Graduation ceremonies & certificates

Please note that you can only register for a graduation ceremony and/or order a graduation certificate if the following requirements are met:

• You must have completed your studies with positive grades
• You have received your final documents from the StudiesServiceCenter (SSC)
• The final documents must be legally binding (this happens automatically after 4 weeks, but you can also sign a waiver of appeal at the StudiesServiceCenter to make it happen sooner)

Due to limited capacity, there may be a wait of approximately 2–3 months between completing your studies and taking part in the graduation ceremony.

You can register for a graduation ceremony or order a certificate online via the booking tool within one year of graduating. If you are unable to register via the booking tool, please get in touch via the contact form.

• Cancellation up to 14 days before your graduation ceremony: You will receive a full refund. Please inform us of your cancellation in writing.

• Cancellation less than 14 days before your graduation ceremony: You will receive a refund for the costs for the graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, we cannot refund the cost of the certificate as it has already been printed at this point.

• Would you like to postpone the date of your graduation ceremony? Please contact us in writing so that we can find a suitable alternative date together.

Please get in touch via the contact form.

• Graduation ceremonies take place during the semester (but not during the semester break and summer holidays) from Monday to Friday at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00.
• There are no graduation ceremonies at weekends or in the evenings.
• Depending on the faculty, 1 to 3 dates are made available at the same time. You are free to choose the date on which you wish to attend your graduation ceremony. Dates are generally released for registration in chronological order. The number of dates available depends on the number of graduates in the respective faculty.

You can enter an alternative mail address shortly before payment during the registration process. Your order confirmation as well as further information about the ceremony or the notification that your certificate is ready to be collected will be sent to this mail address.

Yes, the Main Ceremonial Hall is accessible via a lift for people with reduced mobility. Please use the side entrance on the right-hand side of the Main Building of the University of Vienna. In front of Court IV on the left in the Auditorium Maximum corridor (access opposite the  Lehrmittelstelle shop) there is a lift that takes you directly to the 1st floor, where the Main Ceremonial Hall is located. Disability-friendly access map

According to an internal instruction issued by Rector Ebenbauer (who was in office from 1990/91 until 1997/98), ‘Chargierte’ are permitted to attend graduation ceremonies as members of the audience. They are free to be present at the ceremony and may form a guard of honour in the visitors' space at the Main Ceremonial Hall. However, the applicable ban on weapons (applies to weapons and weapon-like objects) at the University of Vienna must be observed at all times. 

Please note: let us know in advance if it is planned that senior members of student fraternities (‘Chargierte’) will attend the ceremony, especially if they plan to form a ceremonial guard of honour. We will inform you about where this can be carried out. Please get in touch via the contact form.

You may reserve 9 seats (= one row) by using the voucher link sent to you. One week before the ceremony you will be able to reserve further seats (if necessary).

The graduation ceremony normally lasts between 40 and 60 minutes. The exact duration depends on the number of graduates participating.

• Before the graduation ceremony: Graduates should arrive 45 minutes before the start of the graduation ceremony to attend the pre-graduation briefing.
• After the graduation ceremony:
  • There will be time to take photos in front of the rector's podium in the Main Ceremonial Hall (approximately 15 minutes)
  • Optional sparkling wine reception (approximately one hour)

Not necessarily. Graduation ceremonies are organised by faculty and not by degree programme. When registering, please make sure you enter the correct faculty for your degree programme.

The procedure for all graduation ceremonies is basically identical. This does not apply to:

• Graduation ceremonies (including doctoral graduation ceremonies) in the degree programme in Pharmacy, where the oath, conferral of the degree and words of thanks are spoken in Latin. This is a long-standing tradition.
• At graduation ceremonies for bachelor’s degrees completed at the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies as well as at the Department of Sociology the candidates do not present themselves at the beginning of the ceremony

Yes, you can also order a decorative graduation certificate without taking part in a graduation ceremony. It may take several weeks until the certificate is ready to be collected. We will keep you updated by mail on the status of your order.

The certificate will be printed and signed in time for the next graduation ceremony of your faculty. This may take several weeks. We will keep you updated by mail on the status of your order.

• You can have another person collect the certificate for you, but you must provide written confirmation that they are entitled to pick up the certificate on your behalf (this is only possible with an appointment).
• You can also have your certificate sent to you by post (please be aware that you must cover the delivery costs yourself)

Please get in touch via the contact form.

If there are printing errors or defects in your certificate, please get in touch with us via the contact form and attach a photo of the faulty or damaged certificate. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please get in touch via the contact form.