Graduation preparation

To ensure you receive your award in absentia without delay, please make sure to adhere to the below deadlines.

Registration opening dates

• 2020 completers - Wednesday 16 March 2022
• 2022 completers - Tuesday 2 August 2022

Registration closing dates

• 2020 completers - Wednesday 6 April 2022
• 2022 completers - Friday 19 August 2022

• 2 September 2022 - Deadline for amending your personal details on your student record (correct name and home address)
  (please also inform the graduation team with change of personal details)
• 2 September 2022 -  Deadline for clearing all remaining debt (students with outstanding debt will not be issued with their award certificate until the debt has been cleared in full)

Booking instructions will be emailed to eligible students prior to booking opening. 

Booking opens on:

• 2020 completers –  Wednesday 16 March 2022
• 2022 completers – Tuesday 2 August 2022

• 2020 completers - Wednesday 6 April 2022
• 2022 completers - Friday 19th August 2022

Please ensure you register your attendance before the closing date, or you will not be able to attend. Students can purchase a maximum of two guest tickets in addition to their own.

Please book in anticipation of successful completion if you have referred coursework or exams and are due to complete your studies by Monday 12 September 2022. If you do not successfully complete your studies in time for your ceremony, you will be given a full refund on all tickets purchased.

Ticket prices:

Graduating student - free of charge

Adult - £30

7-12 years old - £15

0-6 years old - free of charge. Children under 2 do not need a ticket but must in this case sit on an adults lap.

• Graduands are required to sit in their allocated seat.
• Guest seating is not allocated, so guest can choose where they sit.
• Students and guests are seated 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
• Tickets are not posted and can be collected from the ticket table in the graduation lounge no later than 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
• Please indicate on your online booking form if you or your guests require special arrangements.

Refund of tickets will be honoured until close of day on Sunday 4 September 2022. Please email graduation@plymouth.ac.uk and include the following information:

• your name
• your registration number
• your telephone number
• your booking reference
• the date and time of your ceremony
• how many tickets need to be refunded.

For refunds of gown-hire, please contact J Wippell and Company.

Your certificate will display the name with which you enrolled with the university. Please ensure this is your legal name and if you need to amend it, please contact your faculty office, and provide ID as proof (passport, driving licence or birth certificate). Please note that we cannot amend the name on your certificate after your award is confirmed except in the case of gender reassignment.

Only students whose awards have been confirmed by their faculty office can attend the graduation ceremony. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact your faculty office.

Students with outstanding debts with the university are not eligible to attend their ceremony. Outstanding balances must be cleared at least 14 days before the ceremony. If you have outstanding tuition fees you will not be permitted to attend your graduation ceremony, nor will your award certificate be sent to you until such time that the debt is settled in full. If you are unsure whether you have an outstanding debt, please email studentaccountsteam@plymouth.ac.uk with your full name and student registration number.

As a graduating student, even if you will not be attending a graduation ceremony, your name and course details will be published in the souvenir graduation programme. Please note your degree classification will not be published. If you would prefer your name and course details to be omitted from this publication, please email gradlistingsoptout@plymouth.ac.uk and we will remove your details.

Certificates will be presented to graduands at their ceremony. If you are not attending your ceremony, it will be posted to the home address registered on your student portal shortly after the graduation ceremony. You can amend your details by following the instructions provided. Please note that we are unable to issue any award document before you have been officially awarded.

E-transcripts are available to download from the DLE (Moodle). If you need an official stamp on your e-transcript, please contact your faculty office.

How to order your robes

In order to graduate, you must wear full academic dress to the ceremony (gown, hood and cap). You can hire or buy your academic robes from J Wippell and Company, the official gown suppliers for the University of Plymouth, and not from any other supplier.  www.wippellgownhire.co.uk  Telephone: +44 1392 254234

The online ordering system will be open from Monday 1st August 2022 and will close on Sunday 11th September 2022.

To order your robes, you will need the following details:

• your name and student number
• your height (from head to floor)
• your head circumference (measure 1 inch above your eyebrows)
• your payment card details.

Note: Unfortunately we are aware of a scam involving a company falsely claiming to offer a gowning service and taking payment but not providing the gown(s). This company were advertising on Facebook.

Price Information

The cost to hire or purchase is displayed at the ‘hire/purchase’ stage when ordering. This varies and will be from £40 to hire a full set of robes (gown, hood and hat) and from £390 to purchase a full set of robes (gown, hood and hat).

Smart attire

The ceremonies are formal occasions and we recommend that candidates should dress smartly. We welcome national dress for international students and military uniforms. Jeans, t-shirts and other casual attire are not considered appropriate for graduation ceremonies.

Returning your gown

Gowns should be returned to the J Wippell representative on the same day.

Guest Tickets

Graduands can request up to two tickets as part of their graduation registration online. Tickets can be purchased via the graduation estore. Booking instructions will be emailed to eligible students prior to booking opening.

