Graduation ceremonies are held once a year in Auckland and Wellington, and twice a year in Palmerston North. You can also graduate via an Academic Board meeting throughout the year.
If you need to travel to attend your graduation, we recommend you wait for the exact date of your ceremony to be confirmed before booking flights or accommodation.
Application dates and deadlines
| Location | Graduation Ceremony Dates | Applications Open | Applications Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington | 15 to 16 April 2025 | Closed | Closed |
| Palmerston North | 6 to 8 May 2025 | Closed | Closed |
| Auckland | 27 to 29 May 2025 | Closed | Closed |
| Palmerston North | 27 to 28 November 2025 | Early August 2025 | 1 September 2025 |
Academic Board meeting schedule
| Academic Board Meeting Dates | Applications Close |
|---|---|
| 26 February 2025 | 15 January 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | 15 February 2025 |
| 30 April 2025 | 15 March 2025 |
| 21 May 2025 | 15 April 2025 |
| 18 June 2025 | 15 May 2025 |
| 23 July 2025 | 15 June 2025 |
| 27 August 2025 | 15 July 2025 |
| 24 September 2025 | 15 August 2025 |
| 22 October 2025 | 15 September 2025 |
| 19 November 2025 | 15 October 2025 |
Find out which ceremony to attend
Graduating in person at a ceremony or in absentia
You can graduate in person at a graduation ceremony in Auckland, Palmerston North or Wellington. Don't worry if you have moved away from the city you studied in – you can graduate at a location that suits you even if you didn’t study there.
If you are unable to attend a graduation ceremony but still wish to be recognised, you can choose to graduate at a graduation ceremony in absentia. This means you won’t attend a graduation ceremony, but your name will appear in the graduation ceremony programme along with the words “in absentia”. Your graduation certificate will be posted to you after the ceremony.
Auckland graduation ceremonies
Dates, times and locations for the Auckland graduation ceremonies, pre-graduation event, and processions.
Palmerston North graduation ceremonies
Dates, times and locations for the Palmerston North graduation ceremonies.
Wellington graduation ceremonies and celebrations
Dates, times and locations for the Wellington graduation ceremonies, procession, after graduation reception and the celebrations to honour Māori and Pacific graduates.
How to apply to graduate in person or in absentia (not attending)
Once you have completed your qualification, and graduation applications are open, you'll receive a notification in your student portal with information about how to apply. If you choose to graduate with your qualification through an Academic Board meeting you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony for this qualification at a later date.
Check the graduation tab in your portal to check if you have received an invite. If you do not have an invite, apply for an invite to graduate at a ceremony.
Student portal (login required)
Note: Applications are now closed for our upcoming graduation ceremonies in Palmerston North and Auckland. Applications for the November ceremony in Palmerston North open early August 2025.
Graduating with more than 1 qualification
If you are eligible to receive 2 qualifications you have to complete 2 applications, regardless of whether you are graduating in person or in absentia.
If you are receiving 2 awards at the same ceremony you will be allocated 1 seat and walk the stage once for your highest qualification. You will graduate in absentia for the other qualification. You will receive both certificates together.
How to check the progress of your graduation application
In the student portal, click on the Graduation tab. In the 'Available ceremonies' section you will be able to see the ceremony you have applied for.
Student portal (login required)
The status will show where your application is up to in the process. An acknowledgement letter will also be in your ceremony documents when your application has been received.
If you haven't received a letter within 12 days of submitting your application, please contact us.
Graduating via an Academic Board meeting
Academic Board meetings provide an opportunity for you to graduate without attending a graduation ceremony. Since the meetings occur throughout the year, the dates can be more convenient than waiting for a ceremony.
If you choose to graduate via Academic Board, you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony for the qualification at a later date.
How to apply to graduate via an Academic Board meeting
Applications to graduate via Academic Board close on the 15th of the month prior to the meeting. For example, to graduate via the February meeting you must apply before 15 January.
If you choose to graduate with your qualification through an Academic Board meeting you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony for this qualification at a later date.
Applications for the 2025 Academic Board meetings are now open. Check the graduation tab in your portal to check if you have received an invite.
Student portal (login required)
If you do not have an invite, apply for an invite to graduate via Academic Board meeting.
Withdrawing your application
If you choose to withdraw your application to graduate at an Academic Board meeting, you need to do this before 15th of the month prior to the meeting. For example, to withdraw from the February meeting you must submit the withdrawal in the portal by 15 January.
If the withdrawal date has passed, please contact us.
How to apply to graduate via Council meeting for veterinary students
If you are enrolled in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), you may be able to graduate in a special Council meeting held in December each year.
For information about this option, please contact Sue Gribbin at s.j.gribbin@massey.ac.nz or the Graduation Office at graduation.office@massey.ac.nz.
Delivery of your graduation certificate
Your graduation certificate will be posted approximately 3 weeks after the meeting date, to the address provided in your graduation application. If this has changed, please contact us.
All certificates sent within New Zealand are couriered with track and trace, and a signature is required upon delivery.
If your delivery address is overseas a courier fee will apply.
Sending graduation certificates overseas
If you do not receive your graduation certificate you must notify us. A replacement fee may apply.
Eligibility to graduate
Once you have completed all of the requirements for your qualification, and graduation applications are open, you will be able to apply to graduate.
Find qualification requirements
If you would like confirmation that you have met all the requirements for your qualification, contact us.
Owing a debt to the University
You can still apply to graduate if you have any outstanding fees or fines. We will finalise your application once the outstanding fees or fines are paid.
Go to the Fees and finance tab in the student portal (login required) to make a payment.
Credits from previous qualifications
In the past, if you wanted to use credits from a previous qualification (such as Certificate of Arts) towards another qualification (such as Bachelor of Arts) you had to surrender the previous qualification. This is no longer required.
Making a change to your ceremony
You can defer or withdraw from a graduation ceremony after you have applied to graduate. You can also request to update your name in our records and have your new name on your graduation certificate, if you have changed your name.
Deferring your graduation ceremony
To defer your graduation to a later date, click on the Graduation tab in the student portal.
Student portal (login required)
In the 'Available ceremonies' section you will see the application you have applied for. Next to it will be a blue button that you can click on to arrange to defer your application.
Withdrawing from a graduation ceremony
To withdraw from a graduation ceremony, click on the Graduation tab in the student portal.
Student portal (login required)
In the 'Available ceremonies' section you will see the application you have applied for.
Click the Withdraw button to withdraw from the ceremony.
This button is only active until the withdraw date has passed. You cannot withdraw after this date. If you cannot attend the ceremony, you will be recorded as graduating in absentia and your certificate will be posted to you.
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