What to expect on the day of your Graduation Ceremony

You must bring your confirmation email and photo ID to collect your tickets.

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.

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.

Yes, we will be showing the livestreams of all ceremonies live on College Lane Campus.

Guests who do not have tickets and cannot enter the Cathedral for the ceremony, can stay on College Lane to watch the livestream.

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!

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.

The shuttle will drop you close to St Albans Cathedral but please be advised there will be a short walk (about 5 minutes).

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 - this is 45 minutes before your ceremony begins. If you arrive to the Cathedral 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.

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.

Before the ceremony begins:

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).

During the ceremony:

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.

Your graduation ceremony is a significant, formal occasion held to celebrate your academic achievements and the beginning of the next exciting chapter in your life. We want you to be able to do this with your peers and loved ones in a safe space, where everyone feels welcome and secure.

To help support this and ensure everyone's safety, our security teams will be conducting bag checks as you enter St Albans Cathedral. We also do not permit any objects, including phones, confetti cannons or flags to be carried across the stage. We ask that you please avoid bringing additional items where possible, or leave them with your guests before taking your seat in the Cathedral.

Please be aware that anyone who causes a disruption on stage will not be included in our graduation livestream, the graduation recording, and will not receive their on-stage photo. The University also reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone behaving or dressed inappropriately.

Additionally, to ensure fairness for everyone, pets, including dogs and other domestic animals, are not permitted inside the Cathedral. However, if you are supported with the assistance of a service/guidance dog, they may attend. Please email awards@herts.ac.uk to let us know in advance so we can make suitable arrangements.

Please return your gown after your ceremony straight after your ceremony at St Albans Cathedral.

We are providing a limited service of free graduation 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 graduation shuttle from St Albans back to College Lane.

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.

This will depend on what time your ceremony starts. Please carefully read our Helpful Timings for the Day.

The shuttles will be running between College Lane and St Albans every day we have ceremonies. You can view the schedule here.