Documents and Terminology
Documents issued at graduation are the hard copy parchment, and the electronic transcript and parchment in My eQuals
Some other names for the parchment are certificate or testamur, at Lincoln we call it a parchment, and in My eQuals it is called a testamur. Many people choose to frame their parchment and hang it on the wall. Your parchment is actually a legal document. There can be only ever be one copy in existence at any time, so keep it safe and secure.
Lincoln University issues a hard copy parchment when you graduate, along with digitally certified PDFs of your transcript and parchment via My eQuals.
When you graduate your parchment is either presented to you in person at the Ceremony, or is posted out to you if you chose to graduate either in Absentia or from Council.
A digitally certified copy of your parchment will also be issued within ten working days of graduation on My eQuals. The digitally certified PDF copy is provided so that you can share your parchment with ease.
Your digitally certified official transcript will be issued within three working days of graduation on My eQuals. Your academic transcript is a document that records your courses taken and your results achieved at Lincoln University. After you graduate your transcript will show your qualification as having been conferred / awarded and record your graduation date.
If you require a hard copy transcript you can order one at any time by downloading and completing the form on the Request Official Documents page.
Some documents associated with graduation are issued free of charge when you graduate and you don’t need to request them, they will be automatically issued to you.
Other documents, such as the official letters and the hard copy transcript, need to be ordered if you would like one.
If you want to order an official letter or a hard copy transcript you can download the form from the Request Official Documents page.
Graduation terminonology
| Term | Meaning |
| Academic completion | Academic completion means that you have completed all the academic course requirements for your qualification, and are therefore eligible to apply to graduate. If you have practical work requirements as part of your qualification, please note that while you are eligible to apply to graduate after your academic completion you must also complete all practical work requirements before your qualification can be awarded or conferred. |
| Academic regalia | Academic regalia refers to the items of academic dress that are worn at the graduation ceremony: the gown, hood and trencher or bonnet. Academic regalia is worn to indicate the qualification achieved, and different qualifications have different regalia. You hire your regalia as part of your application to graduate and the correct regalia for your qualification is ordered on your behalf. |
| Academic transcript | Your academic transcript is a document that records your courses taken and your results achieved at Lincoln University. After you graduate your transcript will show your qualification as having been conferred / awarded and record your graduation date. Lincoln University issues an academic transcript with the parchment when you graduate via My eQuals. If you require a hard copy you can obtain one by downloading and completing the order form from the Request Official Documents page. |
| Alumni | Once you have graduated, as a former student of Lincoln, you become part of our global community of alumni. You can connect with other alumni, staff and former staff, and friends of Lincoln University, though Lincoln's Alumni website. |
| Awarded | A certificate or diploma qualification is awarded (not conferred). The date on which your certificate or diploma is awarded is when you officially receive it from the University (your graduation date). |
| Bonnet | The bonnet is an item of academic regalia. Doctoral (PhD) graduands wear a bonnet, rather than the trencher (hat) that degree graduands wear, as part of their academic regalia. |
| Conferred | Degree, masters or doctoral qualifications are conferred (not awarded). The date on which your qualification is conferred is when you officially receive it from the University (your graduation date). |
| Ceremony | The graduation ceremony is the official event and formal process during which you receive your qualification in person. If you choose not to attend the ceremony you can graduate either in Absentia or in Council and have your parchment posted to you. |
| Certificate | At Lincoln the certificate is called a ‘parchment’ and in My eQuals it is called a ‘testamur’. When you graduate your parchment (certificate/testamur) is either presented to you in person at the Ceremony, or is posted out to you if you graduated either in Absentia or in Council. Many people choose to frame their parchment and hang it on the wall. Your parchment is actually a legal document and so there can be only ever be one copy in existence at any time, you should keep it safe and secure. |
| Degree conferred - official letter | A degree conferred letter is an Official Letter produced by the University. It specifies your name, date of birth, dates of study at Lincoln University, and the qualification that you have graduated with. For more information and the order form go to the Request Official Documents page. |
| Eligible to graduate - official letter | An eligible to graduate letter is an Official Letter produced by the University. It specifies your name, date of birth, the qualification that you are eligible to graduate with, and the next Graduation Ceremony date. These letters are used for obtaining travel visas for graduation, or to provide to prospective employers as proof of completion in advance of graduating. For more information and the order form go to the Request Official Documents page. |
| Education Verification | In the process of applying for jobs after you graduate, recruitment companies or prospective employers may contact the university to check (verify) your educational history. The name, qualification and conferral date information of a graduate are a matter of public record, but all other information requires a graduate's written consent before it can be released. |
| Gown | The gown is an item of academic regalia. The Lincoln University undergraduate Diploma gown is black with green facings. Gowns for Lincoln University degrees, except for doctorates, are black. The Lincoln University PhD gown is black with blue facings, while for higher doctorates the gowns are red with facings of blue (Doctor of Science), gold (Doctor of Commerce) or green (Doctor of Natural Resources). |
| Graduand | You are a graduand when you are eligible to graduate but have not yet had your qualification conferred (degrees) or awarded (certificates and diplomas). |
| Graduate | Once your degree has been conferred or your certificate or diploma awarded you become a graduate of Lincoln University. |
| Hood | The hood is an item of academic regalia. Your hood hangs around your neck and down your back. The colour of the hood lining indicates the qualification a person is graduating with at the Ceremony. |
| In Absentia | Graduating in Absentia means that you will not be attending a graduation ceremony and instead receive your parchment by post after your qualification has been conferred or awarded on the date of the Graduation Ceremony. Your name will be recorded in the Ceremony Book but will not be read out at the Ceremony. |
| In Council | Graduating in Council means that you will not be attending a graduation ceremony and instead receive your parchment by post after your qualification has been conferred or awarded on a Council meeting date. Your name will be recorded in the Ceremony Book but will not be read out at the Ceremony. |
| Justice of the Peace | A Justice of the Peace is a person who is available for the certifying or witnessing of documents. There is no charge for this service. |
| My eQuals | My eQuals is a joint initiative among New Zealand and Australian universities that gives students and graduates secure access to their academic records and official letters online through a secure portal. My eQuals allows you to control and share your digital documents with anyone you choose. Learn more about My eQuals. |
| Parchment | Some other names for the parchment are ‘certificate’ and in My eQuals it is called a ‘testamur’. When you graduate your parchment is either presented to you in person at the Ceremony, or is posted out to you if you graduated either in Absentia or in Council. Many people choose to frame their parchment and hang it on the wall. Your parchment is actually a legal document and so there can be only ever be one copy in existence at any time, you should keep it safe and secure. |
| Procession | The graduation procession is formal parade of all graduands from the University campus through the township to the Lincoln Event Centre (the venue where the Ceremony takes place). Lincoln has two processions, one before the morning ceremony, and one before the afternoon ceremony. |
| Trencher | The trencher is an item of academic regalia. Trencher is the correct name for the hat that degree graduands wear. |
