1. What is the status of graduation?
After due consideration of inputs from the University’s Executive Management Team, the Executive Committee of Senate, the DUT COVID-19 Task Team, and taking into account national developments, a decision has been taken to cancel the physical 2020 Spring Graduation ceremonies in its traditional format and instead to hold a VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY, in keeping with global trends during the pandemic.
2. If the physical 2020 Spring graduation ceremonies are cancelled, what plans does DUT have to award qualifications to graduands?
To celebrate this important milestone in your life despite the disappointment of cancelling the physical 2020 Spring graduation ceremonies, we invite all graduands to a virtual conferral of qualifications on MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2020 at the following times:
12H00 - Faculties of Accounting and Informatics and Applied Sciences
14H00 - Faculties of Arts and Design, and Engineering and the Built Environment
16H00 - Faculties of Health Sciences and Management Sciences.
Graduands and their family and friends will be able to follow the virtual proceedings online. Qualifications will be awarded in absentia by the Chancellor, who in terms of our Institutional Statute “confers degrees on behalf of the University”.
3. Will there be another graduation ceremony that I would be allowed to attend?
No. DUT will not be holding another graduation ceremony for candidates who would be awarded their graduation certificates at the 2020 Spring graduation.
4. Can I have a letter stating that the physical graduation ceremony has been cancelled?
5. What about cancelled flights and accommodation?
Please consult your airline and accommodation provider directly. Many corporates (airlines, hotels, etc) have adapted their cancellation policies over the past several months in response to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 outbreak and it being officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Graduands are encouraged to directly contact service providers as soon as possible and to present this communication as proof of cancellation of travel arrangements due to the coronavirus outbreak.
6. Can I defer and choose to attend a later ceremony?
No. DUT will not be holding another graduation ceremony for candidates who would be awarded their graduation certificates at the 2020 Spring graduation.
7. Can I choose not to graduate in absentia for the 2020 Spring graduation and rather graduate later?
No. Everyone on the 2020 Spring graduation roll will graduate in absentia and DUT will not be holding another graduation ceremony for candidates who would be awarded their graduation certificates at the 2020 Spring graduation.
8. Can I still hire the gown and hood?
No. All arrangements for physical 2020 Spring graduation ceremonies have been cancelled. This means that no gown and/or hood hire will be available.
9. When will I receive a transcript?
You may request an electronic copy of your graduation certificate and statement of academic results (which will indicate that you were awarded the qualification) from your relevant Faculty Office (subject to all arrear fees being settled and outstanding documents being submitted).
10. Can I receive a scanned and certified copy of my certificate?
No. Unfortunately this would not be possible.
11. How can I get my certificate?
All qualifying 2020 Spring graduands will receive their qualifications in absentia. This decision was taken to enable DUT to make your graduation documents available to you, as we realise that you may need your documentation for career opportunities or further study. The following are options available to you for receiving your certificate (subject to all arrear fees being settled and outstanding documents being submitted):
Please complete and submit the form entitled ‘Request for the despatch of a Graduation Certificate’ which is obtainable by clicking HERE (select your Faculty Forder and look for form 26) and select one of the following options to receive your certificate (subject to all arrear fees being settled and outstanding documents being submitted):
OPTION 1: Wait
For this option you will leave your certificate with the University where it will be kept securely until it is safe for you to access the Faculty Office and collect your certificate.
We recommend this option.
OPTION 2: Despatch
DUT would commence despatching certificates by 03 December 2020. For this option you will need to -
- Select which method of despatch you require:-
- Despatch by Courier Services.
For this method of despatch, DUT will arrange to have your degree/diploma certificates couriered to you via a courier services company.
Please note that when selecting despatch by courier we use your PHYSICAL ADDRESS. The physical address cannot be a P O Box address. The postal address must be a physical street address.
- Despatch by Registered Mail
For this method of despatch, DUT will arrange to have your degree/diploma certificates posted to you by registered mail.
Please note that when selecting despatch by registered mail you will need to provide us with a FULL POSTAL ADDRESS.
A tracking number will be provided to you once the certificates have been despatched with a link to the South African Post Office Track and Trace webpage.
In South Africa, you will not receive the documents at your physical address. Rather, your nearest Post Office will send you a notification to collect your documents from that branch.
International post can take four to six weeks to be delivered.
12. How will the University be communicating with me regarding graduation arrangements?
The university will communicate with you via email using ONLY your official DUT4Life email address. You are encouraged to check your DUT4Life email address regularly to ensure that you do not miss out on important communication from the University.
13. Will DUT arrange and pay for my graduation certificate to be despatched?
Should you elect not to "Wait" but rather to have your graduation certificate couriered to you then DUT will cover the costs for either of the above despatch options.
Please ensure that your address details on the student portal is updated with the most recent postal address, as we would be using the address on the system to courier/mail your documents to you.
14. If I owe the university fees, would I be allowed to obtain my graduation certificate?
No. All arrear fees owed to the university must be paid in full before the certificate will be issued to you. Please contact the Finance Department using the following details to make arrangements concerning payment of fees.
- Fees Enquiries Office Durban-MLS
- Fees Enquiries Office (Midlands)
ISSUED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
DR T S PILLAY
REGISTRAR
13 October 2020