Graduation FAQs
Attending the ceremony
How do I know I've had an invitation to attend the ceremony?
Am I eligible to attend the ceremony?
I cannot attend the ceremony this year, can I defer?
How do I register my attendance?
How do I book tickets for my guests?
Are there any alternative methods to book my tickets and make payment?
How much does it cost to attend the ceremony?
Can I bring children to the ceremony?
Will my child need a ticket?
Can I bring children to the dinner?
What is the booking/ payment deadline for my graduation ceremony ticket(s)?
Can I pay for my tickets in person?
Can my tickets be refunded if I can no longer attend?
How can I get a visa to come to London for the ceremony?
Can I pay for my tickets after I have got a visa?
My visa has been rejected. Can I get extra support from the University of London to re-apply?
Is there a Graduation Dinner in the evening?
Can you recommend where I stay in London?
I sat my examinations in October/ November this year, can I book a place before I receive my examination results?
Gown hire
How do I hire my gown?
How much does it cost to hire a gown?
Where do I collect my gown before the ceremony?
Can I wear my own gown?
On the day
Will I be given instructions for the day?
What is the dress code for the Graduation Ceremony?
What time should I arrive?
How do I get to the Barbican?
Where do I go once I arrive?
When should my guests arrive?
Is there somewhere to eat and drink at the Barbican?
How long does the Graduation Ceremony last?
Photos and framing
Can I have professional graduation photographs taken at the Barbican Centre?
Will I be able to get a frame for my photograph and my degree certificate?
Can I buy photographs of the Graduation Ceremony?
Will I be able to take photos during the ceremony?
Should I book my photography session prior to attending the ceremony?
Can I purchase a DVD of the ceremony?
When will DVD orders be dispatched to students?
Will the ceremony be broadcast on the internet?
How can I send in a video diary for the webcast?
Attending the ceremony
How do I know I've had an invitation to attend the ceremony?
All students eligible to attend will receive details on how to book a place at the graduation ceremony with their examination results. This will provide guidance on how to access the online application and payments system to order your ticket. You are required to have a ticket to attend the event.
If you have recently received your examination results but have not had an invitation to attend the ceremony, please contact us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk. Similarly, if you have graduated in previous years and are interested in attending the ceremony please contact us to find out if you are eligible to attend, and if so, we will send you the guidance notes.
Am I eligible to attend the ceremony?
All those qualifying to attend the ceremony will be sent an email invitation giving them details on how to register their attendance and book tickets for their guests. If you have recently received your examination results and successfully completed your study programme, but have not had an email invitation to attend the ceremony, please contact us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk we will then provide you with guidance on your eligibility to attend.
I cannot attend the ceremony this year, can I defer?
If you are unable to attend the 2013 Graduation Ceremony, you may be able to defer to attend the ceremony taking place in London during March 2014. Please contact us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk for more advice.
Please note: Students completing their studies in the same academic year as the graduation ceremony are given priority to attend, but we do not envisage any problems.
How do I register my attendance?
All graduands will be required to make an online booking to secure their attendance at the graduation ceremony. When you arrive at the home page for the online application system, please click on the University of London International Programmes logo to take you to a web page containing detailed information on the 2013 London Graduation Ceremony. When you have finished perusing this information, click the ‘Book Now’ button at the bottom of the page, and then enter your Student Registration Number (SRN) and Date of Birth to enter the system in order to complete your booking.
You will receive a booking summary email once you have completed your online booking. Please print out the summary email and bring it with you to London on Tuesday 19 March 2013 where you will be able to exchange it for your seat tickets.
Please note your booking will only be confirmed once you make the payment for your tickets in full.
How do I book tickets for my guests?
You will only be able to purchase guest tickets if you register your attendance as a graduand. Once you have registered your attendance, using the process above, you can continue with the booking and add as many guest tickets as you require to your shopping basket.
Are there any alternative methods to book my tickets and make payment?
If you have problems paying through PayPal, please call us on +44(0)207 862 8310 / 8543 to make your payment over the telephone. Payments made over the telephone must be made by the cardholder and can only be taken between 9.30 and 15.30 (GMT), Monday - Friday. All credit cards can be used, except American Express.
Alternatively, and only in exceptional circumstances, it is possible to pay for your graduation tickets by sending a banker’s draft, which needs to be made payable to the University of London International Academy. Please contact us for more details concerning this method of payment.
How much does it cost to attend the ceremony?
Graduand tickets are free, and each guest ticket costs £45. Tickets for the Formal Evening Dinner cost £70 each for both graduands and guests.
Can I bring children to the ceremony?
Children may attend the ceremony if they are accompanied by an adult. If this is not possible, please ensure that you have made prior childcare arrangements for the duration of the ceremonies. Please note that we do not offer any childcare facilities for the ceremonies.
Will my child need a ticket?
Children up to the age of 10 do not require a ticket but we need to be informed that they are attending so that appropriate seating arrangements can be made for them. Please email: uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk. However, a ticket will need to be purchased for children over 10.
Can I bring children to the dinner?
