• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Policy
• Section 5 - Procedure
• Register of Academic Awards, Courses and Credentials
• Award titles
• Requirements and Conditions for the Conferral of Academic Awards
• Testamurs and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements
• Academic Dress
• Colours
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Procedure is effective from 28 March 2024.

Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This Procedure provides information on the University's academic awards titles, conferral, testamurs, academic dress and colours.

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This Procedure applies to higher education awards conferred by the University.

Section 4 - Policy

(4) This Procedure is pursuant to Higher Education Courses Policy.

Section 5 - Procedure

Register of Academic Awards, Courses and Credentials

(5) The higher education awards that may be conferred by the University are listed in the Register of Academic Awards, Courses and Credentials maintained by Academic Board in Schedule A: Higher Education Award Courses of the Higher Education Courses Policy and are consistent with the Higher Education Qualifications listed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021.

Award titles

(6) Award titles unambiguously identify the qualification type, level and broad or narrow field of study in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework Qualifications Issuance Policy and any naming conventions of the University. Award titles for combined courses consist of the approved title for each course. The first component of the title is the course offered by the Faculty that has sponsored the combined course. Where both courses are delivered by one Faculty, the title is in alphabetical order.

(7) For postgraduate nested courses only, a student may elect to graduate at any level of the nested award subject to normal course completion eligibility and is not precluded from continuing to, and graduating from the higher nested award.

(8) Students who satisfy the requirements of a Bachelor Degree (that does not include honours) will be awarded the Bachelor Degree with distinction where they:

1. achieve or exceed a weighted average mark (WAM) of 70% across their course, and
2. complete a minimum of eight credit points or one third of their course at Deakin (whichever is greater).

Requirements and Conditions for the Conferral of Academic Awards

(9) Candidates wishing to Graduate must:

1. meet all prescribed academic and other requirements;
2. apply to graduate by the date and in the manner prescribed;
3. indicate whether they wish to graduate:
   1. at the next appropriate conferring ceremony;
   2. at a future appropriate conferring ceremony nominated by them; or
   3. in absentia.

(10) Prior to each conferring ceremony the Vice-Chancellor or nominee will:

1. determine if each candidate has satisfied all financial or other obligations to the University;
2. provide to the relevant faculty boards a list of:
   1. the names of the prospective Graduands;
   2. their identification numbers;
   3. their academic records;
   4. the academic award for which application is made; and
   5. if relevant, the title of any thesis; and
3. forward lists of Graduands to the Council for endorsement.

(11) The Academic Board, or faculty board of the relevant faculty or institute as the case requires, shall:

1. assess the academic record of each candidate to ascertain whether or not the academic requirements of the award or awards for which application is made have been completed; and
2. provide the Vice-Chancellor or nominee with certification of such completion.

(12) In accordance with Council Regulations regulation 22.3, if a student fails to apply to graduate in accordance with University policies and procedures, the University may require that person to graduate in absentia at an appropriate conferring ceremony.

(13) In accordance with Council Regulations regulation 22.2, a student will be ineligible for conferral of an award if:

1. they have not satisfied all financial or other obligations to the University;
2. any disciplinary proceedings against the student have not been determined, unless the Vice-Chancellor otherwise directs. 

Testamurs and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements

(14) Graduates are issued with authorised documentation including testamurs and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements that conform to the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021.

(15) Testamurs state:

1. the full title of the award
2. any subsidiary component of the award (including an integrated honours, area of specialisation or major)
3. if any parts of the course or assessment leading to the award were conducted in a language other than English (except for the use of another language to develop proficiency in that language).

(16) The testamur issued on completion of a joint course indicates that the degree was undertaken as a joint course in accordance with Academic Board Regulations regulation 17.c.

(17) A Bachelor Degree awarded with distinction in accordance with clause 8 includes the designation 'with distinction' on the testamur.

(18) Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements:

1. conform to the Guidelines for the Presentation of the Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement
2. include achievements of students that are additional to the completion of course requirements, including the award of Deakin Hallmarks (under the Microcredentials policy) and University prizes and medals established by the Vice-Chancellor.

Academic Dress

(19) Members of the University shall wear academic dress:

1. when attending any public occasion or ceremony of the University convened for academic purposes;
2. such other appropriate occasion; and/or
3. as determined by the Council.

