a postgraduate certificate or an undergraduate (one or two-year) diploma or certificate will be awarded their qualifications in absentia.
This means that your qualification is awarded in your absence, and your certificate will be posted under registered cover within two weeks of the ceremony.
On arrival, present yourself at the registration desk in the foyer and verify your identity by presenting your official identity document, passport, birth certificate or South African driver’s license.
A seating card with your name, qualification and seat number will be handed to you, together with your guest tickets.
To update your personal details, email your notification to the Unisa graduation division on gaudemaus@unisa.ac.za and, where appropriate, enclose your supporting documentation (e.g., certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce order). Notifications must be received no later than three weeks before your ceremony to ensure that your records are updated in time.
When and where are graduation ceremonies presented?
Unisa students who pass their final exams in October/November/January will graduate between March and June (Autumn graduation series). Graduation ceremonies will be presented in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Polokwane, Mbombela, Bloemfontein and East London.
Students who pass their final exams in May/June will graduate from September to November (Spring graduation series). Graduation ceremonies will be presented in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.
What do you receive on graduation day?
When your name and degree classification are mentioned, you’ll walk across the stage, and you’ll then shake the Chancellor’s hand. Then you’ll receive a cylinder or piece of paper (You’ll usually get your actual degree certificate before or after your graduation ceremony).
How do I get my Unisa graduation certificate?
Students whose Qualifications are conferred in absentia will be notified by email of when and where to collect their certificates.
Certificates may only be collected during office hours (Muckleneuk Campus only). An identity document, valid passport (international students) or South African driver’s license is required for verification purposes.
Remember, The official University statement you receive confirming your qualification is a legal and valid document that can be produced as proof of completion, pending receipt of your degree or diploma certificate.
What happens if I owe Unisa outstanding fees and/or library material?
You will not receive any notification about completing your qualification if you have a pending disciplinary hearing or owe any outstanding fees or library material.
Unisa graduation gowns
Unisa requires that you wear the correct academic dress when attending your graduation ceremony. You might not be admitted to the graduation hall if you don’t.
The University of South Africa does not supply academic dress, and it is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements regarding your academic dress for your graduation ceremony.
Ensure that your academic dress complies with the university’s specifications for your qualification.
Degree Unisa graduation attire
These are the degree Unisa graduation attire specifications per qualification level.
Graduands
- You must wear an academic cap, gown and hood.
- You may only wear your hood after your degree has been conferred.
- Do not wear the hoods of any previous qualifications – you may only wear the hood of the degree to be conferred.
Bachelor, honours and master’s degrees
- Gown – black gown, the same pattern as a Master of Arts gown of the University of Oxford or Cambridge.
- Cap – black with a black tassel.
Doctoral degrees
- Gown: Cardinal red with open sleeves lined in cardinal red.
- Cap: Cardinal red with a tassel in the color of the college concerned.
Diplomats
You must wear an academic gown and a neckband, and diploma candidates do not wear a cap. Click here for an example of a Unisa graduation diploma dress or view the image below.
- Gown: Black, the same pattern as that of a Master of Arts gown of the University of Oxford or Cambridge.
- Neckband: The neckband (collar) is not draped during the ceremony. Wear the neckband when entering the hall. Do not wear the neckbands of previous qualifications.
Unisa graduation ceremony etiquette
Unisa graduation ceremony, just like other graduation ceremonies, is a formal occasion.
- Graduands, diplomands and guests must dress formally, semi-formally or in traditional dress.
- Types of Denim, t-shirts and sports shoes are not permitted.
- Graduands must wear their academic attire, and borrowing an academic dress from other candidates is not allowed.
- Unisa reserves the right to refuse entry to a person not adhering to the dress code. Likewise, the university may also refuse to formally confer or award a qualification to a candidate not wearing academic attire in the prescribed fashion.
- You may be refused admission to the venue if you cannot show any proof of identification.
- Graduands, diplomands and guests must be seated 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
- Late arrivals or guests without tickets will not be admitted into the graduation hall.
- Guest seats are not reserved.
If you have arranged to collect your academic dress at the graduation venue (except at the Pretoria venue, which does not provide such a service), take it from the supplier’s staff.
The congregation
- All graduands, diplomands and guests should rise when the academic procession enters the hall. They may only be seated once the Chancellor has given the signal.
- Graduands, diplomands and guests are requested to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony and not to leave the hall until the academic procession has exited the hall at the end of the ceremony.
- All graduates, diplomates and guests should remain standing until the academic procession has left the hall.
Graduands
Follow these essential instructions when it is your turn to be awarded your degree:
- When signaled by an official, the graduand whose name appears first in the program should rise, and with the seating card in the right hand, ascend the stage from the right (as seen from the audience).
- Hand your card to the college representative, who will read out your name. The college representative will then return the card to you.
- You then walk and kneel with your right knee on the stool while the Chancellor confers your degree.
- Approach the Registrar, standing to the Chancellor’s right (left as seen from the audience), stop in front of the Registrar and turn your back to face the audience.
- A photograph will be taken at that moment. Please stand upright and look directly at the camera.
- Leave the stage on the left (as seen from the audience). Your certificate will be handed to you by an official.
- A head and shoulder photograph will be taken of you as you return to your seat.
Doctoral candidates
The exact process is followed as above, except that your supervisor will read a short validation immediately after the college representative has introduced you to the congregation. If your supervisor is absent, the relevant college representative will read the validation.
Diplomands
Follow these critical instructions when it is your turn to be awarded your diploma:
- When signaled by an official, the diplomand whose name appears first in the program should rise, and with the seating card in the right hand, ascend the stage from the right (as seen from the audience).
- Hand your card to the college representative standing at the lecturn who will read out your name. He or she will then return the card to you.
- Approach the Registrar, standing to the Chancellor’s right (left as seen from the audience), stop in front of the Registrar and turn your back to face the audience.
- A photograph will be taken at that moment. Please stand upright and look directly at the camera.
- Leave the stage on the left (as seen from the audience). Your certificate will be handed to you by an official.
- A head and shoulder photograph will be taken of you as you return to your seat.
Unisa graduation department contact details
You can contact the Unisa Division of Graduations via e-mail address gaudeamus@unisa.ac.za.
You may also contact them via the following postal address:
Division: Graduations, Room 5-12, OR Tambo Building, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus PO Box 392 Unisa 0003.
For inquiries on certificate collection, or anything on Unisa graduation, contact the University on email address enquire@unisa.ac.za or contact the Call Centre on 080 000 1870.