Graduating in absentia

If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, you can arrange to have your qualification awarded in absentia. The link for making these arrangements will be available in November, and the deadline is Friday, 22 November 2024.

Please note, if you do not attend your graduation ceremony and missed the deadline to indicate that you will be graduating in absentia, your graduation documents will automatically be couriered to you. Unfortunately, self-collection will not be an option if you did not indicate your intent to graduate in absentia.

How will I obtain my graduation documents if I didn’t attend the ceremony?

Courier

Where arrangements have been made for graduation in absentia, the relevant graduation documents will be sent to the physical address captured on the University’s database after the conclusion of the entire graduation series.

Self-collection

Where arrangements have been made for self-collection, documents will be packaged and available for collection at the Information Desk in Admin A from Tuesday, 17 December between 08:00–16:30 on weekdays.

Click here for more information on the distribution of graduation documentation.

Graduating in absentia: distribution of graduation documentation

If you were unable to attend your ceremony or indicated that you would graduate in absentia, you will receive your graduation documentation as follows:

Local and International deliveries

Your graduation documents will be issued to you via DHL Couriers who will deliver to your door, provided that your current physical address and contact numbers are updated on the University’s system.

Distribution of Graduation Documentation:

Graduation documentation for all graduates residing in South Africa will be sent via DHL starting from Thursday, 19 December 2024.

1. Local delivery timeframe:

The expected delivery time for local deliveries is 2-5 working days. Please note that deliveries to remote areas may take slightly longer.

2. Tracking your documentation:

You will receive a tracking number via SMS. It is essential to ensure that your cell phone number is up to date on the system to receive the tracking number.

3. International graduands’ delivery date:

For international graduands, graduation documents will be issued via DHL, starting from Thursday, 19 December 2024.

4. International delivery timeframe:

The delivery for international shipments may take 5-7 working days, depending on your location.

5. Updating address and contact details

DHL cannot deliver to a PO Box address.

Therefore, please ensure that your current physical address and contact numbers are up to date on the system. DHL will use this information for delivery.

If your details need to be updated, please contact info@sun.ac.za by Friday, 22 December 2024.

6. DHL will contact you:

DHL will contact you on the contact number provided on the system to notify you of the delivery and to verify that your physical address and contact details are correct.

*Kindly note that the University will not be held liable for incorrect details (addresses and contact numbers) on the system that may result in DHL Courier Services delivering to the wrong physical addresses or not contacting graduates to confirm deliveries due to incorrect contact numbers.

You will incur an additional fee of R 500,00 for any graduation documents issued incorrectly due to incorrect details on the system.

If you do not update your information by the deadline, you will need to make your own arrangements with DHL Courier Services via: https://www.dhl.com/za-en/home/get-a-quote.html.

For further inquiries regarding the delivery or tracking of your graduation documents, please contact DHL on 021 872 4717.

For further assistance, please contact: graduation@sun.ac.za.