In-person Congregation FAQ
1. Do I have to register for the Congregation ceremony?
Yes, online registration is required to attend the in-person Congregation ceremony. Registration for the 214th Congregation ceremony in 2025 will tentatively open from June 21 (Sat) to July 4, 2025 (Sun) on the Faculty’s Congregation webpage. An email invitation will be sent around mid to late June to eligible graduands at their HKU email address (i.e., @connect.hku.hk). Please note that late registration will not be accepted after the deadline.
2. When and how will I receive the admission tickets?
Registered graduands with a valid Hong Kong correspondence address will receive a ticket package approximately one week before the ceremony date. This package includes:
- Admission tickets (for both graduands and guests)
- QR code name card bearing your name and programme title
- Important notes
Please ensure the address entered in the registration form is correct, as lost tickets will not be reissued.
For graduands provided with an address outside of Hong Kong, or from HKU's residential hall or office, please collect your ticket package at the Faculty Office from July 16 to July 23, 2025 (Wed) during office hours, or at the Congregation reception outside the main entrance of the Grand Hall on the day of Congregation.
Office hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 1:00pm; 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Saturday, Sunday, University & Public Holidays: Closed
Address: Room 501, Haking Wong Building, Faculty of Engineering, HKU
Registered graduands will be notified by email once ticket packages are posted.
3. Can I loan the Academic Dress on Congregation Day?
No. Graduands must have loaned a full set of academic dress (cap, hood, and gown) before attending the ceremony. Academic dress will not be available for loan at the venue on the day of the Congregation. For more details, please refer to the “Academic Dress” page on the HKU Congregation website.
Bachelor’s Degrees
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Master’s Degrees
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Deep blue with yellow silk edge lining,
3.5 cm wide
(Victoria Uniform's code: 85f)
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Deep blue with yellow silk lining throughout, the lining being turned over to the depth of 1 cm
(Victoria Uniform's code: 86f)
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
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Cap: Black velvet cap, bonnet-shaped and soft, with a hard round brim and a narrow cord of gold at the junction of crown and brim
Gown: A robe of maroon panama with facings of deep blue (Victoria Uniform's code: PG1)
Hood: Maroon panama with deep blue silk lining throughout (Victoria Uniform's code: 25)
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Cap: College cap, 'mortar-board' pattern
Gown: A robe of black stuff, Oxford MA pattern (Victoria Uniform's code: MG3)
Hood: Deep blue with maroon silk lining throughout, the lining being turned over to the depth of 1 cm (Victoria Uniform's code: 86k)
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4. What is the suggested attire for graduands at the ceremony?
Graduands must strictly observe the dress code.
Male
- A dark suit with a white shirt and a neck tie or bow tie, paired with leather shoes
- The loop at the front tip of the hood should be firmly attached to either the 2nd or 3rd button of the shirt, the neck tie will be at the front, covering the front tip of the hood
- The use of safety pin or adhesive tape should be avoided on the regalia
- Sport shoes, sandals and flip flops should be avoided
Female
- A dark skirt or a pair of dark pants with a white shirt or blouse with buttons
- The loop at the front tip of the hood should be attached to one of the shirt or blouse buttons
- Mini skirts should be avoided
- The use of safety pin or adhesive tape should be avoided on the regalia
- Sport shoes, sandals and flip flops and extremely high-heeled footwear should be avoided
Those not in proper attire or without the full set of academic dress will not be allowed to enter the Hall or present on stage. For details, please refer to the video on the HKU Congregation “Suggested Attire” page.
5. How many guest tickets can I request?
Each attending graduand may request a maximum of TWO guest tickets. Due to limited capacity of the Grand Hall, some guests may be seated in live broadcast rooms nearby. Priority for seating in the Hall is based on the registration date and time of the graduand.
No additional tickets will be provided in any circumstances.
Depending on the registration status, the Faculty may open live broadcast rooms nearby the Grand Hall for guests without admission tickets to watch the ceremony on the event dates .
6. When should I arrive at the Congregation ceremony venue?
Graduands must attend a briefing and rehearsal with the Stage Marshalling Officer to familiarise themselves with the ceremony proceedings. Please arrive at the venue on or before the time indicated on your admission ticket, which will be 30 to 45 minutes prior to the scheduled Congregation time.
Before entering the Hall, ensure you have:
- Graduand Admission ticket (with designated seat number)
- QR code name card
- Put on Academic dress, including gown, hood, and cap
7. What will I do during the ceremony?
All graduands will be presented on stage in a programme-specific sequence. Late arrivals after their programme has been presented will not be allowed on stage. A group photo session will be arranged after degrees are conferred.
8. Will children be allowed to enter the venue at the in-person Congregation ceremony? Do they need tickets?
Children under the age of 6 are not allowed in the venue. All guests, including children aged 6 and above, are required to enter the venue with admission tickets.
9. Will I be presented with the certificate during the Congregation ceremony?
No, certificates will only be available for collection after the ceremony. Details of the Certificate Collection for the Class of 2025 will be announced on the “Certificate” page of the HKU Congregation website in due course. For enquiries, please contact the Academic Services Office (email: asoffice@hku.hk).
10. Do my family members and I need to apply for a visit visa?
You may need to apply for a visit visa to enter Hong Kong for the ceremony. The Congregation invitation email from the Faculty may be useful to the visa application.
11. If I have returned to my home country and cannot attend the Congregation ceremony, can I attend next time?
No. Graduands who are eligible for graduation will be assigned to the closest Congregation. Those who cannot attend in-person will be conferred in absentia. You can watch the Congregation ceremony session live online. Live stream links for each session will be announced on the Faculty website closer to the event date.
12. Are official photography services available at the ceremony?
Yes, individual and group photos will be taken by official photographers. These photographs will be available for download approximately one month after the ceremony. Stay tuned to Faculty emails for download links.
For general information about the Congregation ceremony, please visit https://www4.hku.hk/congreg/
For enquiries, please email to enggfac@hku.hk.