Graduation
Please check that you have completed all the requirements of your qualification. If you have completed, or expect to complete, your qualification in the current semester, you need to check with your faculty that you have met the requirements for your particular programme.
Auckland Graduation Ceremony – Saturday, 23 May 2026
The Graduation ceremony for our Auckland campus will be held on Saturday, 23 May 2026.
Applications for the Auckland Graduation ceremony will open on 15 December 2025.
Contact [email protected] or 09 8367826 for more information.
Christchurch Graduation Ceremony – Friday, 12 December 2025
Applications are now open for the Graduation Ceremony at our Christchurch campus, to be held on Friday, 12 December 2025.
Venue: McFaddens Centre, 64 McFaddens Road, St Albans
Time: 7:00pm
Please contact [email protected] or 03 354 4270 for more information
Distance Learning
Distance Learning graduands can apply to graduate at the Auckland graduation ceremony. Those who cannot attend a ceremony can apply to graduate ‘In Absentia’.
Please email [email protected] or call 09 8367 826 for more information.
INFORMATION FOR THE CHRISTCHURCH GRADUATION
It is optional to graduate at the ceremony, but if you wish to receive your qualification, you must still apply to graduate.
To register for this occasion, please apply to graduate and select the “I wish to graduate at the Christchurch ceremony in December 2025” option. graduate.
If you don't wish to graduate in person, please select the “NO CEREMONY” option that suits you.
The application cut-off date for the Christchurch Graduation Ceremony is Friday 31st October.
Those who choose to graduate in absentia can disregard the information below.
GRADUATION DAY
5:30pm - McFaddens Centre open for arrival
6:15pm – Graduands to be at McFaddens Centre for gowning and briefing
6:45pm – Guests to be seated
7:00pm – Ceremony commences
9:00pm – Ceremony concludes
9:10pm – Supper available
Official programme concludes
REGALIA
You must wear an academic dress to graduate.
You can hire your regalia from GWC Regalia Hire – a link will be sent out 3-4 weeks before graduation. Please do not order from their website until a link has been sent to you.
If you are graduating with a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor of Theology (Honours), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or Master in Theology, and would like to wear the hood of your previous degree, you will need to organise this yourself through the institution that awarded that degree. Otherwise, you may choose to wear only the hood or stole for your Laidlaw qualification.
It should be noted that on this formal occasion, suitable attire should be worn underneath your regalia, with appropriate footwear. Please bear in mind that you will be accessing the stage via steps during the ceremony.
You can hold on to your Academic Hood for up to one week after Graduation. A bond of $100 (paid to Laidlaw) is required at the time of collection from the campus, which will be refunded in full when the hood is returned.
INVITATIONS
Your whānau and friends are welcome to attend. Tickets will not be required; however, for catering purposes, could you please let Mele know how many people you are expecting to attend.
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSCRIPTS
The document sleeve you receive at graduation contains your Certificate and the official Academic Transcript. If you require additional copies of your Academic Transcript, a $20 fee applies.
Your digital award certificate and academic transcript will be available on My eQuals after Wednesday, 17 December 2025. You will receive two emails on your personal email address (not your Laidlaw student email) with instructions on how to access them.
If you are attending the graduation ceremony, then you are required to hire your own academic dress. Please check that you have completed all the requirements of your qualification. If you have completed, or expect to complete, your qualification in the current semester, you need to check with the Academic Registrar that you have met the requirements for your particular programme.
What to wear to graduation
Certificate graduands:
A Certificate gown must be hired and worn over formal dress. A hood is not worn.
Diploma graduands:
A Diploma gown must be hired and worn over formal dress. Laidlaw College provides a hood. A mortar board is NOT worn.
Bachelor/GradCert/GradDip/PGCertTh/PGDip graduands:
A Bachelor’s gown and mortar board (trencher) must be hired and worn over formal dress. Laidlaw College provides a hood. GradCert, Grad Dip, PGCert and PGDip graduands may choose to wear the hood from their undergraduate degree.
BTh (Hons) and MTh graduands:
A Master’s gown and mortar board (trencher) must be hired and worn over formal dress. Laidlaw College provides a hood.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or call 09 836 7826.