Your ceremony

Proceedings

Length of ceremony

Each graduation ceremony lasts between approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. This time frame depends on the number of graduands receiving awards at the ceremony.

Where will I be seated?

All graduands will be seated within the University Chapel. You will be allocated a seat number which will be displayed on the reverse of your graduand ticket. Ushers will be on hand in the Chapel to show you to your allocated seat.

There is no reserved seating for guests. Guests are seated by ushers on a first come, first seated basis.

Order of awards

All graduands are seated within the Chapel in order of award. The highest awards (doctorates and masters level) will be seated towards the front of the Chapel, as those awards are conferred first. These will be followed by all undergraduate awards (bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, foundation degrees etc). Within each award, students are listed alphabetically by surname. We do not distinguish students by results or degree classification.

What happens in the graduation ceremony

Arriving at the Chapel 

You must be at the Chapel 45 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony. Our staff will indicate the appropriate time for graduands to enter and be ushered to their allocated seats. Guests will then enter separately and will be ushered to seats.

Taking your seats

You will need to present your red ticket to the ushers, who will show you to your seat. Important – please keep hold of your red ticket, as you will need to hand it to the ushers before going on the platform to be conferred. Please do not move or swap seats, as this may cause your name to be read out incorrectly.

Academic procession

Each ceremony begins with the procession of the Conferrer (Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor/Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Honorary Graduands, dignitaries and academic staff into the Chapel. All guests and graduands are asked to stand when the processional music begins, and to remain standing until the procession party is seated on the platform.

Welcome and speeches

The Conferrer will welcome all graduands and their guests to the ceremony and deliver an opening address.

Honorary Doctorates

The first degrees to be presented to the Conferrer will usually be to an Honorary Graduand. A member of University staff will deliver an oration outlining the career achievements of the Honorary Graduand. After being presented to the Conferrer, the Honorary Graduand will usually make an acceptance speech.

Presentation of graduates

When instructed by an Usher, the first row of students will move to the side aisle (it is essential that all graduands are sitting in the correct seat as shown on their ticket) and will check names. All other rows will then sit down to await their turn to avoid blocking the view of the people seated behind.

When it comes to your row’s turn, you will move slowly down the side aisle and wait until your name is called. Ushering staff will guide you through this process. When your name is called, you will walk forward until you reach a marked point in front of the Conferrer (the person who will officially present your award).

If you are receiving a Doctorate, the Conferrer will touch your head with a cap to acknowledge your award and shake your hand.

If you are receiving a Masters/Undergraduate Masters degree/Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate/Bachelor’s degree or a Diploma, the Conferrer will confer your award with a handshake. 

You will then return to your seat using the central aisle, entering the row from the opposite end to which you left it.

As a courtesy to other graduands and their guests, everyone is expected to remain in the Chapel for the duration of the ceremony.

Closure of ceremony

A closing address will be delivered to the congregation to close proceedings by the Conferrer.

Leaving the ceremony

Graduands and guests will stand as the platform procession leave the Chapel. Ushers will guide graduands to process from the Chapel behind the platform procession. All guests are asked to stand and stay in their seats until the last graduand has left the Chapel.

After leaving the Chapel, the platform procession and graduands are invited to have a group photograph taken outside the Chapel. This is an ideal opportunity for any guests to take a photograph. These are available to purchase online via Tempest Photography’s website after the event. 

Dress code

Graduation ceremonies are a formal occasion which is reflected in the dress of graduands and their guests.

Graduands should wear

• Suit
• Trousers, shirt and tie
• Smart dress
• Blouse with skirt or trousers
• We politely request no jeans or trainers for this event.

Useful tips

• Wearing a shirt and tie or a blouse with buttons will make it easier to fix the hood of your academic dress.
• Hair pins are useful to secure the mortarboard (hat).
• Safety pins can be used to secure robes and hoods.

Guests

There is no dress code for guests, however, graduation ceremonies are a formal occasion and we tend to find that guests dress smartly and appropriately. 

Etiquette

Graduation ceremonies are among the most formal and ceremonial of all University events, so you may find the following guidelines helpful.

Graduands

• You are a ‘graduand’ before the ceremony and a ‘graduate’ when you are ‘conferred’.
• Ensure that you have made alternative arrangements for coats, bags and other personal belongings, as you will not be allowed to cross the stage with these items. Cloakroom facilities will be available in the students’ union for you to store your belongings free of charge. Please try and travel light as cloakroom facilities are limited.
• Please note that under no circumstances may a child be permitted to cross the stage with a graduating parent. Please make arrangements for one of your guests to look after your child if you are graduating.
• Check that your mobile phone has been turned off or turned to silent.

Guests

• Please note that refreshments must not be consumed during the ceremony in the Chapel.
• To avoid obstructing the view of other guests or causing a distraction, members of the audience may take photographs from a seated position, but should not move about the venue, use flash apparatus or selfie sticks.
• Check that your mobile phone has been turned off or turned to silent.
• It is customary to applaud and cheer the achievements of all graduands as they cross the front of the Chapel.
• If you arrive late or need to leave during the ceremony, please be aware that you will not be allowed to enter or re-enter the Chapel during the ceremony.

Children

• Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and may last for two hours. They are therefore not really suitable for children under school age. However, we understand that it is not always possible to make alternative arrangements or that you would like your child there as you graduate. If you have a guest under 5, your party may be asked to sit at the end of an aisle or near an exit so that the child can be taken outside should they become restless. We would appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
• Alternatively, your guests and children in their care may prefer to watch a live broadcast of the ceremony on keele.ac.uk/livekeele
• Please note that all guests, including children over 3, must be in possession of a ticket.
• We regret that we are unable to provide childcare facilities at the graduation ceremonies. 

Photography at your graduation ceremony

Official Photographs

Our official photographers, Tempest Photography, photograph all students as they cross the stage. These are available to purchase directly from Tempest Photography after the event. Tempest Photography contact details can be found here.

Guest Photography

Guests are welcome to bring cameras to capture your special moment during the ceremony. 

Please note that to avoid obstructing the view of other guests or causing a distraction, members of the audience may take photographs from a seated position, but should not move about the venue, use flash apparatus or selfie sticks. 

Use of images

All graduands and guests should be aware that graduation ceremonies and receptions are public events. Audio/visual images of the ceremony and reception are publicly available and will often be used in University web pages and publications. Each ceremony will also be broadcast live on the day.

 Brochure

You will receive a graduation brochure in your ceremony. This will be placed on your allocated seat. One brochure per graduand’s family will be handed out on entry to the Chapel and Live Stream Theatre. These are free of charge.

Certificate

Certificates are not handed out at the graduation ceremony. Your certificate will be delivered to your home address.

Once your award has been conferred by the University Senate, you should receive your certificate within 6 weeks of this date.

If you lose your certificate you can obtain a replacement by completing a duplicate certificate request form.

On receipt of your request, the Student Records team will respond detailing any further information they require and if you will need to make any payment.

Please note that only one Certificate can be in print at any time and the Student Records team are unable to provide electronic copies of certificates.

 Live ceremony webcast

We know that some family and friends won’t be able to join you in person on this special day, but they can still share this moment by watching the ceremony live on our webcast. This service will allow your loved ones to feel more involved in the celebrations – wherever they are.

The live stream will be available during each ceremony. Simply log on to keele.ac.uk/livekeele