Preparing to graduate

In your final session of study, eligible students will get access to the "course completion" steps in My Student Admin (MSA). This will include:

• Checking your personal details are correct (including your formal name which will appear on your transcript, testamur and AHEGS).
• Checking that your contact details are correct (including your personal email and phone number, in case we need to contact you after you've conferred).
• Ensuring you've provided a verified Unique Student Identifier (USI). 
• Checking there are no sanctions against your account (including clearing outstanding debts and fines and returning all equipment). 

Note: Research students, PhD or Masters by Research students, are not required to complete ‘Course Completion’ as it's managed through the GRS.

The Start button for course completion is greyed out, what do I do?

The start button for 'Course Completion' becomes available for coursework students towards the end of the final session of study. Students who are eligible to complete (have no outstanding subjects on their study plan) will receive an email notifying them when they have access to complete this step.

What will happen if my details aren't up to date?

It's essential that you ensure all of your personal details are up to date in order for you to graduate, otherwise:

• If your name is incorrect or spelt incorrectly, and you haven't notified UTS prior to your graduation, this is the name that will be printed on your official university documents.
• If your contact details are not current, UTS can't contact you to invite you to register for your graduation ceremony. UTS is not responsible if you haven't updated your details in time for graduation ceremony communications. 
• If your address details are not up to date, and you don't attend your graduation ceremony, your printed testamur will be sent to the wrong address. If your details are not up to date, you may be liable for additional costs related to resending your printed testamur.
• If you're an international student who wishes to have your printed testamur sent to you in your home country after you graduate, it's essential that both your international address and international telephone number are up to date so that the international courier service can deliver your testamur to you.

When you've received your final results and have completed and passed all of the credit points within your study plan, your course status can be set to passed. If your course status in My Student Admin (MSA) is marked as passed, that means you've successfully completed the course requirements for your award. 

If you're a research student, once your thesis has been approved your award can be set to passed and you'll be conferred in the next available conferral period. 

How long does it take to be set to passed after my final results are released?

Usually this happens within a couple of weeks of your final results being released. 

Is there anything I can do to speed up the process?

Being set to passed is an automatic process, there's nothing you can do to speed it up. 

While you're waiting to be set to passed

If you need evidence that you've met the academic requirements for your course, please contact the UTS Student Centre for further information.

After you've been set to passed, while you're waiting for conferral

You can apply for a statement of course completion letter, or you can choose to purchase a transcript. The transcript will indicate that the course is 'Complete' and ‘Yet to be conferred’. After conferral, you'll still receive an updated transcript to show that you've been conferred.

Conferral is the administrative process by which your degree is awarded. You're considered a graduate of UTS once your conferral date has passed. Every student who fulfils the requirements for completion of an award course is eligible for formal conferral of the award by the University Academic Board. 

There are 6 conferral rounds each year. Conferral dates and eligibility deadlines are available on the Graduations webpage.

Conferral checklist

1. Award has been set to passed in MSA
2. Resolved any active sanctions that impact graduations (including outstanding fees)
3. Provided a verified USI

Once your award has officially been conferred, you’ll receive an email notification confirming this.

You'll receive your graduation documents after your degree has been conferred by the Academic Board. Your digital documents will automatically be made available via My eQuals unless you specifically opt out. 

Your graduation documents will include the following:

• Academic record (transcript) - the official record of your final subject results
• Australian Higher Education Statement (AHEGS) - which outlines your course details, your marks and final assessment, special or course related achievements and a description of UTS as the awarding institution
• UTS testamur - your official award certificate

All UTS graduates receive a hard copy (printed) testamur.

Testamurs are available for collection soon after conferral. Exact dates printed documents will be available to collect from are outlined in the conferral period that your degree/s were awarded. If you opted out of digital documents, you'll also receive your hard copy academic transcript and AHEGS in the same sleeve with your testamur. 

‘UTS Online Student’ graduates: your hard copy testamur will be mailed out to you in the weeks following your conferral date. Please ensure your preferred mailing address and contact phone number are up to date in MSA. 

Testamur collection options:

• At a graduation ceremony - For eligible graduands invited to attend a graduation ceremony, and who register to attend, we recommend collecting your printed graduation documents at your graduation ceremony.
• In-person collection or proxy collection (appointments essential) from the UTS Student Centre. 
• Testamur mailout (domestically or internationally). An administrative charge is payable for postage.

Domestic mailout within Australia will be send via Australia Post with a tracking number. Someone will need to sign for delivery.

International mailout will be booked using DHL. You will need to supply an international phone number which DHL may use to contact and ensure delivery.

Returned or uncollected testamurs will be kept by UTS for up to 12 months from your conferral date. After 12 months, you will need to request a replacement testamur.

What's the recommended collection option?

For those eligible to attend a graduation ceremony, we encourage collecting your testamur at a graduation ceremony.

You’re now an official member of the UTS Alumni community!

Visit the UTS Alumni page to learn about your benefits, how to stay in touch and meet some of our game-changing alumni!

As you move forward, your access to UTS systems and accounts will change.

To ensure a smooth transition and to stay connected, please visit the Alumni account transition page.

A ‘graduation ceremony’ is the formal celebration of your academic achievement.

UTS graduation ceremonies are held twice a year in Autumn and Spring.

Graduands who have had a Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master or Doctoral degree/s conferred, are invited to ceremony seasons based on their date of conferral.

Graduation ceremony dates are determined by faculty and degree/award. Exact ceremony dates are confirmed when graduands register for their ceremony. 

To confirm eligibility and key ceremony dates, including when information about registering for a ceremony will be sent, please see graduation invitation and deferral eligibility.

Note: Eligible graduands will be contacted by email about 6-8 weeks prior to graduation ceremonies with instructions on how to register. Please don't make travel plans until you've registered and paid your graduation ceremony fee. If you haven't paid, then your date isn't confirmed.