General Information, Registering and Tickets

1.  When are the ceremonies held and which degree shemes are in which ceremonies?

Please consult the Order of Ceremonies for details.

2. Where are the ceremonies held?

All ceremonies are held in the Great Hall, Arts Centre, Penglais, Aberystwyth. (http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/maps-travel/visitors/)

3. How do I register for Graduation?

Undergraduates

All full-time undergraduates will receive an email in early March telling them how to register on-line for graduation They will be directed to an on-line registration form and to the following websites:

    - Gown Hire from Wippell (AU Degrees) or Ede and Ravenscroft (UW Degrees)
    - Success Photography (photographs, DVD) 
    - University Accommodation 
    - Campus Clothing (commemorative T-shirts, etc)

On-line registration for graduation must be completed between 5 March and 31 May.  PLEASE NOTE:  failure to register by this date will mean that you will be unable to attend your ceremony.  It is the graduating students’ responsibility to ensure they register in time.

'External Resit' candidates, Distance Learning Students and Welsh-Medium Students

We will write to you in late February indicating the exact date and time of your ceremony.  You will need to contact us with your e-mail address so that we can send further information to you.  Please note that we will NOT be sending any information by post, therefore, it is vital you provide us with a valid e-mail address, if you wish to receive all the necessary information on graduation.

Postgraduate Students

We will contact you via e-mail indicating the date and time of your ceremony.  The e-mail will also include a letter and a form for you to complete and return to us by 10th June.  Please note we will NOT be sending any information by post, therefore, it is vital that you provide us with a valid e-mail address if you wish to receive all the necessary information on graduation.

4. I am not sure whether I wish to attend, should I still register?

It is advisable that even if you are unsure of whether you wish to, or are able to attend, that you register for the relevant ceremony.  Students who fail to register by the deadline and who decide they wish to attend following the publication of the examination results in June, will not be permitted to attend.  Failure to register could delay in you receiving your Degree Certificate.

5. What if I have resits in August?

You will not be eligible to attend this year’s Ceremonies.  The Graduation Office will write to you in September (after the results) giving you the option to either:

         1. attend the next Degree Congregation
             OR
         2. be admitted to your degree in absentia

You must choose one or the other.  If you choose to receive your degree now by decree and in your absence you cannot change your mind later and attend a Degree Congregation at a future date.

Graduation Ceremonies are held once a year in July.

6.  What if I don't want to go to the Ceremony? 

It is not compulsory to attend the Ceremony you can opt to graduate in absentia.  You MUST still register.

7. I already have my degree certificate, can I still attend a ceremony in future?

Once you have received your certificate, you are deemed to have graduated in absentia and cannot attend any future ceremonies.

8. I’ve missed the Graduation deadline, what do I do?

If you have missed the registration deadline, then you are unable to attend the event.  You are welcome to attend the 2013 Graduation instead.

9. I missed last year’s event.  Can I come to this one?

You can attend if you haven’t already received your degree certificate.

10. Am I able to defer attending a graduation ceremony?

Students who do not wish to attend the ceremony in July of their final year of study are permitted to defer for one year only.  Students who do not attend a ceremony a year following the completion of their studies will be awarded their degrees in absentia and will not be permitted to attend a future ceremony.

11. I’m not sure whether I have any outstanding debts to the University.  Should I check?

Yes!  Any student who is in debt to the University will not be allowed to graduate.  All debts to the University must have been cleared by 10th June 2012 in order for you to be able to attend this year’s ceremony.  Debts may take many forms and include unpaid tuition or registration fees, residence fees and library fines (including unreturned books, fines and print charges).  If you are in debt to the University you will not be issued with a certificate and you will not be allowed to attend the Graduation Ceremony, therefore it is very important that you check whether you have any outstanding debts.  It is your responsibility to ensure that your debts have been cleared, which can be done by e-mailing fees@aber.ac.uk

12. My particular ceremony date is inconvenient.  Is it possible to attend another ceremony?

It is not possible to change a ceremony date.  If you cannot attend the prescribed date you will graduate in absentia.  You will also graduate in absentia if you have said that you intend to come to the ceremony but then cannot, or do not attend for some reason.

13. When can I use the credentials after my name? (e.g. Joe Bloggs BA; Dr Joe Bloggs PhD; etc)

Should you qualify for your degree by satisfying the examiners, you must be admitted to it formally before you can receive a degree certificate or use the appropriate letters after your name. You may elect to be admitted to the degree in one of two ways:

                       either

            (i)         by attending a formal degree congregation, at which academic dress is worn and at which parents/partners may
                        attend.  Congregations are held once per year in July.

                       or

            (ii)        in absentia by decree of the Vice-Chancellor of the University.  This is an administrative procedure at which you
                        will not be present.  Certificates are issued as soon as possible after degree congregations, normally within two 
                        months after the date they were held.  Please note that if you are admitted in absentia you cannot graduate 
                        subsequently at a degree congregation.

14. How many tickets will I be allocated?

Every graduand who wishes to attend the ceremony will be allocated up to two guest tickets.  Graduands themselves do not require a ticket.  Entrance to the ceremony for all guests is by ticket only.

15. What if I want more than 2 guest tickets?

It is envisaged that a small number of tickets remain available for each ceremony once all attending graduands have been allocated their 2 tickets.  Remaining tickets will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and you will be able to apply for these for a brief period following the publication of the examination results (at the end of June).  Details of when tickets for your particular ceremony will be available will be e-mailed to you at a later date.  Each student will be limited to TWO EXTRA GUEST TICKETS.  If after the closing date extra tickets are still available, these will be allocated on the day of your ceremony following registration.

Please note that some ceremonies may not have additional tickets available, due to the number of graduands attending.  You are welcome to bring additional guests who may watch the ceremony relayed on a large screen in the Arts Centre Cinema – tickets are not required for this.  The ceremonies will also be streamed live on the Internet for those who are unable to be present on the day.

Please note: We advise against making expensive travel arrangements for guests on the expectation of extra tickets. These guests are welcome to enjoy the day with you, however if they do not have tickets for The Great Hall then they will not be admitted to the ceremony.

16. Ticket Collection:

All guest tickets will be available for collection at the student registration desk in the Performance Studio after you have registered.  You will be required to bring your library card with you or formal identification in order to collect your tickets.

17. What are the seating arrangements in the hall?

The seating arrangements are carefully planned so that you arrive on stage when your name is being called – according to the order in the printed programme that you will receive when you register.  There will be administrative staff on duty to see that you find your correct seat and they are on duty throughout the ceremony to ensure that you remain in the correct order.

18. What about the departmental receptions?

Most departments hold their own individual receptions, either prior to or after the ceremony.  You will be contacted with information on their reception direct to your home department.