Graduation
Schedule of Ceremonies
The upcoming ceremonies will take place on the following dates:
- Tuesday 17th September: University Centre Shrewsbury graduands (award dates up to 1st August 2024) in St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury.
- Tuesday 4th – Friday 8th November: All Chester graduands (award dates up to 9th October 2024) in Chester Cathedral
Those receiving awards after 9th October and before 12th February 2025 will graduate at the ceremonies taking place in March 2025.
The booking form will confirm which ceremony you have been allocated to, so please log in there if you are unsure which department you belong to. Joint honours students will always go to the ceremony for the subject they majored in. If the subjects are equally weighted, the first subject alphabetically determines the ceremony (e.g. a Biology and French student would graduate with Biological Sciences). Students cannot choose which department they graduate with.
Please note that the department structures below may have changed since your time of study.
Preparing for the day
Tickets
Each Graduand/Diplomate will be allocated up to 2 guest tickets if they apply by the deadline of Monday 7th October. After this date, guest tickets are not guaranteed. Once the booking form has closed, if there are any remaining tickets, we will contact all registered students to let them know how they can apply. Any available tickets will be allocated as equitably as possible to those who apply, via a random ballot.
International Students
In order to invite your parents, family members or friends to come to the UK to attend your Graduation Ceremony it is your responsibility to make sure that they apply for the appropriate visas. For more information about the requirements for a visa application, please visit the  Home Office website.
Accessibility
If you require any form of assistance during your Graduation Ceremony, it is your responsibility to contact the Graduation Office on 01244 511170 and make them aware of your requirements, giving at least 4 weeks’ notice. Alternatively, you can email  graduation@chester.ac.uk.
Academic Dress
In order to participate in the Ceremony, you will be required to wear the full academic dress of the University. It is your responsibility to order your gown, hood and hat. Our recommended suppliers are Ede & Ravenscroft. You can do this online from Monday 22nd July. If you have any queries about gown hire, please go to edeandravenscroft.com/help. Please make sure that you have ordered your academic dress at least 21 days before the Ceremonies are due to take place otherwise you may have to hire a gown on the day at an additional cost.
N.B. Your Graduation Ceremony is a formal event and as such it is recommended that you dress smartly. Casual attire such as jeans, t-shirts and trainers are not considered appropriate for this type of event. Staff from Ede & Ravenscroft will be at the ceremony to ensure that your academic dress is correct before you receive your degree/award.
Photography
The official photographer for the University is Ede & Ravenscroft and they will be based in the Main Sports Hall at the Northgate Arena. It is not compulsory to book, though it is advisable, to avoid congestion on the day. A photographer from Ede & Ravenscroft will also be present at the ceremony to take a photograph of you as you receive your award. For more information, visit the Ede & Ravenscroft website. Gown hire collection and photography availability times will be confirmed soon.
Debt
University policy specifies that no award or degree will be presented to any person with an outstanding tuition fee debt. It is your responsibility to check if this is the case. Unpaid tuition fees must be settled Monday 7th October.  Any student who has not settled their tuition fee debts by this date will not be eligible to attend their Graduation Ceremony and their degree or award certificate will be withheld until such time as the debt has been cleared. You cannot defer if you have an outstanding tuition fee debt.
The Ceremony
The Cathedral doors will open approximately 45 minutes before the Ceremony is due to start.
You and your guests should arrive at the Cathedral, having first collected your gown from the Northgate Arena, 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin. This will enable the ushers to check for absentees. Once this check has been completed, any latecomers, for whatever reason, will not be able to participate at the ceremony.
What happens when I arrive at the Cathedral?
On arrival at the Cathedral, graduands should enter through the Main Visitor’s entrance, while guests should enter through the West Door or South-West Door. Guests who require step-free access to the Cathedral should enter through the South Transept. You should have your e-ticket ready to be scanned at the door either on your phone or printed off.
To maintain a safe and secure environment, we ask that you and your guests DO NOT bring large bags/backpacks/suitcases into the Cathedral. You should make alternative arrangements to leave baggage elsewhere as there are no storage facilities at the venue.
Please make yourself known to an Usher at the door who will advise you of your seat number and direct you to your seating. You will then be seated by a Nave Usher who will check to make sure you are sitting in your designated seat.
Graduand/Diplomate Seating
You should occupy the seat that corresponds to the number given to you by the Usher on the door. It is most important that you do not move from your allocated seat position even if there is a gap next to you. Failure to occupy the correct seat will mean that you are recorded as ‘absent' and you will not be presented with your award.
The Presentation of your Award
At the appropriate time, you will be guided by an usher to the left-hand side of the nave in a continuous procession. You should give your name to the usher at the front of the queue and when your name is called, proceed towards the Presiding Officer, and shake their hand (if you would prefer NOT to shake hands, please contact The Graduation Office). Proceeding across to the opposite side, you will make your way down the right side of the nave and return to your seat.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, on a given signal, the graduates/diplomates will process out.
