Te Rā Whakawhiwhi Tohu
Graduation
Ara Institute Graduation Ceremonies
Ara holds three graduation ceremonies a year, two in March and one in February, at the Christchurch Town Hall. The ceremonies are preceded by street parades from the Arts Centre to the Town Hall.
The Southern campuses graduation ceremony is held in mid-February. The ceremony is preceded by a street parade along Stafford Street.
Southern Campuses 2020 Graduation Ceremony
Thursday 18 February 2021
Southern Trust Events Centre
70 Morgans Road, Glenwood, Timaru
12.45pm - assemble for parade
2.15pm - graduation ceremony
The ceremony is preceded by an Ara graduand street parade from Canon Street to George Street where a shuttle bus will transfer students to the event centre. Graduands should congregate outside of the Movie Max Cinema in Canon Street at 12.45pm.
Registering for graduation: Once you have completed your qualification and been confirmed as eligible to graduate you will receive an email from Ara inviting you to fill in a form. You must complete the form, so we know whether you want to graduate in person or graduate in absentia. If you do not fill in this form you will not be able to cross the stage and receive your qualification on the day.
Dress is smart/semi-formal wear (e.g. dress pants and collared shirt). Regalia is only required for Diploma and Degree learners. Regalia needs to be ordered and paid for directly with Graduate Women Canterbury (see below). Ara will coordinate transport of your regalia from Christchurch to the Timaru campus for collection.
Tickets for whanau and friends can be ordered via a link that will be sent to you in 2021.
Christchurch 2020 Autumn Graduation
Friday 26 March 2021
Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium
86 Kilmore Street, Christchurch
10:00am & 2:00pm
The ceremonies are preceded by Ara graduand street parades from the Arts Centre to the Town Hall. Graduands should congregate in Market Square at the Arts Centre.
Assembly times are:
Morning ceremony 8:45AM & Afternoon ceremony 12:45PM
March 2021 Graduands: Once you have completed your qualification and been confirmed as eligible to graduate you will receive an email from Ara inviting you to fill in a form. You must complete the form so we know whether you want to graduate in person or graduate in absentia. If you do not fill in this form you will not be able to cross the stage and receive your qualification on the day.
2020 Graduates: An email should be sent to you in early 2021 with instructions on how to register. If you do not receive an email by the end of January and wish to graduate at the ceremony on 26 March or 17 September in 2021 please email graduation@ara.ac.nz and request further information.
Graduation guides
There are graduation guides that provide all the information needed about the ceremonies, these will be available from this page in late January.
Graduation regalia
As part of the formal graduation ceremony, Ara regalia is required. Regalia needs to be ordered directly from Graduate Women Canterbury (GWC) website.
Graduands are responsible for obtaining their own academic regalia and we encourage you to organise yours early to ensure availability. Academic regalia must be collected from the offices of Graduate Women Canterbury (located on the Dovedale Campus, corner of Dovedale & Solway Avenues) the day before the ceremony, and returned there as soon as possible after the ceremony.
The hiring of academic dress is a voluntary service provided by Graduate Women Canterbury who own and maintain the regalia for UC ceremonies. Please do not wear academic regalia in the rain.
Proceeds are used to finance GWC scholarships and awards to graduates and students and for charitable purposes.
Dates for 2021 ceremonies:
Timaru Graduation 18 February
Christchurch Autumn Graduation 26 March
Christchurch Spring Graduation 17 September
Online streaming
If your friends or family are unable to attend your graduation, our ceremonies are streamed live on the Ara website.