The University of Otago's Degrees and Other Awards Statute 2011 stipulates that you must graduate within 12 months of completing your qualification. For example, if you complete your qualification at the end of semester 2 (i.e. in November), you will graduate in December of the same year, or in May or August of the following year.
You may be able to defer your graduation beyond this point, however permission to defer graduation is only granted in limited circumstances. Visit Changing your graduation application for further information.
If you don't apply to graduate within 12 months of completing your qualification, or haven't been granted permission to defer, you will automatically have your qualification awarded in absentia. You will then need to contact AskOtago to arrange for your certificate to be sent to you.
Further information