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A step-by-step guide for your 2024 graduation journey.
Follow the steps below...
Find out what you need to do beforehand, what you can do on the day of your graduation ceremony and afterwards.
Before the day
On the day
After the day
Before Graduation
Make sure you are receiving emails about your graduation ceremony
You should be receiving emails about your graduation ceremony.
For students graduating this year, the first one you should have received was a confirmation email, sent to you 24 hours after you submitted your interest on Portico. This was sent to the email address that you registered with on Portico.
If you haven't received any emails, please check your junk folder. If you still aren't receiving emails from us at all, please contact ceremonies@ucl.ac.uk.
Ceremony confirmation email for 2024
For students graduating this year, we have sent confirmation of your graduation date and time. For those graduating in May and July you will also have received further details about the graduation portal, including information on where you could confirm your attendance/ book your student ticket, buy guest tickets, rent your gown and pre-order your photography package. For those graduating in September ceremonies, you will receive the graduation portal details in mid-July.
The email you used to register on the portal will be where you receive all future communication regarding your graduation.
Guest tickets, gown hire and photography
- Guest tickets
The graduation portal will be open for a specific length of time to allow graduates to book their guest tickets, gown hire and photography. Please check the email inviting you to the portal for your deadline. Based on the venue's capacity, tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, we will make sure all graduates have the chance to secure some guest tickets while the graduation portal is open, regardless of the time of booking.
You can also book a private box for up to four guests. These are £249 and will be available until they are sold out.
Children are able to attend, but we note that the ceremonies are long, formal events which may not be comfortable for some children. Only our graduates cross the stage so children must be seated with another guest whilst you have your moment! It is also not possible to take any buggies into the auditorium but you can still leave them outside. If they are young enough (three and under), they can sit on another guest’s lap. If they need their own seat, you must purchase a guest ticket for them.
All guests will have allocated seats in the Royal Festival Hall and we ask that guests sit in the seat number provided on their ticket. All guest tickets bought on the portal will be seated together but if you are buying additional tickets on the day alongside your pre-ordered tickets, the additional guests will not be able to sit with your original party. Please note that guests and graduates are seated separately.
- Gown hire
One of the most special parts of graduation is the wearing of academic dress (cap and gown) in recognition of your qualification. Everyone crossing the stage is required to be wearing the correct academic dress. UCL’s gown supplier, Marston Events, will make sure they match you up with the correct gown for your award and will be on site at Royal Festival Hall for you to collect your gown before your ceremony.
If you have pre-ordered your gown, you can collect it on the day at your graduation ceremony from the Royal Festival Hall. There will even be people on hand to help you dress into your gown to make sure you’re ready to take to the stage for your special moment. If you don't book a gown, you will be able to rent one on site, though this will be at a cost of £49.
If you want to return to campus after the ceremony for a picture in front of the Portico, there will be a drop-off point on campus at the Wilkins Garden Room (open until 5pm), so you don’t have to travel back to the venue to return your gown. If your ceremony is at the end of the day (from 3:30pm onwards) you can return your gown on campus at the Wilkins Garden Room by 12pm the next day.
- Photography
We will have professional photographers on the day who can take your official graduation photographs. This happens after you have registered and before your ceremony starts. You will need to prebook a photography package via the Graduation Portal and if you are not sure what package you would like and want to decide on the day, you must book a session with the photographer for £15.
Our supplier will also be offering the opportunity to purchase a photo of the all-important moment you walk across the stage, as well as a 15-second video of this. Or if you’d prefer, you can also purchase a full recording of the ceremony.
- During the ceremony
Prior to the start of the ceremony, you will be asked to take your seats and must sit in the one assigned to you. There will be a platform party procession, followed by a speech from your presiding officer. Then it is your time to shine and you will have your all important moment where your name will be called and you will cross the stage. You will be called in rows accordingly, so it is important that you sit in your assigned seat and stay in order to ensure your name is called when you are crossing. There will be plenty of staff on hand on the day to assist you with getting onto the stage, as well as anything else that you need on your special day!
More information can be found in the 'On the day' section below.
- After the ceremony
Join us at your drinks reception! Guests are invited alongside our graduates to enjoy a drinks reception after their ceremony and their ticket will entitle them to one drink and a sweet treat.
Also, plan your big day and be sure to check out the on campus activities that are available to you and your guests! Further details can be found under 'On the day' step 10.
Find out how to get to the venue
Your ceremony will be held at the Royal Festival Hall - full details on the venue. Plan your journey using Transport for London's Journey Planner.
Order UCL graduation merchandise
You can order from our range of UCL-branded clothing, notebooks, scroll holders and Jeremy Beartham graduation bears in advance from the UCL Shop. You can then pick up on your graduation day.
Get your e-ticket
You will receive your e-ticket shortly before your ceremony if you have confirmed you’re attending.
Let family and friends know they can watch remotely
The ceremonies will be streamed and subsequently available on demand. Share this link to watch the ceremonies live or on demand.
On the day
Check you have everything you need
- UCL Student ID or another form of photo ID e.g. passport, driving licence.
- Email containing your order number for your academic dress (robe) and/or photography package.
- Camera (no flash photography is permitted during the ceremony and please only film those you have permission to film, without obstructing the view of others).
