Degree Conferment Dates in a Calendar Year, with effect from 2021-22

Pursuant to the arrangement to decouple degree conferment from University’s Congregation, the University shall confer on eligible students’ degrees upon fulfilment of graduation requirements on three specified dates in a calendar year namely, 31 March, 31 July, and 15 October.

Graduation Certificate Issuance

For degrees conferred on 31 March and 31 July, the dates printed on the degree certificates will be the corresponding degree conferment dates. For degrees conferred on 15 October, graduates will be given two options regarding the date to be printed on their degree certificates: (i) 15 October; (ii) 15 November. 

Graduation Assessment: Requirements and Timeline

Graduation assessment will be conducted based on students’ expected graduation date. Students are reminded to carefully plan their studies in respect of graduation requirements.

Students should proactively follow up with the course teachers concerned for any pending grades after the grade release date. For students with pending grades, credit and unit exemption applications, disciplinary matters, etc. remain unresolved at the end of the graduation-assessment period, their degree conferment will be postponed to the next degree conferment date.

Research postgraduate and taught doctoral students should also observe the timeline for declaring intention to submit a thesis (i.e. at least four months ahead of time of submission) and deadline of thesis (first draft) submission. In particular, students are required to submit the final thesis before the deadline as stipulated below.

Option to Defer Applicable to 2022-23 and 2023-24

Typically, students are expected to fall into line with the nearest conferment date upon fulfilment of graduation requirements. Notwithstanding this, postponement to a future choice within the same year is permissible upon duly responding to the preference-identification procedure. In this regard, the Graduate School will send emails to eligible graduating students asking for their preferences on degree conferment dates and the preferred date as appeared on the graduate certificates.  

Students will be individually notified by email about the collection arrangements. Also, details will be posted on the GSO website nearer the time.

Award Certificate Collection 

Award certificates and e-certificates will only be available after the respective degree conferment dates.  For instance, for students whose degree is to be conferred on 31 July 2024, their degree certificates will be ready for collection in-person from the Graduate School and available in the e-Certificate System from 8 August 2024 onwards.  Graduates who wish to use the e-certificate service, please visit the website on e-Certification System. An email regarding the arrangement for collection of graduate certificates will be announced to the respective graduates in due course. The announcement is also available on the General Announcements of the GSO’s website.

If you have further enquiries on the subject, please contact the Graduate School Office.