Graduation

Information for guests

We're looking forward to welcoming you so you can share this special day with your loved one.

About Graduation Header

Information for guests

Getting here/parking 

If you're planning to travel to Dunedin on the day of graduation, please make sure you leave plenty of time as the roads into the city can be busy. 

The area around the Dunedin Town Hall can get very busy and there will be little to no car parking available here.

We would recommend that you park outside of the main centre of town (if possible). This Where you can park webpage on the Dunedin City Council website might be useful for planning. 

Another option is parking a distance away and getting a bus into the centre of town. You can find Dunedin bus info here

Attending guests

Guests don’t need tickets to attend a graduation ceremony.

Due to the capacity of the Town Hall, we ask graduates the total number of guest seats they require when they register. If a graduate wants to increase the total number of guests coming along, they can update their registration via the Student Hub or, once registration closes, let us know by email at graduation@op.ac.nz

All guests can sit in any unreserved seating in the Town Hall. Reserved seating will be marked with a sign so it'll be clear where guests can sit. 

Please let us know if any guests need assistance on graduation day. e.g. an elderly guest with limited mobility or anyone specifically requiring ground floor seating. Email graduation@op.ac.nz

Parade and ceremony details

Due to the number of graduates for our March 2025 event, we're going to be holding two ceremonies on Friday 14 March. 

Ceremony One - begins at 12.30pm 

This ceremony is for graduates from the College of Community Development and Personal Wellbeing, and the College of Health.

10.40am: Gather outside the Faculty of Dentistry (Great King Street) for the OPSA Graduation Parade 
11.00am: Parade departs for the Dunedin Town Hall
11.30am: Check in at the Dunedin Town Hall Glenroy Auditorium   
11.30am: Dunedin Town Hall doors open to the public
12.00pm: Guests to be seated in Dunedin Town Hall 
12.30pm: Graduation Ceremony starts 
2.30pm*: Graduation Ceremony ends (*please note this is an estimate only)  

Please note: If you and your graduate are not taking part in the Parade, your graduate will need to be at the Dunedin Town Hall Glenroy Auditorium by 11.30am for check in. If they don’t check in, they won’t be able to take part in the graduation ceremony. 

Ceremony Two 

This ceremony is for graduates from the College of Engineering, Construction and Living Sciences, College of Creative Practice and Enterprise, Auckland International Campus, and the College of Work-based Learning. 

10.40am: Gather outside the Faculty of Dentistry (Great King Street) for the OPSA Graduation Parade 
11.00am: Parade departs for the Dunedin Town Hall
11.30am-2.30pm: Free time – when the parade arrives at the Town Hall, please move away from the entrance so we can get everyone sorted for Ceremony One (thank you!)
2.30pm: Check in at the Dunedin Town Hall Glenroy Auditorium   
3.00pm: Guests to be seated in Dunedin Town Hall 
3.30pm: Graduation Ceremony starts 
5.30pm*: Graduation Ceremony ends (*please note this is an estimate only)  

Please note: We only have one parade for both ceremonies. If you and your graduate are not taking part in the Parade, your graduate will need to be at the Dunedin Town Hall Glenroy Auditorium by 2.30pm for check in. If they don’t check in, they won’t be able to take part in the graduation ceremony. 

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Parade route

The parade will begin from the Faculty of Dentistry on Great King Street and progress down George Street to the Dunedin Town Hall. Graduands need to gather in front of the Faculty of Dentistry.

Professional ceremony photography

McRobie Studios take a photograph of everyone who crosses the stage at the Graduation Ceremony. Photographs will be taken as degrees are conferred and awards are presented.

These photographs, along with frames and mattes with the Otago Polytechnic and Te Pūkenga logos, are available to view and order online at McRobies. There are alternate ways to order, please enquire about this directly with McRobie Studios (details on their website).

View at mcrobie.co.nz

Contact us

If you need some guidance, we’re here to help. Feel free to chat to us directly about any questions you may have.