Preparing for the Day

Attendance

You must advise the Graduation Office if you wish to attend your Graduation Ceremony in person or if you wish to receive your award ‘in absentia’. Either way, you must complete the online booking form, to confirm your intention. The booking form will open on Monday 17th July 2023.

If you choose to attend, the booking form will confirm the date and time of your Ceremony and give you the opportunity to book your tickets. 

If you choose not to attend, the booking form will enable you to confirm the address details of where you would like your certificate to be sent. If you have already received your certificate, please still let us know if you do not plan to attend, so we do not continue to send you reminders about booking.

It is essential that you to let us know your intention either way by Friday 6th October 2023. If you are unable to complete the graduation booking form, please email graduation@chester.ac.uk or contact the Graduation Office on 01244 511170 and a booking form will be completed for you.  

N.B. You cannot access the online booking system until such time as your award has been confirmed by the University.

Tickets 

Each Graduand/Diplomate will be allocated up to two guest tickets if they apply before the deadline of the 6th October. After this date, guest tickets cannot be guaranteed. All ticket allocation remains subject to any restrictions that may be in place as a result of the pandemic.

Once the booking form has closed on October 6th, if there are any remaining tickets, we will contact all attending students about how to apply for them. The availability of extra tickets cannot be guaranteed. Any available extra tickets will be allocated as equitably as possible to those who apply, via a random ballot system.

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.

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 17th 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.

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 by Friday 6th 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.

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 and locations

Ceremony 1	From 4.00pm - 6.00pm on Monday 30th October and from 7:30am on Tuesday 31st October
Ceremony 2	From 9:30am on Tuesday 31st October
Ceremony 3	From 12:00pm (midday) on Tuesday 31st October
Ceremony 4	From 7.30am on Wednesday 1st November
Ceremony 5	From 9.30am on Wednesday 1st November
Ceremony 6	From 12:00pm (midday) on Wednesday 1st November
Ceremony 7	From 7.30am on Thursday 2nd November
Ceremony 8	From 9.30am on Thursday 2nd November
Ceremony 9	From 12:00pm (midday) on Thursday 2nd November
Ceremony 10	From 7.30am on Friday 3rd November
Ceremony 11	From 9.30am on Friday 3rd November
Ceremony 12	From 12:00pm (midday) on Friday 3rd November
ALL gowns must be returned to the Main Sports Hall in the Northgate Arena by 6.00 pm on the day of your Ceremony.
Photographers, also based in the Main Sports Hall in the Northgate Arena will close at 5.30pm each day.

Disability 

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. Alternatively, you can email graduation@chester. ac.uk or give details in the ‘special requirements’ section on the online booking form.