What to expect on the day of your Graduation Ceremony

Your graduation celebration will begin on the College Lane campus. Here, you can collect your tickets and robes, have professional photographs taken independently and with your guests, and enjoy pre-ceremony refreshments.

Please carefully read our Helpful Timings for the Day so that you can make the most of your celebration and make sure you have enough time to enjoy it all.

After your pre-ceremony activities on College Lane, you will travel to St Albans to attend your graduation ceremony at St Albans Cathedral. We will be running a limited service of free shuttles to and from College Lane and St Albans. You can find more information about this below. Alternatively, you can make your own way to St Albans. You can find more information about travelling to St Albans yourself here.

All ceremonies will be livestreamed and we will be showing these livestreams on the College Lane Campus. This means, guests who do not have a ticket and are unable to enter the Cathedral, can stay on College Lane and watch the ceremony live from Chapman Lounge, located next to the Main Reception on campus.

College Lane

Please look through these frequently asked questions about College Lane as they may be helpful. If you have any further queries, please contact us.

How do I get to College Lane?
Please visit this page of our website for information about how to get to College Lane: by road, by bus, by train, by taxi.
If you are driving to College Lane, please park at the Park and Ride.
What do I need to bring?
You must bring your confirmation email and photo ID to collect your tickets.
What do I wear?
Hiring a robe is not compulsory, but the majority of graduates choose to wear them as the Graduation Ceremony is a formal event.
We have a strict academic dress code and reserve the right to refuse anyone dressed inappropriately.
The walking routes on the day have uneven/slippery surfaces therefore you are advised to wear appropriate footwear for your safety.
Do I need to go to College Lane first?
You must go to College Lane before your ceremony so you can collect your tickets and robes and have professional photographs taken.
Entrance to the Cathedral is strictly by ticket only, so if you have not collected your tickets from College Lane we will not be able to let you in for the ceremony. We will also not have spare robes at the Cathedral.
On College Lane there will also be pre-ceremony refreshments and a chance to spend time with your guests and peers. Please give yourself plenty of time so that you can enjoy your day.
When should I get to College Lane?
To plan your day and find out when to get to College Lane, when to collect your tickets, when to travel to St Albans Cathedral and much more, read through our Helpful Timings for the Day.
Is there somewhere to watch the livestreaming?
Yes, we will be showing the livestreams of all ceremonies live in the Chapman Lounge on College Lane. The Chapman Lounge is just inside the Main Reception.
Guests who do not have tickets and cannot enter the Cathedral for the ceremony, can stay on College Lane to watch the livestream.

St Albans Cathedral

Please look through these frequently asked questions about St Albans Cathedral as they may be helpful. If you have any further queries, please contact us.

How do I get to St Albans?
We will be running a limited service of free shuttle buses from College Lane to St Albans and back again.
Alternatively, you can make your own way to St Albans.
However you travel, just make sure you leave yourself plenty of time as roads in St Albans can get busy!
Where can I park in St Albans?
Unfortunately, there is no parking available near the Cathedral, even for blue badge holders. For more information on accessibility, please visit this page.
Please be advised that car parks within the City Centre can become very congested during the Graduation weeks, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when St Albans Market runs.
If you do want to drive to St Albans: Drovers Way and Russell Ave Multi Storey car parks (AL3 5EB) are located just a short walk away from Cathedral and have over 800 spaces. More information about parking in St Albans can be found here.
Please do not park at Verulamium Park (Westminster Lodge) as this is solely for the leisure centre.
Where will the shuttle drop me in St Albans?
The shuttle will drop you close to St Albans Cathedral but please be advised there will be a short walk (about 5 minutes).
Can I go straight to St Albans Cathedral for my Ceremony?
No, you must go to College Lane first so that you can collect your tickets and robes.
Entrance to the Cathedral is strictly by ticket only, so if you have not collected your tickets from College Lane we will not be able to let you in for the ceremony. We will also not have spare robes at the Cathedral.
What time do I need to go to St Albans Cathedral?
It is vital you arrive to St Albans Cathedral with your tickets on time so that you and your guests can take part in your ceremony. If you arrive to the Cathedral more than 15 minutes after your ceremony start time, we may not be able to get you and your guests in to the ceremony.
For more information about timings for the day, please carefully read this page.
What facilities are at St Albans Cathedral?
Storage
There is no storage at St Albans Cathedral.
Luggage, pushchairs and car seats are not permitted inside the Cathedral as they pose a health and safety risk in the event of an evacuation. We strongly advise that you do not bring them with you. If it is unavoidable, we suggest that you make suitable arrangements in advance.
Due to the security risk, luggage must not be left unattended.
Any pushchairs or car seats left unattended is done so at the owners risk and the university cannot accept any responsibility.
Toilets
The Cathedral has toilets located inside the Welcome Centre.
Accessibility
For information about accessibility at St Albans Cathedral for your ceremony, please visit this page.
Order of Proceedings
The Ceremony venue doors open 45 minutes before the Ceremony commences.
Every person wishing to gain entry to the Ceremony must be holding their own ticket. Speak with an usher on the door before you enter if you have your guests' tickets as they will not be permitted entry without them.
Graduates must take a pre-assigned seat. Guests have unallocated seating. Graduates are not seated with guests. Children may not sit with graduates.
Please ensure you are in your allocated seat more than 30 minutes before the ceremony starting time. A register of attendance will take place 30 minutes before the Ceremony commences. If you are absent at this time, your name will be crossed off the list and you will be assumed absent.
All mobile phones and other electrical devices must be switched off (not to silent as this interferes with the equipment used to record the Ceremonies).
At the beginning of the Ceremony, everyone will be asked to stand for the entry of the Graduation Procession.
There will be an opening address by the Presiding Officer and, at some Ceremonies, a presentation of a Fellowship or Honorary Degree.
The presentation of degrees and diplomas will then commence. Awards are presented in hierarchical order within department. Graduates are presented in alphabetical order. Classifications are not read out.
Your name will be read out and you will walk across the stage to collect a scroll of congratulations from the Presiding Officer.
Remember to smile as your photo will be taken at this point! You will then return to your seat.
All graduates are filmed as they walk across the stage and appear in a livestreamed broadcast produced shortly after the Ceremony ends.
Please respect your fellow graduates by remaining silent throughout the Ceremony and applaud each student as they walk across the stage.
A closing address will be given by a senior member of the University.
A vote of thanks will be given by a selected graduate.
You are asked to stand for the exit of the Graduation Procession. This marks the end of the ceremony.
Where do I return my robes?
Robe return will be at St Albans Cathedral. Please return your gown after your ceremony. To find out by what time your robes must be returned, please visit this page.

Free Shuttle Bus Service

Please look through these frequently asked questions about the graduation shuttles as they may be helpful. If you have any further queries, please contact us.

What are the shuttle buses for?
We are providing a limited service of free shuttles to transport you and your guests from your pre-ceremony celebration on College Lane to your ceremony at St Albans Cathedral and back.
After your ceremony, you can hop on a free shuttle from St Albans back to College Lane.
Do I have to take a shuttle?
No, you can make your own way from College Lane to St Albans.
Please be advised that car parks within the City Centre can become very congested during the Graduation weeks, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when St Albans Market runs.
For information about parking in St Albans, please see above.
What time should I get a shuttle?
This will depend on what time your ceremony starts. Please carefully read our Helpful Timings for the Day.
When will the shuttles be running?
The shuttles will be running between College Lane and St Albans every day we have ceremonies. You can view the schedule here.
The first shuttle of the day will leave College Lane at 8:45am.
The last shuttle of the day will leave St Albans at 9:30pm.