Every student dreams of graduation day. But a University of Canberra policy has shattered that dream for international masters student Helena Schmitz.
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Ms Schmitz will miss her graduation, in March 2013, because her student visa expires in November and she cannot afford to fly back to Australia from the United States for the March ceremony.
The university hosts graduation ceremonies in March and September each year and Ms Schmitz registered to attend a ceremony at Parliament House next week, but was told she was not eligible to attend.
The university said it could only confer an award of the university to candidates that had met the academic requirements of the course.
Ms Schmitz said she doesn't expect to receive a diploma at the ceremony, but would like to participate to mark the end of her two years spent studying in Australia.
''The postgraduate office won't allow me to walk in the ceremony even though I [plan to] turn in my thesis before the ceremony and my final seminar is next week,'' Ms Schmitz said.
''For me to follow the rules for being able to graduate in September, I would have had to turn in my thesis in January or February of 2012, which is really unrealistic.
''Either way, there wouldn't have been an opportunity for me to be part of any ceremony.'' Ms Schmitz's situation was common, according to Council of International Students Australia president Aleem Nizari.
UC data shows only 300 of the 685 international students graduating next week would attend a ceremony.
AUC spokeswoman said the university hosted two international student farewells each year at the end of each semester, which international students could attend before leaving Australia.
But Mr Nizari said a farewell was not the same as a graduation.
