1. What kind of guest tickets will a graduate get?
E-tickets will be sent to graduates who successfully registered their guests by e-mail, 3 days before congregation date.
2. How many guests can a graduate invite?
Each graduate can invite up to 2 guests to the ceremony. Pre-registration is needed. No walk-in will be accommodated.
3. Can a graduate get more than two guest tickets?
No. As seats are limited, each graduate can request for a maximum of two guest tickets only. Friends and relatives may watch live broadcasting online if they do not get a guest ticket.
4. Do graduates need a ticket to attend the ceremony?
For Nov 26 PhD Session, Nov 27-28 & Dec 4-5 sessions, each graduate will be given a Stage Sequence Number by email. Graduates, in their academic regalia, should present the Stage Sequence Number at the Graduate Ticket Collection Counter (CMA Lecture Theater L, Cheng Yu Tung Building) 90 minutes prior to the commencement of the ceremony to collect the Graduate Ticket.
For details on Graduate Ticket Collection and Proceedings, please click here.
5. When will I receive the tickets?
Graduate tickets for session 1, U-wide session, will be sent to graduates by e-mail, 3 days before the ceremony.
Graduate tickets for sessions 2 - 19, each graduate will be given a Stage Sequence Number in the Arrival Kit by email 3 days before the ceremony. Graduates, in their academic regalia, should present the Stage Sequence Number at the Graduate Ticket Collection Counter (CMA Lecture Theater L, Cheng Yu Tung Building) 90 minutes prior to the commencement of the ceremony to collect the Graduate Ticket.
For details on Graduate Ticket Collection and Proceedings, please click here.
Guests E-ticket for session 2 - 19 will be sent to graduates by e-mail 3 days before congregation date.
1. What kind of guest tickets can a graduate register? What are the difference between Guest Ticket (Ceremony) and Guest Ticket (Campus Access)?
Each graduate is allowed to register for two Guest Tickets (Ceremony) and two Guest Tickets (Campus Access).
Holders of Guest Ticket (Ceremony) are already granted the right to enter the campus area. In other words, you do NOT need to register the Guest Ticket (Campus Access) for the same guest if they have already registered for the Guest Ticket (Ceremony).
2. Can I change the information after finished registration?
Yes. Please click "My Registration" under your name in Graduate Service System to edit your inputs by November 9, 11:59pm. You will receive an update Registration Acknowledgement after finished.
3. Is vaccination a must to attend the Congregation?
Vaccination and testing is not required for visitors attending a one-off event like Congregation, but graduates and guests may consider to get vaccinated/tested before the event for better protection.
4. When will I receive the materials for attending the Congregation?
Graduate e-ticket for Session 1, all Guests e-tickets and Parking Permits will be issued via email to successful registrants in the arrival kits 3 days before the Congregation.
For Session 2-19, please present your "stage sequence number" and collect graduate ticket at LT-L.
5. When will the Graduate Service System closed?
Graduate Service System will be closed on November 9, 11:59pm. No late registration or walk-in will be accommodated.
1. How many guests can a graduate invite?
Each graduate can invite up to 2 guests to the ceremony. Pre-registration is needed. No walk-in will be accommodated.
2. Will young children be admitted to the venue?
Children are welcome in principle, but should be closely supervised by an adult. In case a child causes any disturbance, he/she should be brought outside the venue. Children over 2 years old will require e-tickets to enter the venue.
3. Will graduates be sitting with their guests?
No guests will be allowed in session 1, U-wide session.
For session 2 - 19, Graduates in full academic regalia will be seated in a separate area reserved for degree conferment/stage proceedings. Guests will sit according to the assigned seat number as shown on the ticket. Guest e-ticket holders should queue up outside the venue for admission.
4. Will there be enough seats in the Shaw Auditorium for all the guests?
We expect most of the guests will be able to sit in the Shaw Auditorium. In the event that guest seats in the Shaw Auditorium are fully occupied, guests will be directed to watch live broadcast at other theatres as shown on their ticket.
*All seats are first come, first served basis.
5. What is the dress code for the Congregation?
The Congregation is a solemn event. Graduates and guests are highly advised to dress properly. Casual wear items like sneakers, jeans or sandals should be avoided. Graduates may see How to Wear Your Academic Regalia for reference.
6. Can I choose not to attend the Congregation?
Yes, attendance at the ceremony is optional. Those who do not attend the Congregation can still collect their diploma after the event. For more information, please visit here.
7. Can I leave early from the ceremony?
No, As a respect to the solemn event, graduates are requested not to leave the ceremony before it ends. Attending the ceremony is optional. If your schedule does not permit you to stay until the end, you can still collect your diploma afterwards. Please visit here for more info.
