Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. It’s that time of year, and you may be thinking about your graduation! Here are some of the questions you might be considering…
POINT ONE: HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING…?
You will receive an email from the Academic Registrar and a new Ceremony tab will appear on your SOLE page. The email will also include a link to the University’s graduation webpages which will tell you everything you need to know. Make sure you read the information thoroughly before confirming your attendance, booking your guest tickets or ordering your academic robe. Make sure you are aware of all the relevant deadlines!
In the information provided, you will be referred to as a graduand, which means you are a university student who has finished their studies, but who has not yet fully graduated.
POINT TWO: WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE CEREMONIES BEING HELD…?
This year’s graduation is taking place earlier than in previous year, and will run on the 12th, 13th and 14th of September 2023.
The ceremonies are being held in Worcester Cathedral. The Cathedral provides a splendid setting for the ceremonies, but due to the nature of the building some seats may have restricted views of proceedings. To overcome this difficulty, the University arranges for screens to be placed around the Cathedral.
The layout of the Cathedral also limits the number of seats that are available, which is why the number of tickets is monitored very carefully.
POINT THREE: HOW DO I ORDER MY TICKETS…?
As the graduand, you do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself, you will be given a ticket when you arrive at City Campus on the day. You are however required to purchase tickets for any guests joining you on the day.
Each student has a guarantee that they will be able purchase two guest tickets for their ceremony, but due to the capacity of the Cathedral it is unlikely that there will be any extra guest tickets available. You will be able to request additional guest tickets when you are making your booking, but it will not be possible to confirm availability of these until after the deadline when all orders have been received. If extra tickets do become available, we will contact you by email. You will only be asked to pay for tickets after we have confirmed the number that you have been allocated. Check the information you have been given for deadlines both for ordering and making payment.
You can pay online via your SOLE page; follow the online instructions.
POINT FOUR: DO I NEED TO WEAR ACADEMIC ROBES…?
The ceremony is a formal event and you must wear the correct robe relating to your award.
Details about how to hire your robe will be included in the information provided by the Graduation team. The company from which you will hire your robe is Marston Events, their website details will be included in your invitation email.
It is usual to wear something smart and formal under your robe, such as a shirt or blouse. This also helps the robe stay in place because the shirt/blouse provides a button that the ‘hood’ of the robe can be looped through, fixing it into position. If you chose not to wear something with a button, the robe may need to be pinned into place. Staff from the robing company will help you to put the robe on correctly.
POINT FIVE: WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY…?
Your tickets and academic robes should be collected from the Charles Hastings Building on the City Campus. Guest seating is non-assigned, unless you indicated, when booking, that your guests have any seating requirements e.g. wheelchair access. It is important that you take your seat well in advance of your ceremony beginning so we can make sure you are sitting in the correct order. Staff will be on hand to help you find your seat.
During the ceremony staff will ask you to get out of your seat in preparation for your name being called. Once your name is read out you will walk onto the stage, shake hands with a member of staff from the University Executive, then exit the stage via a short ramp where you will collect your certificate before returning around the Cathedral to your seat.
From this point, you are no longer a graduand and are a graduate! Congratulations!
All graduates and guests are invited to the post ceremony reception held at the City Campus. Here you can have a celebratory drink and meet with friends and tutors.
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