Graduation

• The following awards are presented at graduation: BA or BSc degrees (with or without Honours), PGCE (Primary or Secondary), PGDip, MA, MSc, MRes or MTeach, MPhil, PhD

• If you achieve an appropriate award, or are expected to achieve an appropriate award, between January and July, you'll be invited to our July graduation ceremonies. Awards made or due after July will be invited to our Winter ceremonies.

• Students undertaking a degree or a top up degree at one of our partner institutions are invited to our graduation ceremonies, and may also be invited to ceremonies held by their institution. Such students are eligible to attend both ceremonies.

• Students who were due to attend our 2020 and Winter 2021 Graduation ceremonies are also being invited to attend the Winter 2022 Graduation ceremonies. These Graduation ceremonies will also take place for students who did not have their award conferred until September and November 2021.

Tickets are booked online via Ticketsource. Booking will open in December for the January/February ceremonies.

Your invitation will include the booking link, and will tell you the opening and closing dates for booking and how many guests you can bring.

Should you not complete the course in time to graduate at your expected ceremony, you can obtain refunds on any of your purchases by contacting each of the services involved.

Please don't wait until you've passed your course before obtaining your tickets as the closing date for booking falls before some results have been announced.

Should you complete your course after your expected graduation, your certificate will be issued within six weeks of when the award is achieved, and you'll be invited to the next ceremonies.

We're not able to provide letters to help your guests arrange visas for their travel, but you can write one yourself. Please email: immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk for more information and help on what to include in your letter.

If you require a letter to confirm your completion of studies please contact the Student Information Desk (SID) in Commons or via Apollo.

You must wear the correct academic robes in order to take part in your ceremony. These may be hired or bought from our official suppliers, Ede and Ravenscroft.

Graduation is a formal event, and we advise that you dress to suit the occasion in clothing which will be manageable and comfortable beneath your robes.

You'll need to register for your ceremony and collect your academic robes before your ceremony starts. We recommend you allow at least two hours for this.

Before the ceremony, while guests and students are taking their seats, live music is played.

The ceremony will begin promptly at the advertised time, and it will not be possible to admit late arrivals.

After welcomes from a senior member of staff, the academic procession enters.

The Order of Ceremonies is as follows:

• Ceremony is declared open
• Vice-Chancellor’s address
• Presentation of honorary awards (if applicable)
• Presentation of student awards
• Ceremony is declared closed.

For the presentation of your award, stewards will direct you to the side of the stage at the appropriate time, your name will be read out by a member of staff from your department, and you'll cross the stage to be congratulated in the centre by the Head of your School or another senior member of staff. You then leave the stage on the opposite side, and stewards will direct you back to your seat.

At the end of the ceremony, the academic procession will leave first.

We expect each of our ceremonies to last about 90-120 minutes.

The use of cameras and video recorders during the ceremony is strictly prohibited (this includes mobile phones) as they distract those taking part and spoil the enjoyment of other guests. The University has arranged for 1st Take to make a professional recording of the ceremony; if you'd like to order a copy please complete and return the order form enclosed with your invitation pack, or order online.

You may of course take photographs before and after the ceremony.