Christchurch Graduation Ceremony

The Graduation ceremony for our Christchurch campus will be held on Friday, 13 December 2024.

Venue: Hillview Christian School - 150 Wilsons Road, St Martins
Time: 7:00pm

To register for this prestigious occasion, please apply to graduate and select the “I wish to graduate at the Christchurch ceremony in Dec 2024” option. 

You should plan to arrive no later than 6.15pm at the ceremony venue so that we can brief you for the event.  

It is optional to attend the ceremony, but if you wish to receive certification of your achievement, you must still apply to graduate. If this applies, please select a “NO CEREMONY” option that suits you. 

Those who choose to graduate in absentia can disregard the information below regarding regalia hire, bios, and invitations.  

The application cut-off date is Friday 1st November.

GRADUATION DAY

5:00pm - Hillview Christian School open for arrival

6:15pm – Graduands be at Hillview 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 in order 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/ Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma or Master in Theology, and would like to wear the hood of your previous degree, you will need to organise this yourself through that tertiary provider. Otherwise, you can choose to just wear the hood/stole of the 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 are able to 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. 

BIO’s

At the graduation evening we read a brief bio about each graduating student. This makes it more interesting (and merry!) for the many people who come to the evening. We would like each of you to write 50-70 words introducing yourself and sharing a little about your Laidlaw journey and perhaps something of your future plans. You can make it funny or heartfelt or both. This will be read over you as you come up to the stage - we really like to personalise your moment in the spotlight.    Please send your bio to Hugh no later than Friday 24th of November (If you can’t write 50-70 words please send a few bullet points and trust the team to write about you).   

CAR PARKING

There is limited parking onsite, however there is plenty of on-road parking on St Martins Road, Prossers Road, Wilsons Road and Wades Ave. We ask that you do not park in the New World carpark or 10min zone by the corner dairy.  

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’re 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.

Distance Learning

Distance Learning graduates can apply to graduate at the Christchurch or Auckland 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.

Auckland Graduation Ceremony

Applications for the Auckland graduation ceremony to be held on 24 May 2025 will open on 03 February 2025. 

Please email [email protected] or call 09 8367 826 for more information.

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 your faculty that you have met the requirements for your particular programme.

What to wear to graduation (Academic Dress Hire)

Certificate graduands:

Formal dress is required (including a tie). An academic gown is 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/PGDip graduands:

A Bachelor’s gown and mortar board (trencher) must be hired and worn over formal dress. Laidlaw College provides a hood. GradDip and PGDip graduands may choose to wear the hood from their undergraduate degree.

Masters 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.