Ceremony Guide
Navigating Your Commencement Day
From arrival at the venue to stepping onto the stage, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know for a smooth and memorable Commencement experience.
Arrival
- Guests with mobility challenges arriving by taxi or car should alight at the roundabout at Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL) building, Basement 2 carpark. Please refer to the location map here.
- Only individuals with a valid admission ticket will be allowed to enter YPHSL.
- All individuals must present your admission ticket on-site for scanning. Please note that the QR code indicated on the ticket is unique to the registrant.
- Proceed to Basement 1. Ushers will guide guests to the hall, and graduands to the registration counters to collect your “call card”.
- Graduands must collect this card and put on the graduation gown before entering the hall.
- Children below 6 years old will not be allowed into the ceremonies. Proof of age may be required (e.g., birth certificate, passport, or other official ID).
- Doors will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and will close 10 minutes before the ceremony starts.
Seating
- Ushers will direct graduates and guests to your respective seating areas.
- Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservation of seats is not allowed.
- Guests are to remain in your seats and refrain from leaving the hall during the ceremony.
- Guests must not stand up to take photos during the ceremony. Official photographers have been appointed to take photos of the graduates onstage. The complimentary onstage photo for graduates is downloadable after the ceremony.
During the Ceremony
- Ushers will prompt graduands to line up at the side of the hall prior to the presentation of graduates and will cue graduands when it is your turn to go onstage. Please have your “call card” with you, as it is required for stage proceedings.
- Ushers will then prompt graduands to walk to the centre of the stage to receive your degree folder from the Dean or other senior faculty.
After the Ceremony
- Please follow our ushers’ instructions to exit the hall.
- There will be some booths and fringe activities at levels 2 and 3.
- Stage photographs of each graduate will be available for download here 10 days after the ceremony.
- Event photos will be available on the SMU Commencement Facebook page two days after the ceremony.
- Recordings of the ceremony will be available on SMU’s YouTube channel.
