What is the Graduation Admission Card for?

You will be given a graduate admission card when you collect your Academic Regalia at Serangoon Broadway Studio. It is to verify yourself as an attendee of Convocation 2021.

Please remember to bring your admission card on the day of the ceremony because:

• As part of the safe management measures, the graduate admission card is required as proof for entry (together with the SUSS Health declaration form and safe entry check-in).
• It is also required for registration of attendance at the registration counter allocated for your seating zone. Your seat number sticker will be issued to you, and is to be pasted on your card.
• You are required to show your graduate admission card to the usher for checking when lining up at the side aisle for the presentation of graduates on stage.
• After your graduate admission card has been checked, please drop the card into a collection box before you go up the stage.
  
  

I have misplaced my Graduate Admission Card, what should I do?

On the day of the ceremony, please obtain a replacement card at the registration counter allocated for your seating zone during the registration of attendance.

Do I need to indicate my attendance for my convocation?

Yes, you must register your attendance by 23 August 2021 in order to attend the Convocation. If you do not indicate your attendance, you will not be allowed to attend the Convocation. Late registrations after the closing date will not be accepted. We seek your understanding as the information is needed for session planning to comply with the capacity restrictions due to COVID-19.

Your submission of your interest to attend the Convocation via the survey send out to you on 26 July 2021 does not constitute to the official convocation registration. You are required to register your attend the convocation even if you have submitted and indicated your interest to attend the Convocation earlier.

How can my guests (parents, family, friends, etc.) attend the ceremony?

Only guests who have been successfully pre-registered by the graduates will be admitted to the Convocation. Please refer to e-Circular sent out to all graduates on 17 August 2021.

Can I request for more than 2 guest tickets?

As SUSS has to strictly adhere to Safe Management Measures which limit the capacity for each session, each graduate attending is limited to a maximum of 2 guests. Unlike in the past, there will not be any additional tickets available. 

However, the convocation will be broadcasted live so that your family and friends who cannot attend the convocation in person can still watch the convocation and celebrate your achievements. The details of the live streaming will be sent to you nearer the date of the event, so that you can share them with your family and friends.

Are there special seating arrangements for guests (e.g. wheelchair or on crutches)?

Yes, guests who are wheelchair-bound or on crutches will be given designated seats. For planning purposes, please notify us via email to ccdevents@suss.edu.sg by 23 August 2021.

What if my parents/ guests do not arrive after I have entered the hall?

We strongly encourage all graduates to proceed into the hall with their guests as all graduates & their guests are to be registered together at the designated counters before entering the hall. 

Can guests take photos/videos during the ceremony?

Yes, guests may take photographs/videos from their seats. They must not leave their seats or zone as to avoid intermingling and obstruction to the movement of the graduates as they move up to the stage and back to their seats. An official photographer has been engaged to take a photo of the graduate being presented on stage.

What is the age limit for admission of children into the hall?

Children below 6 will not be allowed to enter the hall and we appeal for your understanding not to bring them to the campus.

What is the dress code?

Since this is a formal ceremony, we encourage all guests to be dressed appropriately for the occasion and avoid singlets, shorts, bermudas, slippers and sandals.  

Can I change my session?

Due to strict safe management measures which limit the capacity for each session, graduates will be assigned to a specific session and some programmes may be spread over several sessions. Graduates are to attend the assigned session and there will be not be any changing/swapping of sessions. Graduates will be notified of the timing of their ceremony session by 10 September 2021.

If I require special assistance, what should I do?

Please email to ccdevents@suss.edu.sg with requirements as special seating arrangements will have to be made by 23 August 2021.

How long is each ceremony session?

In view of the current COVID-19 situation, all ceremony sessions are kept to less than an hour due to safety reasons.

Do I have to wear the Academic Regalia?

The wearing of the Academic Regalia is compulsory for all graduates receiving their degree scrolls at the ceremony.

Can I rent my Academic Regalia from other studios?

The Academic Regalia for rental are customised for the Singapore University of Social Sciences. We have appointed Serangoon Broadway Studio as our official gown management studio. We are unable to advise whether the Academic Regalia rented out by other studios will be similar.