Arrive in good time for your ceremony
Arrive in good time for your ceremony – normally around 2 hours 15 minutes before the ceremony starts and no less than 60 minutes before your ceremony, otherwise you may be marked as not in attendance and your name will not be read out.
We are expecting around 2500 people for each graduation ceremony, and 2 hours will give you plenty of time to check you and your guests in, receive and try on your gown, and have your professional photos taken. Please look out for further information in the emails you receive in the lead up to the event in terms of timing advice for your ceremony.
Register at the registration desk
On arrival, please head straight to the registration desk.
Only graduates can register themselves – guests cannot do this on behalf of a graduate.
Collect your gown from the gowning station
Collect your gown from the gowning station at the Royal Festival Hall. Make sure you bring your email confirmation of hire.
You can drop your gown off after your ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.
For those who want to head back to campus and have a photo taken in front of the Portico, or at your favourite student spots, we've arranged a drop-off spot in the Wilkins Garden Room (available until 5pm). If your ceremony is at the end of the day (from 3:30pm onwards) you can return your gown on campus at the Wilkins Garden Room by 12pm the next day.
Regulations and Awarding Bodies
The academic dress (robe) you wear reflects the qualification you are receiving in your graduation ceremony and the institution making the award. Although UCL received awarding powers in 2005, there are still some students who will receive a University of London award.
Your clothing on the day
Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and therefore smart dress is appropriate. Remember that your clothes can be seen under your academic dress (robe). While robes are designed to be worn with shirts, students are welcome to wear any smart clothes they are comfortable in and are welcome to wear traditional or national dress.
Please wear appropriate footwear for walking up and down the steps.
Please note that shorts, denim and trainers are not appropriate attire for a graduation ceremony.
Have your official picture taken
Once you have collected your gown, there is an opportunity to have formal photographs taken in a studio before your ceremony. Kindly be aware that photography services are available exclusively for those who have pre-booked on the graduation portal. Failure to pre-book photography services will result in being unable to partake in the service.
Take your seat
You must make sure you sit in the numbered seat on the ticket that will be emailed to you prior to the event. This is so you are called up on stage in the right order. All graduates will be seated together in these numbered seats, and your guests will be seated separately. Please make sure you’re in your seat at least 20 minutes before the ceremony.
The ceremony itself is about 90 minutes long.
We will be livestreaming the event and will share the link with you ahead of the day.
Walk across the stage
You will be led by one of our ushers in the correct presentation order to the stage. Once on stage, your name will be announced and you will be invited to cross the stage, where you can shake the hand of your ceremony's Presiding Officer, who will acknowledge your achievements.
Photographs will be taken as you process across the stage. You will then be guided back to your seat by our graduation helpers.
End of ceremony
You will be asked to join the Academic Procession to process out of the auditorium, where you can meet up with your friends and guests in the drinks reception.
Enjoy the drinks reception
Enjoy your complimentary drink and a sweet treat with your family and friends in our reception spaces. Why not use this time to take lots of photos with your friends and family?
The photograph and short video of you crossing the stage will be available during the drinks reception for you to purchase and take home.
Return your gown and consider going back to campus
After your ceremony why not head back to campus and get some photos in front of the Portico? We will have a red carpet leading to the large UCL letters in the Main Quad, which is a perfect spot for a graduation photograph in your gown.
May graduates- Join us on the Quad at UCL's Bloomsbury Campus from Monday 20th to Friday 24th May after your ceremony and celebrate your graduation at the heart of UCL! Capture your unforgettable moment in front of the iconic portico and strike a pose in front of our UCL letters.
Event Highlights:
- Students’ Union Outdoor Bar: Have a drink at our Students’ Union bar on the Quad, open from 11am to 6pm. Sip on a delightful array of drinks, from elegant prosecco to convenient pre-mixed cocktails. Our graduation lounge situated on the Quad provides the perfect ambiance and seating to raise a toast to your achievements.
- Afternoon Tea Graduation Package: Feeling peckish? Indulge your taste buds with our mouth-watering afternoon tea graduation package for £25pp. Includes a fairtrade tea, specialty coffee, filtered still and sparkling water, fruit juice, loaves and cake selection, homemade scones, with decadent clotted cream, and tantalizing jam, plus a selection of sandwiches. Please prebook by emailing: uclhospitality@gatherandgather.com
- G&G Food Truck and Ice Cream Trike: Open from 11am-7pm.
- The Café on the Quad: Open 9am-5pm, serving tea, coffee, and iced coffees throughout the festivities.
- Convenient Graduation Gown Drop-off: Drop your gown conveniently in the Wilkins Garden Room after your celebrations on the Quad (available until 5pm). If your ceremony is at the end of the day (from 3:30pm onwards) you can return your gown on campus at the Wilkins Garden Room by 12pm the next day.
We can't wait to see you on the Quad, soaking in the sunshine and revelling in the graduation festivities with friends and family. Let's make your graduation celebration an unforgettable experience!
After Graduation
Participate in the UCL Alumni Community
UCL’s Alumni team will be at the graduation ceremony and will be able to tell you about all the opportunities available to you as a member of UCL’s worldwide alumni community. To find out more please visit the Alumni homepage.
Receive your photographs
You will receive the photography packages by our graduation photographers after the ceremony.