It's time to celebrate your graduation
ACADEMIC DRESS INFO
UNE Life’s Graduation Services offer a wide range of gowns, bonnets, trenchers, hoods, and stoles. You can hire a gown through the GradPak Portal from April 2025.
There are a few options:
- Hire | Gown rentals are available through the GradPak Portal. Gowns must be picked up and returned to Dixson Library on the ceremony day. Please plan to arrive early for registration and gown collection. Collection will open at 8am for the morning ceremonies.
- Purchase | When you buy your regalia from The Shop, it becomes a lasting symbol of your achievement. Wearing this gown and its distinctive colours signifies your accomplishment, and it will remain a cherished memory for years to come, a testament to your hard work and dedication. If you wish to purchase academic dress please ensure you order at least 8 weeks prior to your ceremony to ensure our tailors have time to make your regalia. You can opt to collect your gown from The Shop or have it posted to you in advance. When purchasing please make sure you order all three items of dress or specify that you already have them. UNE Life do not keep a wide range on hold and mainly have dress for higher degrees available so we can dress academics when required. We stop posting 1-2 weeks prior to ceremony depending on where you live.We recommend collecting it at least before the day of your ceremony. The Shop is located in the Ingrid Moses Courtyard, just near Dixson Library. Regular hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
ACCOMMODATION
Armidale has a large variety of accommodation options, ranging from hotels, motels, Airbnb’s and more. You are sure to find warm country hospitality wherever you choose to stay!
Guesthouses, cottages and hotels with charm will appeal to those seeking to unwind. Try a farm stay for an authentically rural experience while you are here for graduation.
Whilst there is certainly a wide range of accommodation options to choose from, it does book-out quickly, and we encourage you to book early to avoid missing out.
Celebrate your achievement with food or from afar
Food Options
Walk-ins are welcome on the day!
Graduation Buffet Lunch – Adults $40, Children $20
A wide range of dietaries catered for, hot dishes, meats, salads, breads and more available. Available Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th. Located in The Bistro from 12pm to 2pm
Event Live Streaming
If you have friends or loved ones that would like to see you graduate but are unable to make it on the day, UNE will be live-streaming each ceremony via the Your Graduation page and on the UNE Facebook page.
Graduation FAQ's
Accessibility
If you or any of your guests require accessibility considerations, please let us know via the GradPak Portal.
What happens if it's raining?
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be relocated to Lazenby Hall.
Please note that a limited number of guests per graduand will be able to view the ceremony in Lazenby Hall due to capacity restrictions. Additional guests will have the opportunity to watch the live stream; seating will be provided in the Lewis Lecture Theatre and the Arts A1 Lecture Theatre.
The decision to move the ceremony due to rain will be made on the morning of the event. Notifications will be given at the registration tent, with signs guiding you to the new venues. Registration will still take place on Graduates Walk (outdoors), and gowning will occur in Dixson Library. If there’s a possibility of rain, it’s advisable to bring an umbrella, just in case.
Who can I talk to about Accessibility at Graduation?
If you or any of your guests require accessibility considerations, please let us know via the GradPak Portal.
What do I need to know about parking?
All UNE parking locations on the academic campus will be available for Graduation days, with the exception of Booloominbah Drive, which is reserved for pre-arranged accessibility drop-off only.
Shuttle buses will make regular rounds to all carparks, dropping off and collecting from the Graduation precinct.
Additionally, parking is free in all event carparks on Graduation days.
What's required for GradPak?
Just your student number, date of birth, and estimated height in centimetres.
After entering these details, your award title, ceremony date, time, and location will be automatically provided.
How can I ensure the correct pronunciation of my name?
You can either type your name phonetically or upload a voice recording. Our speaker will do their utmost to ensure it’s pronounced accurately for you.
What are my gown colours?
Your accurate gown colour and size will be automatically chosen for you. If you wish to confirm them before your special day, you can find the details here.
What if I want to keep my gown?
If you’re interested in purchasing a gown to keep instead of renting one, just choose ‘Hire Gown – No’ in the GradPak Portal and proceed to The Shop to make your purchase.
You can have your purchased gown shipped to you in advance or pick it up from The Shop on the day of the ceremony.
Can I order gifts and graduation merch together?
Yes! Once you’ve selected your gown, catering, and guests in the GradPak Portal, review your order summary and continue shopping if needed.
When ready, proceed to Checkout. Collect all items from The Shop on your graduation day using your order confirmation. Additional graduation items, UNE merch, flowers, and gifts can also be purchased on the day from The Shop.
How can I complete my order?
After confirming your cart in the GradPak Portal, move on to ‘Create an Account’. Just follow the easy steps to set up your account, and you’ll be directed to the checkout page to finalise your order.”
How can I ensure my order has been successful?
After completing your order, an order confirmation will be sent to the email address linked to your account. If you don’t see it, please check your junk mail or spam folder.
Not sure if you’re eligible to graduate?
Head to UNE’s Graduation FAQ’s for everything you need to know.
Who can I contact if I'm having problems with my order?
Don’t hesitate to contact the accommodating team at Reed Graduation Services.
You can reach them at Phone: 1300 361 806 or Email: hello@reedgraduations.com.au for prompt assistance.
We would love you to share your day with us!
Tag us in your celebrations! Tag @unelife2351 and @uninewengland and hashtag #ProudToBeUNE
#UniNewEngland #ProudToBeUNE
Need to speak to someone?
If you have any questions about your graduation ceremony, food or your gown please reach out to the team at UNE Life who look after the celebrations, simply email unelife@une.edu.au or call (02) 6773 2349
If you have any questions about eligibility please contact graduation@une.edu.au or call 02 6773 2000
Did you know
When you purchase your gown, merchandise, textbooks and more through UNE Life, you’re helping future graduands reach their potential as well?
All money spent with UNE Life goes back into the student experience and amenities!