Due to the formal nature of the evening we do not recommend that children attend the dinner. If you need to discuss this further, please contact us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk
What is the booking/ payment deadline for my graduation ceremony ticket(s)?
The deadline for bookings and receipt of all payments is 11 March 2013. However, you are advised to make your booking and travel arrangements as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Can I pay for my tickets in person?
You are required to book your tickets online to attend the ceremony, and can pay for them either through PayPal or over the telephone. The only payments that can be made in person are for any spare additional tickets on the day, which cannot be guaranteed.
Can my tickets be refunded if I can no longer attend?
The University of London International Programmes has a strict refund policy and is only able to offer a refund if the request has been made, in writing, within 7 days of purchasing the tickets.
How can I get a visa to come to London for the ceremony?
The University cannot take responsibility for visa applications for the graduand or their guests. Please ensure that all the necessary visa requirements are met in ample time ahead of the ceremony on 19 March 2013 to avoid disappointment. However, the University is able to provide a visa support letter for those booked to attend the London Graduation Ceremony.
When you register to attend the graduation ceremony on our online booking system, please fill in the relevant section stating whether you or any of your guests require a visa support letter.
Once payment has been received to secure your booking, a visa support letter will be emailed to the graduand at the email address provided. We will also send a hard copy to the postal address provided by the graduand during the booking process. Our main point of contact for all correspondence will be the graduand.
We ask that you let us know the success of your visa application as soon as you are notified of the decision, by emailing us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk. This will ensure that all appropriate arrangements are made for you to be presented at the ceremony.
Can I pay for my tickets after I have got a visa?
You are required to pay for your guest tickets before we send a visa support letter. However, if you provide us with confirmation that your visa has been rejected then we will refund the ticket. This will be subject to a £10.00 administration charge per ticket.
My visa has been rejected. Can I get extra support from the University of London to re-apply?
We can only provide a visa support letter to assist you with your visa application. If the office issuing the visa have any further questions and contact us directly, we will provide a response to their query.
If your visa has been rejected and you will not be attending the graduation ceremony, please email uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk to let us know.
Is there a Graduation Dinner in the evening?
Yes, we will hold a Formal Evening Dinner at the Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London, England, WC2B 5DA. Tickets for graduands and guests can be purchased through the online booking system alongside tickets for the 2013 London Graduation Ceremony. These tickets tend to be very popular, and are available on a first come, first served basis.
Can you recommend where I stay in London?
To help you with your arrangements, we are able to recommend The Montague hotel, located in Bloomsbury, a convenient location for both the University of London and the Barbican Centre.
Based in the heart of Bloomsbury, The Montague offers a magical world of warmth, style and serenity:
- 4* Boutique Hotel minutes from Senate House and opposite the British Museum
- 10% off best bedroom rates and a complimentary Full English Breakfast
- Complimentary use of our workout room throughout your stay
- Luxury dressing gown and slippers
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and broadband Internet access
- Indulge in an English Afternoon Tea
- Dine Al Fresco overlooking the beautiful Bedford Gardens
For more information and to book your stay at The Montague, please ensure you follow this link which entitles you to a 10% discount: http://www.montaguehotel.com/corporate/uol.
Alternatively you can book by calling the reservations team on +44 (0)20 7637 1001, but please remember to quote this special reference number: 6745431 when making your call.
I sat my examinations in October/November this year, can I book a place before I receive my examination results?
Although the bulk of examination results have already been sent out, results for examinations taken during the October/November session will be sent out at the end of the year. As soon as these are sent, all graduands will be invited by email to register their attendance at the London Graduation Ceremony as well as book tickets for their guests. Graduands and their guests are also invited to attend the evening dinner, for which you will need to book tickets.
If you receive your examination results in November/ December, we will be holding back tickets for you and your guests to avoid disappointment.
Gown hire
How do I hire my gown?
Our external gown supplier for this ceremony is Ede and Ravenscroft [external link] so please visit their website to hire your gown at www.edeandravenscroft.co.uk. It is recommended you book this as soon as possible and at least 3 weeks before the event to guarantee your academic attire is at the Barbican on the day of the ceremony. Please download How to order your academic dress and photography online [PDF 1pg 356KB ] for step by step guidance.
Payment must be made directly with Ede and Ravenscroft. All queries relating to the hire of your gown should be directed to Ede and Ravenscroft by telephone on +44 (0) 1223 861 854, or email:
How much does it cost to hire a gown?
To hire your graduation gown, hood and mortar board for the day will cost within the region of £50-£60, depending on which degree you are being presented for. The exact price for your particular robes will be confirmed once you place your order with Ede & Ravenscroft. You may also purchase your academic dress outright if you wish to keep it.
Where do I collect my gown before the ceremony?
You will collect your gown at the Barbican Centre on the day of the ceremony. All final instructions for the day are included in the booking summary email.
Please note: you are required to collect your tickets from the reception desk before being gowned.
Can I wear my own gown?
No, it must be an official University of London gown representing the degree for which you are being presented at the Graduation Ceremony.
On the day
Will I be given instructions for the day?