Please note: no additional guest tickets will be available for purchase on the day.

Guests without tickets

The ceremonies will be recorded, enabling friends and families or our graduating students who are unable to attend, to watch the celebrations from afar. The recordings of the ceremonies will be made available on the graduation website within 24 hours of the event.

Dogs

Please be advised that dogs (except for registered assistance dogs) are not permitted inside the ceremony or the post-ceremony areas.

Travelling to Graduation

Accommodation

There are a variety of hotels and B&Bs available near the venue. Further information can be found at Visit Plymouth.

Park and ride

There are three park and ride services into the city centre. Please use the facilities that operate from Milehouse or Coypool for ease of parking and frequency of service. You can find out more information about these on the Plymouth Park and Ride website.

Plymouth Hoe is only a very short walk from the Park & Ride bus stops on Royal Parade (City Centre).

Train

The walking distance from Plymouth railway station to Plymouth Hoe is approximately 20 minutes.

Taxis are available from outside the main entrance and regular buses run from the train station to Plymouth Hoe. Please visit the City Bus website for details.

Parking

There is no parking available on Plymouth Hoe. However, there are numerous other car parks in the vicinity. Further information is available via the plymouth.gov website. The closest drop off point is Elliot Terrace.

Disabled parking

Blue badge parking spaces are available to use at the venue and this can be requested when booking your tickets. 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 on the web booking form. Staff on the ticket table will then be aware of these arrangements and will be able to assist you as appropriate.

Student Visa Information and inviting friends and family from overseas

You may wish to invite friends or family from overseas to enjoy your graduation day with you

If you have a valid Tier 4 visa, you can re-enter the UK as long as you carry a copy of your Graduation Letter in your hand luggage to show the immigration officer if asked. It is also advisable to carry a copy of your onward flight tickets to show that you will be leaving the UK before your visa expires.

To obtain a Graduation Letter and to find out further advice, please visit the International Student Support pages at the link below. If your Tier 4 visa is no longer valid, you will need to apply for a Visitor Visa instead.

Visas for Friends and Family

If you would like your friends or family to attend your graduation or just to visit you in the UK, they may need to apply for Visitor visas. You will need to send them documentation confirming your current study and immigration status and there are a number of documents that they will need to prepare.

If you or any of your guests have any accessibility requirements such as special seating arrangements at the ceremony or a disabled parking space, please provide details when completing the online registration task outlined in your invitation email and when you make your booking.

If you did not request a disabled parking space as part of your registration, please email graduation@plymouth.ac.uk  to request one.

If you have any queries about the arrangements or need further information, please contact the Graduation Team graduation@plymouth.ac.uk.

Make sure you check our On the day information pages to plan your graduation day and get the most out of your ceremony.

Access to the Stage

Access to the stage is via a ramp adjacent to the stage. Graduands will sit together in rows, with a designated seat, and will be called to the stage row by row by an usher. For those with mobility needs, we can provide a number of alternative options. Once registration has closed, the graduation team will be in touch with all students who specify accessibility needs.

Graduands will have a name card on their seat which you will take to the stage with you. It will be given to the name caller, your name will be read out, and then you will cross the stage and receive your certificate.

Photography

Tempest Graduation Photography is the official photographer for your ceremonies.

Ensure to have your graduation photographs taken once you have collected your gown. There is no need to book, no need to prepay and no obligation to buy. Head along by yourself or take your guests and friends with you. You will want to capture the day forever and what better way than with an official photograph or two.

Filming

The ceremonies will be filmed. Further details will be made available shortly. 

To ensure you receive your award in absentia without delay, please make sure to adhere to the below deadlines.

Registration opening dates

• 2020 completers - Monday 14 March, 2020
• 2022 completers - Monday 1 August 2022

Registration closing dates

• 2020 completers - Sunday 3 April, 2022
• 2022 completers - Sunday 11 September 2022

• 2 September 2022 - Deadline for amending your personal details on your student record (correct name and home address)
  (please also inform the graduation team with change of personal details)
• 2 September 2022 - Deadline for clearing all remaining debt (students with outstanding debt will not be issued with their award certificate until the debt has been cleared in full.

Even if you are not planning to attend your ceremony, please still register your non-attendance online through the Graduation Booking link to inform us of your decision and provide up to date contact details. You will receive and invitations email prior to the date with details of your ceremony and asking you to complete registration.

Your certificate will display the name with which you enrolled with at the university. Please ensure this is your legal name and if you need to amend it, please contact your faculty office and provide ID as proof (passport, driving licence or birth certificate).

It is very important that your home address is up to date so that your award documentation can be sent to you. If you need to amend your address after registration, you can do this via the University Portal. You must ensure your address is correct by 2 September 2022 to ensure the certificate is posted to the right address. If you are having trouble accessing the Portal, please contact IT Services. Your faculty office may also be able to update the address for you.

Please note that your award documents will be sent to your home address, not your term-time address.