8. Do I need to attend both the University-wide Degree Conferment and Graduation Ceremony?
Each graduate is entitled to sign up for both the University-wide Degree Conferment session, and the graduation ceremony of your respective degree.
Seats for graduates in the U-wide session are first come, first served. Those who cannot register a seat may participate virtually through our live-broadcast.
9. Will I be presented on stage at the ceremony?
You will only be presented on stage at your respective Graduation Ceremony (Session 2 - 19), but not the U-wide session (Session 1).
In Session 1, graduates will be presented in groups in the audience when the presiding officer confers your degrees.
1. How can I rent or purchase academic regalia?
For rental/purchase of academic regalia, you need to make order at the site of our designated service provider. Details can be found here.
2. How can I order graduation souvenirs?
To order graduation souvenirs, please use the Graduation Services System. You might select the delivery options in the system.
3. How can I book graduation photo services?
Graduates could also choose to book the individual and studio photo services offered by our designated service provider, Kitman Photo.
Please visit the Graduation Photos for details.
4. Can I bring my family to take photos on campus?
To facilitate the graduating class to bring family and guests back on campus for graduation photo-taking, the University will make special arrangements on campus access from November 20 to December 19, 2021.
Details are as below:
- For traffic control on campus, this arrangement does not apply to the Congregation event days on Nov 26-28, and Dec 4-5. Only graduates who have registered to attend the ceremonies will be allowed to access the campus on those days.
- In light of the Government's anti-epidemic measures on public gatherings, each graduate may bring along up to four visitors at a time.
- Pre-registration for visitors is required and must be submitted by 11:59pm of the day preceding the visit. No late registration/ walk-in requests will be entertained.
- One graduate may register for a maximum of two sessions. Each session lasts for five hours (morning session: 8:00am – 1:00pm; afternoon session: 1:00 – 6:00pm).
- To help us control the number of visitors on campus and ensure social distancing, graduates are reminded to depart from the campus by the end time of the registered session.
- Meanwhile, all graduates and visitors are reminded to observe the latest development of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and related preventive measures implemented on campus. For details, please visit the COVID-19 Info@HKUST website.
- Please note that no parking is available on campus during the period. Graduates and guests are suggested to commute by public transport.
Registration link:
To register your guests, please click here and login with your @connect/ alumni.ust.hk account.
*Remarks: The actual number of visitors allowed should be in line with the latest government regulations on the day of the visit
1. How and when will I receive my diploma and transcript?
The degree diploma together with a free copy of academic transcript will be ready for collection starting from November 26, 2021. To collect the diploma package in person on the congregation days, graduates must schedule an appointment in advance via the Appointing System. Walk-ins will not be entertained. For more information, please visit here.
Please be reminded that, before collecting the documents, you should SETTLE ALL FEES (e.g. tuition fee, medical insurance fee, library fines, etc.) and RETURN ALL BELONGINGS (e.g. PRS handset, etc) owed to the University. AT LEAST FIVE WORKING DAYS should be allowed for the clearance procedure.
1. How do I get there on the day of Congregation?
Other than public transportation, you can also use the Congregation Shuttle Bus service provided by the University. Please see the detailed transportation guide here.
2. Where do the shuttle buses stop?
Please refer to the link for the stopping point of the shuttle bus.
3. How can I identify the shuttle bus?
The bus will be marked with signs on the window indicating "HKUST". Staff will station at the bus stops to provide assistance.
4. What can I do if I miss the shuttle bus?
You can come to HKUST by bus #91, #91M and #91P from Diamond MTR station, and bus #792M (direction Sai Kung) from Tseung Kwan O MTR station. Alternatively, you can take a taxi. For details, please refer to the public transport information here.
5. Is parking available at Congregation?
We are sorry that no parking spaces can be provided on Nov 26 (Friday), due to the already busy campus traffic on weekdays.
For sessions on weekends (i.e. Nov 27, 28 and Dec 4, 5), a limited number of parking permits will be available for pre-registered vehicles on a first-come-served basis (please register on Graduation Services System).
One graduate is entitled to register one vehicle per day. The parking permit is NON-TRANSFERABLE and is valid for your registered vehicle only.
The parking permit will be sent to you via email at least 3 days prior to the congregation date, along with other arrival information and tickets (if any requested). In order not to miss it, please keep an eye on your “@alumni.ust.hk/ @connect.ust.hk” email account.
The permit should be printed out and displayed on the windshield of your registered vehicle.
Please DO NOT drive to the campus if you do not have a permit.