Yes, we will provide all our graduands with instructions for the day through our online booking system. Instructions will be part of your booking summary email – please remember to bring this with you on the day. An outline of the day is also available on our website.
Please collect your tickets first and make your way to gowning, before proceeding to the official photography. Please allow ample time to do this, prior to making your way to the auditorium. There will be up to 4,000 people celebrating their success on 19 March 2013, and the Barbican will therefore be very busy throughout the day. It is important that you carefully follow the instructions provided to ensure that everyone attending the Graduation Ceremony has a pleasant day.
What is the dress code for the Graduation Ceremony?
The Graduation Ceremony is a formal event but we like our graduates to feel comfortable and confident in what they wear.
For men, the appropriate dress to accompany an academic gown is a smart suit or trousers, collar and tie with smart shoes. For women, a smart suit, skirt or trousers with a blouse, or a smart dress, would be appropriate.
Alternatively, national dress may be worn with the academic gown. Please note that it would be inappropriate to wear casual clothes such as jeans, tracksuits, or similar.
To see what our graduates wore to last year's Graduation Ceremony, please take a look at the photo gallery in Graduation 2012 in pictures.
What time should I arrive?
We recommend that graduands for the morning ceremony arrive at the Barbican Centre at 8.30am for registration, and allow ample time for gowning and photography before being seated by 10.15am.
We recommend that graduands for the afternoon ceremony arrive at the Barbican Centre at 11.30am for registration and take their seats by 2.15pm.
How do I get to the Barbican?
There are excellent public transport links to the Barbican Centre: the nearest tube stations are Barbican (Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines), and Moorgate (Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Northern lines). Please download a tube map from Transport for London [PDF 2pgs 200KB] or more information.
It is advisable to travel to the Barbican Centre by public transport; however, there are two public car parks nearby subject to limited availability. You may want to check the Barbican [external website] prior to arrival for more information.
Where do I go once I arrive?
Please make your way to the University of London registration desk on Level -1 (Minus 1), which is on the same level as the cloakroom. Make sure that you have your booking summary email to exchange for your seat tickets. Once you have collected your tickets, please make your way to the gowning area, followed by official photography, and then be seated in the auditorium for the ceremony.
When should my guests arrive?
Ideally we recommend that graduands and their guests arrive at the same time, but if this is not possible guests must ensure they arrive before the guests’ seating time of 10.45am for the morning ceremony, or 2.45pm for the afternoon ceremony. Please note we highly recommend you arrive on time to avoid any disappointment.
The graduand is responsible for collecting all ceremony tickets from the Information Desk. If guests arrive after the graduand has been seated, it may not be possible for the guest(s) to enter the auditorium. If for any serious reason you know that your guest(s) might be late, please let us know by 15 March 2013 by emailing uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk.
Is there somewhere to eat and drink at the Barbican?
Yes, the Barbican has several cafes, restaurants and kiosks across different floor levels; venue floor plans will be clearly visible on the day.
How long does the Graduation Ceremony last?
Each ceremony will last about 1 ½ hours, depending on the final number of graduands being presented. Each ceremony is then followed by a reception where you will have an opportunity to meet with other graduates from around the world and academics of the University of London.
Photos and framing
Can I have professional graduation photographs taken at the Barbican Centre?
Yes, Ede & Ravenscroft are the official photographers on the day. They will have photography studios set up at the Barbican to enable graduands and their guests to be photographed before and/or after the ceremony. However, where possible we recommend that graduands and their guests take advantage of the photography session immediately after gowning for the ceremony. We recommend that you book your photography session online with Ede and Ravenscroft [external link] prior to the ceremony.
Will I be able to get a frame for my photograph and my degree certificate?
Ede & Ravenscroft offer a range of frames for sale for both certificates and photographs. Please check their website Ede and Ravebscroft [external link] for further details.
Can I buy photographs of the Graduation Ceremony?
Yes, Ede & Ravenscroft will take photographs of graduands being presented at the ceremony, and these are made available for purchase after the event. Please contact Ede and Ravenscroft for more information.
Will I be able to take photos during the ceremony?
All photography is prohibited during the ceremony itself; however, you will be able to take as many photographs as you like before and after the ceremony in and around the Barbican Centre.
Should I book my photography session prior to attending the ceremony?
We highly recommend that you book in advance, as this will help us to make appropriate arrangements for the number of photography studios required.
Can I purchase a DVD of the ceremony?
Graduation Ceremony DVDs are now available to purchase, for £20. Pre-order yours now by sending your name, postal address, and the ceremony you are attending, to uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk.
When will DVD orders be dispatched to students?
Any completed DVD orders will be dispatched to students on Friday 19 April.
Will the ceremony be broadcast on the internet?
Yes, the whole graduation day will be streamed in a live webcast over the internet. Further information – including the link to the webcast – will be circulated nearer the time.
How can I send in a video diary for the webcast?
You can send us your video diaries by uploading them onto our Vimeo account.
You should have received an email providing details of how to upload your video; however, if you have not received this, please email us at uolia.corpevents@london.ac.uk for more information.
After graduation
Note: you automatically become a member of our Alumni Association. For more information see the alumni area of our website.