Your graduation ceremony - on the day

Doors for the ceremony will open thirty minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Please ensure you allow enough time to collect your robes and arrive to take your seat at this time. View a map of the ceremony marquees. 

Graduands and guests will enter the ceremony marquee with a guest seating section (unreserved) on the left hand side and graduands on the right hand section. Graduands will have allocated seating with a name card on their seat and the seat number will be provided on ticket collection. It is not possible for graduands and guests to sit together.

Tickets are not posted and need to be collected on the day of the ceremony from the ticket table in the Graduation Lounge. Tickets are available for collection two hours before the ceremony begins.  

Your seat number will be provided at ticket collection with some short instructions, and your seat will be labelled with your name and a name card. It is very important that you sit in the correct seat during the ceremony. If you have any difficulties finding your seat, please talk to a member of Graduation staff who will be on hand to assist.

Each ceremony may differ slightly, but will broadly follow the format listed below.

The ceremony will begin with the entry of the procession. Graduands and guests are asked to stand when the music begins, and to remain standing until the procession has taken their places on the stage and the Vice-Chancellor/her representative will ask the audience to be seated.

The ceremony will be formally opened, followed by a welcoming address by the Vice-Chancellor/her representative and a short introduction from the Master of Ceremony with some general housekeeping information.

The Vice-Chancellor/her representative will call upon the presenter to present the cohort of candidates for award. Please see the "Crossing the Stage" section below for full details of what to expect when your name is called.

The Vice-Chancellor/her representative will give a closing speech and formally close the ceremony.

When the music starts, all graduates and guests should stand for the exit of the procession. The Academic procession will initially make their way to form a line along the centre aisle. Graduands will then be directed by an usher to file out of the ceremony via the centre aisle. We politely ask that guests remain in the hall until all graduates have left.

Seating is arranged in rows, with two sections (and a centre aisle). The right hand section is for graduands and the left hand side for guests. Guests who have requested assisted seating will be directed by the marshals.

It can be a daunting prospect to cross the stage in front of everyone at the ceremony, but don't worry: there will be marshals on hand to assist.

When the Master of Ceremony calls upon the presenter to present the graduands for their award, the marshals will indicate each row of graduands to make their way along the right-hand side of the marquee towards the stage. There will be marshals along the way to assist and make sure you remain in the correct order.

You will be directed towards the ramp leading to the stage.

When the presenter reads your name, you will proceed across to the centre of the stage to be greeted by the Vice-Chancellor/her representative, who will bow; you are able to bow in return (doff your cap) and your degree will be officially conferred upon you. 

You will continue across the stage and descend via the left-hand steps and then return to your seat via the right side aisle. Marshals will be on hand to direct you. You will return to the same seat so you can leave any items under your seat prior to going to the stage. Should you require assistance in crossing the stage, marshals will direct you accordingly and you will be able to exit via the ramp.

It can be a daunting prospect to cross the stage in front of everyone at the ceremony, but don't worry: there will be marshals on hand to assist.

When the Master of Ceremony calls upon the presenter to present the graduands for their award, the marshals will indicate each row of graduands to make their way along the right-hand side of the marquee towards the stage. There will be marshals along the way to assist and make sure you remain in the correct order.

You will be directed towards the ramp leading to the stage.

When the presenter reads your name, you will proceed across to the centre of the stage to be greeted by the Vice-Chancellor/her representative, who will bow; you are able to bow in return (doff your cap) and your degree will be officially conferred upon you. 

You will continue across the stage and descend via the left-hand steps and then return to your seat via the right side aisle. Marshals will be on hand to direct you. You will return to the same seat so you can leave any items under your seat prior to going to the stage. Should you require assistance in crossing the stage, marshals will direct you accordingly and you will be able to exit via the ramp.

We ask that guests remain in the hall until all graduates have left. After graduates have proceeded out of the marquee, they will be directed to gather outside (weather permitting) for the group photograph.

Following the formal graduation ceremony and group photograph, graduates are invited to join friends, family and academic staff at the Post-Ceremony Reception marquee to celebrate their achievements in a less formal setting with a glass of sparkling wine (non-alcoholic options are available) and a selection of canapés. If you have dietary requirements, please include this when you complete your questionnaire at the time of your booking. Please note that the Post-Ceremony Reception is only accessible to ticket holders.

Disabled parking

Plymouth Hoe – parking

The University does have limited parking facilities on Plymouth Hoe for use by those with severe medical conditions who may be attending the ceremonies; normally these spaces would be reserved for Blue Badge holders.

If you or your guests require a space in this car park, please indicate this on the questionnaire when making your booking. You will then be allocated a space and should give your name to the parking attendant on the day.

Please note that entry to this parking facility is via Elliot Street and not from Citadel Road.

You can drive up to the venue for drop off purposes. Please see the council website for information about Plymouth City provisions for blue badge holders.

Special arrangements

If either you or any of your guests require special arrangements at the ceremony, please ensure that you complete the "Special Arrangements" section of the questionnaire when you make your booking. Staff on the ticket table when you arrive will then be aware of these arrangements and will be able to assist you as appropriate.

The ceremony venue is fully accessible via ramps within the venue perimeter. 

Light refreshments (including alcoholic beverages) and snacks, with a selection of vegan and vegetarian options, are available to purchase in the Graduation Lounge. There are also several cafes within the Hoe promenade area.

Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and we recommend that you dress smartly. We do not consider jeans and t-shirt appropriate dress for graduation.

We welcome national dress for international students.

Venue

The graduation ceremonies in September will take place at the graduation marquee on Plymouth Hoe Promenade, PL1 2PU.

Tickets

Tickets are not posted and need to be collected on the day of the ceremony from the ticket table in the Graduation Lounge. Tickets are available for collection two hours before your ceremony is due to start. For example, if your ceremony is due to start at 10:00, you may collect tickets from 08:00 onwards.

All guests require a ticket to access the graduation hall and post ceremony marquee.

Ceremony

Doors to the graduation hall open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony. We ask guests to be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. You can check the timetable for the Class of 2023 for specific ceremony times on the Graduation website.

With the exception of guests with specific requirements, seats for guests are unreserved. You are welcome to sit in any seat without a reserved sign on it. As graduands are seated in a separate area of the hall, it is not possible for graduands and guests to sit together.

At the beginning of the ceremony, please stand for the entry and exit of the procession. Graduates will process out of the graduation hall at the end of the ceremony. We ask that guests remain in the hall until all graduates have left.

Post ceremony reception

Following the formal graduation ceremony and graduate group photograph, guests and graduates are invited to attend the post-ceremony reception  to celebrate  in a less formal setting with a glass of sparkling wine (non-alcoholic options are available) and a selection of canapés. If you have dietary requirements, please ask the graduate to provide this information at the time of booking. Please note that only ticket holders may attend the post-ceremony reception.

Children are welcome to attend graduation celebrations, however, due to the length of the ceremony and the formal nature of the event, the ceremonies may not be suitable for young children who may struggle to sit quietly for the duration of the event (approximately one hour). We recommend that guests with young children opt for seating near the entrances in case they need to leave the hall.