Graduation day: Your ceremony

We will be running a limited service of free shuttles from College Lane to the Cathedral and back, which drops you off at Holywell Hill, a short walk from the Cathedral. Alternatively, you can make your own way by car, taxi, train, or bus. Whichever option you choose, make sure to allow plenty of time, as roads in St Albans can get busy. Return travel back to College Lane is also available after the ceremony.

The shuttle bus will drop you at Holywell Hill. Please note, there is a short walk of around five minutes from the drop-off point to the Cathedral entrance. Stewards will be on hand to guide you on arrival.

Your graduation ceremony is a formal celebration of your achievements and the start of your next chapter. To keep the day safe and enjoyable for everyone, security teams will carry out bag checks at St Albans Cathedral.

Objects including phones, confetti cannons, and flags cannot be taken across the stage. Please leave extra items with your guests before taking your seat. Anyone causing a disruption on stage may be excluded from the livestream, ceremony recording, and on-stage photos. The University may also refuse entry to anyone behaving or dressed inappropriately.

Pets are not allowed inside the Cathedral, except for registered assistance dogs. Please email the Awards team in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.

There is no storage available at St Albans Cathedral. Luggage, pushchairs, and car seats are not permitted inside, as they can pose a health and safety risk in the event of an evacuation. We strongly advise you to leave these items with your guests or make arrangements in advance if unavoidable.

Unattended luggage, pushchairs, or car seats are left at the owner’s risk, and the University cannot accept responsibility. 

Toilets are available inside the Cathedral Welcome Centre.

For information on accessibility at St Albans Cathedral during your ceremony, please visit the Cathedral website.

Guest seating is unallocated, and separate from the graduate seating area. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and sit with them in the guest area. Guests are asked to remain in their seats throughout the ceremony, respect all graduates by staying silent, and applaud as each graduate walks across the stage.

Yes, all graduation ceremonies will be filmed and photographed. The ceremony will be livestreamed, available to watch online and recordings can be downloaded afterwards. Guests without tickets to the ceremony can watch the livestream in Bar Seventy7 on College Lane Campus.

Please note that by attending the ceremonies, you and your guests consent to being included in any official photography or video recordings.

The venue doors open 45 minutes before the ceremony commences.

Every person wishing to gain entry to the ceremony must be holding their own ticket. Graduating students should speak with an usher on the door before entering if you have your guests' tickets as they will not be permitted entry without them.

Graduates must take their pre-assigned seats and guests have unallocated seating. Graduates are not seated with guests and children may not sit with graduates.

Graduating students should be in their 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. This will be followed by 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 by department, and graduates are called in alphabetical order. Classifications are not read out. Your name will be announced, and you will walk across the stage to receive a scroll of congratulations from the Presiding Officer. Remember to smile, as your photo will be taken at this point, before returning to your seat. All graduates are filmed as they walk across the stage, and the ceremony will be available in a livestreamed broadcast shortly afterwards.

Please respect your fellow graduates by remaining silent throughout the ceremony and applauding each student as they walk across the stage. A senior member of the University will give a closing address, followed by a vote of thanks from a selected graduate.

Following your ceremony, please return your gown at the designated drop-off point at St Albans Cathedral.