(20) The academic dress of members of the University shall be:

1. The Chancellor: a gown of navy blue pure wool cloth in the traditional Chancellor style with a square flap collar trimmed with gold bullion braid 5 cms wide on the fronts, around the collar and around the bottom hem and with gold bullion braid 4 cms wide on the back vent; the sleeves trimmed with four gold ornaments 18 cms long and gold bullion braid 4 cms wide around the bottom hem; the arm-slits trimmed with gold bullion braid; and a navy blue Tudor bonnet lined with gold satin, edged on the brim with gold Russia braid and trimmed with a gold metallic cord and two gold metallic tassels;
2. the Deputy Chancellors: a gown of navy blue pure wool cloth similar in style to that of the Chancellor but with one gold ornament 18 cms long at the sleeve head; and a navy blue Tudor bonnet identical to that of the Chancellor;
3. Deakin Distinguished Professors: the Deakin Distinguished Professor stole worn over the gown and academic habit representative of their own highest award;
4. all other officers and academic staff, being a graduate of the University or of another university, shall be entitled to wear the gown and academic habit of their own highest award.

(21) For graduands of the University the dress shall be:

1. Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: a gown of navy blue lightweight woollen cloth similar in style to the Chancellor’s gown but with red silk front facings finishing at the front yoke line, the sleeves similar to those of doctorate gowns in the University of Cambridge being fully lined with red silk and turned back at the front seam; a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford lined with red silk; and a round navy blue bonnet with a red silk tassel;
2. Doctoral Degree by Coursework: a gown of navy blue lightweight woollen cloth similar in style to the Chancellor's gown but with red silk front facings finishing at the front yoke line, the sleeves similar to those of doctorate gowns in the University of Cambridge being fully lined with red silk and turned back at the front seam; with a hood of navy blue stuff, similar to the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Cambridge lined with silk of the relevant award colour and trimmed with white binding on the inside of the cowl; and a round navy blue bonnet with a red silk tassel;
3. Degree of Master by Research: a navy blue gown similar in style to the gown worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff, similar in style to the gown worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Cambridge lined with silk of the relevant award colour and trimmed with white binding and a white pipe on the inside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher trimmed with white binding and a white tassel;
4. Degree of Master by Coursework: a navy blue gown similar in style to the gown worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff, similar to the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Cambridge lined with silk of the relevant award colour and trimmed with white binding on the inside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher trimmed with white binding and a white tassel;
5. Degree of Master by Coursework with Honours: a navy blue gown similar in style to the gown worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff, similar to the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Cambridge lined with silk of the relevant award colour and trimmed with two white pipes on the inside and outside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher trimmed with navy binding and a navy tassel;
6. Bachelor Degree with Honours: a navy blue gown similar in style to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford, lined with silk of the relevant award colour with two white pipes on the inside and outside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher with a navy blue tassel;
7. Bachelor Degree: a navy blue gown similar to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford, lined with silk of the relevant award colour; and a navy blue trencher with a navy blue tassel;
8. Associate Degree: a navy blue gown similar to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford, lined with silk of the relevant award colour; 
9. Graduate Diploma: a navy blue gown similar to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford, lined with silk of the relevant award colour and piped with white on the inside and outside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher with a navy blue tassel; 
10. Graduate Certificate: a navy blue gown similar to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a hood of navy blue stuff of the size and shape of the hood worn by a Master of Arts in the University of Oxford, lined with silk of the relevant award colour and piped with the relevant award colour on the inside and outside of the cowl; and a navy blue trencher with a navy blue tassel; 
11. Diploma, Advaced Diploma or University certificate: a navy blue gown similar in style to the gown worn by a Bachelor of Arts in the University of Oxford with a silk stole of the relevant award colour; and
12. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Graduands: a silk stole in the colours of the Aboriginal Flag or Torres Strait Islander Flag may be worn under the hood or stole of the relevant award.  

Colours

(22) Award colours are in accordance with the broad areas of study:

(23) The introduction of a new award colour is approved by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, in consultation with the Academic Registrar, on the recommendation of the Academic Board.

Section 6 - Definitions

(24) For the purpose of this Procedure:

1. field of study: an area of learning that is the main focus of a course leading to the conferral of a higher education award.
2. joint course: a single course arranged and delivered jointly by Deakin in conjunction with one or more higher education providers in Australia or overseas, leading to the conferral of a single academic award that is typically conferred jointly by the providers involved in accordance with Academic Board Regulations regulation 17.
3. nested course: a course that is a complete subset of another higher level course.