Your graduation day
Overview
Graduation represents the culmination of your hard work during your time studying at Edge Hill University. It’s a chance to celebrate your achievements and reflect with pride on reaching a significant personal milestone.
These pages guide you through the general itinerary of graduation day:
- Registration and ticket collection (at least one hour prior to your ceremony)
- Robe collection
- Photography
- Your ceremony
- Celebrations and refreshments
If you have any queries about your graduation day, please email [email protected].
Photography and video footage, including a live stream, will be captured on the day for use on the University website and YouTube and in other media/publications. Ceremony films are archived securely and indefinitely for future reference.
By registering to take part in your graduation ceremony and accepting guest tickets, you are giving permission for your image and that of your guests to be photographed and recorded for these purposes.
Registration and ticket collection
The first thing you need to do on campus is report to the Sports Centre to register and collect your ticket and any guest tickets.
Registration points open two hours before the start of each ceremony and close one hour before the scheduled ceremony start time. You must register within this timeframe in order to attend your ceremony.
Robe collection
Once you have registered you need to collect your robe and mortar board. Staff from Marston Events will be in the Sports Centre ready to assist you and have your pre-ordered robe ready to collect. Academic dress collection will be open from two hours prior to the start of your ceremony.
You are permitted to keep your robes to attend your ceremony and take photographs. Your robes should be returned to the robe return point no later than one and a half hours after your ceremony.
Photography
Marston Events provide the official photography service at all Edge Hill University graduation ceremonies. Photography studios will open two hours before your ceremony commences. Marston Events staff will be on hand on the day to answer any queries you may have in relation to photography.
Photography studios will close 45 minutes before the start of your ceremony. Don’t worry if you don’t have time to have your photograph taken prior to your ceremony getting underway. The photographers will be available until one hour after the last ceremony has finished on each day.
Take your seat
Academic procession and opening address
Prior to the start of each ceremony, an usher will demonstrate exactly what you need to do and the path you should follow during the formal presentation of your award.
When the ceremony is about to begin, everyone will be asked to stand. There will be a fanfare of trumpets and the ceremony will formally open with the entrance of the Academic Procession. There will then be an opening address and, at some ceremonies, there may be the presentation of an honorary award.
Presentation
Shortly before your presentation, ushers will indicate for you to stand and guide you to line up with other graduands. You must carry your ticket with you. While you are waiting in line, show your ticket to the Lead Usher who will confirm you are in the correct place in the procession. Retain your ticket and when the Lead Usher indicates for you to do so, walk all the way to the edge of the red carpet and wait. The title of your award, for example BA (Hons) English, will be announced but not your degree classification. Once the presenter reads out your name, you should walk across the red carpet to the Presiding Officer who will greet you and shake your hand. You should then continue along the red carpet and return to your seat, via the route demonstrated prior to the start of the ceremony.
Conferment of awards
Once all candidates have been presented, ushers will indicate for graduands to stand and the Presiding Officer will confer all awards. Please note, you will not receive your certificate during the ceremony. The certificate will be sent to your permanent home address within two months of your graduation date.
Formal procession
After a speech from the Presiding Officer and a short musical interlude, the ceremony will be brought to a formal close. Ushers will guide all graduates to leave the theatre in a formal procession.
Guests are permitted to take photographs during the ceremony but they must not use a flash or leave their seat.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Edge Hill University website.If you want to gain an idea of what happens during the ceremony, you can watch previous graduation ceremonies online.
Celebrations and refreshments
After your ceremony, please join our staff to celebrate your success with your guests and fellow graduates.
Complimentary picnic hampers can be collected from the Hub after each ceremony.
This is also a good time to get some photos before you return your gown and mortar board. And don’t forget to visit the Alumni and Edge Hill Students’ Union stands in the Hub.