If I am not attending the Convocation, can I still rent the academic regalia?

If you are not attending the ceremony, you may rent your academic regalia from Serangoon Broadway the following month after the ceremony.

Rental of academic regalia is chargeable at a special rate of S$30 and you are required to make a S$150 refundable deposit. The gown has to be returned within seven days.

If you would like to rent the academic regalia, please contact the Alumni Relations Department at +65 6248 9215 or alumni@suss.edu.sg.

Return Period of Academic Regalia:
Graduates can return their gown from 5 to 28 October 2021. 
Note: The complimentary stage photos will only be available for collection at Serangoon Broadway Studio from 19 October 2021 onwards.

Please refer to Graduate's Guide for more information on Academic Regalia.

What are the COVID-19 safe management measures during the Convocation?

The University's utmost priority is to ensure that our graduates, staff, faculty and distinguished guests are safe during the event. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the following safe management measures will be implemented during Convocation and must be strictly observed by all attendees:

A) Things to take note before ceremony day

Ensure that you have:

• Registered for the event (both graduates and guests) and placed order for your Academic Regalia (graduates) via the SUSS Graduation Portal by 23 August 2021.
• Filled up the online Graduates' & Guests' Details Form by 23 August 2021.

For more info with regards to the above 2 items, please refer to the e-Circular sent to your SUSS MyMail address or personal email address registered with the University on 17 August 2021.

B) Vaccination status

Attendees (both graduates & guests) must have been fully vaccinated, i.e. had two doses of any World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) vaccine at least 2 weeks before their assigned Convocation ceremony, OR tested negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours of the end time of their assigned Convocation ceremony, before they are allowed to attend the assigned ceremony.

SUSS has the rights to reject any individuals who fails to comply the safe management measures.

*Based on the current advisory by the authorities, attendees, who have completed the full Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or any WHO EUL COVID-19 vaccination regimen (which also includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca) at least 2 weeks before the assigned Convocation ceremony, are not required to undergo any Pre-Event Test.

C) Pre-Event test

As mandated by Singapore authorities, attendees who have not completed the full Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or any WHO EUL COVID-19 vaccination regimen (which also includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca) at least 2 weeks before the assigned Convocation ceremony, are required to take a COVID-19 Pre-Event Test, i.e. Antigen Rapid Test (ART), from a MOH-approved COVID-19 test provider, within 24 hours of the end time of the assigned Convocation ceremony.

The end time for the respective ceremonies are as follows:

*Please note that the start time of ceremony is after the on-campus registration of attendance. All attendees are required to reach the campus earlier for registration. Please refer to Graduates' Guide & Graduates' Guest Guide for more info on the registration timing of the different zones.

Important Information on Pre-Event Antigen Rapid Test
The Antigen Rapid Test (ART) will be used for the COVID-19 Pre-Event Test. The ART result is valid for only 24 hours. Graduates and guests must plan their ART so that its validity covers the assigned Convocation Ceremony for the entire duration.

The appointed test provider is Raffles Medical. Graduates and their guests may opt to take their ART at SUSS's appointed test provider, Raffles Medical at a special rate of $22 (before GST).

*Please book your appointment as early as you can as there are limited testing slots each day (recommended at least 14 days in advance). Graduates/Guests may also walk in to the Raffles Medical Clinics, but do note that the waiting time may be longer. Please refer here for the available locations to take ART at Raffles Medical Clinics.

**For the Convocation Entry Email, graduates are to forward a copy to their guests so that guests can present the email during the appointment.

Note: Graduates & guests will not be entitled to the special rate of $22 (before GST) if you fail to produce the necessary documents for verification; public rate of $30 (before GST) will apply instead.

D) Health and travel advisory for graduates & guests returning from overseas

Graduates and guests returning from overseas are required to fill up the mandatory SUSS Health and Travel Declaration Form on the day of the ceremony

Can I attend the Convocation if I have Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms? (Cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat or loss of sense of smell)

Please refrain from attending the Convocation if you are experiencing any of the ARI symptoms.

Can my guests and I use the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test kits instead of taking the Pre-Event Test (PET) at a MOH-approved COVID-19 test provider?

No, results from the ART self-test will not be valid for the Convocation event.

Based on the current advisory by the authorities, attendees at large-scale events are required to take COVID-19 Pre-Event Tests from MOH-approved COVID-19 test providers if they have not completed the full Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or any World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL which also includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca) vaccination regimen.

Alternatively, attendees can take the required COVID-19 ART Pre-Event Test at SUSS's appointed test provider, Raffles Medical at a special rate of $22 (before GST). More information will be shared with all graduates by 10 September 2021.

*Please note that all PET cost will be borne by graduates and guests themselves.

How much is the COVID-19 Pre-Event Test (PET)?

For Pre-Event Test, only Antigen Rapid Test (ART) is required. The cost of the test differs from different MOH-approved COVID-19 test providers.

However, graduates may opt to take their ART at SUSS's appointed test provider, Raffles medical at a special rate of $22 (before GST). More information on this will be shared with all graduates by 10 September 2021.

*Please note that all PET cost will be borne by graduates and guests themselves.

Is the COVID-19 Pre-Event Test suitable to be taken by anyone?

Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) will be used for the COVID-19 Pre-Event Testing during Convocation. For more information on the ART, please refer to MOH's factsheet on pilots for Pre-Event Testing dated 20 October 2020 and the latest updates on Pre-Event Testing on MOH's website.

Can my child who is 12 years old and below attend the event without vaccination/pre-event test (PET)?

Children who are 12 years old and below are currently ineligible for vaccines under the National Vaccination Programme. In line with national guidelines, unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below can attend the convocation ceremony with members of the same household, without the need for the children to undergo PET. However, the household member of the child must be fully-vaccinated.

I have taken a COVID-19 test recently. Do I still need to proceed for the COVID-19 Pre-Event Test if I am not vaccinated?

If you already have a negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) or Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR) result that is valid until the end time of your assigned Convocation ceremony, you are not required to go for a second COVID-19 test. You will need to present this test result to our staff at the entrance of the campus.

Can I attend the Convocation ceremony if I do not take the COVID-19 Pre-Event Test?

The COVID-19 Pre-Event Test is a mandatory requirement by the Singapore authorities to ensure the health and safety of individuals participating in large-scale events. Individuals, who do not have a valid negative COVID-19 Pre-Event Test result or who have not completed the full Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or any World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL which also includes Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca) vaccination regimen, will NOT be allowed to attend the Convocation ceremony.

What do I do if I am tested positive through ART?

If you are tested positive on ART, you must take the confirmation Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test. This PCR test can be taken at the test facility where the ART was earlier performed. The cost of the PCR test conducted at the test facility where the ART was earlier performed will be fully borne by the Singapore Government.

While waiting for the PCR results, you are to self-isolate yourself and will not be allowed to attend the Convocation ceremony. Please consult your doctor immediately for further advice.

To ensure the health and safety of individuals participating in SUSS Convocation 2021, if a graduate or his/her guest is tested positive for COVID-19, we regret to inform that the graduate AND his/her guests will not be allowed to attend the Convocation.

Would the Convocation ceremony proceed as planned in the event that the community transmission rates were to increase in the period leading up to the Convocation ceremony?

Protecting the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and guests remain the University's top priority. We will only conduct our in-person Convocation provided it is safe to do so with the various precautionary and safe management measures taken during the Convocation.

I am unable to attend the Convocation in October 2021. Can I attend the next Convocation instead?

Graduates who are unable to attend the Convocation in October 2021 due to valid reasons (e.g., positive ART result or travel restrictions) may request to attend the next Convocation for the Class of 2022. You may wish to note that the attendance at the Class of 2022 Convocation ceremony will still be subjected to the prevailing COVID-19 public health measures and Government regulations.

When can I collect my certificate?

For graduates attending the Convocation ceremony, collection of certificates will be at the registration counter on the actual day.

For graduates not attending the ceremony, there will be NO certificate collections during the physical Convocation 2021 Ceremony planned from 5 - 12 October 2021.

Please look out for an email from students@suss.edu.sg at a later date regarding collection of certificates for non-attendees.