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Everything you need to know to prepare for and attend your 2026 graduation ceremony.
We are looking ahead to our 2026 ceremonies planning and are excited to celebrate our newest graduate's achievements next year!
The 2026 ceremonies will take place during the following dates:
- 18-22 May 2026
- 6 July 2026
- 7-11 September 2026
We also encourage those who will be attending the ceremonies to thoroughly read through the Graduation Checklist as this will answer many of the questions you may have about your upcoming ceremony.
If you have any questions about the ceremonies that are not answered in the FAQs or Graduation Checklist, please contact ceremonies@ucl.ac.uk.
About the 2026 ceremonies
- When are the 2026 events?
We know how excited you are to attend your ceremony and celebrate your fantastic achievement!
2026 Ceremonies will take place during the following dates:
- 18-22 May 2026
- 6 July 2026
- 7-11 September 2026
Students will be provided with their confirmed graduation period in January 2026 and invited to register their interest to attend on Portico at this time. All students who complete their expression of interest to attend will then receive their confirmed ceremony date and time a few weeks after this.
- What do I need to do to attend the ceremony?
Graduates must complete two important steps to attend their ceremony in 2026:
- Firstly, you’ll need to indicate your interest in attending Graduation on Portico. All 2026 eligible graduates will have received an email with further instructions on completing your expression of interest by 2 February 2026. If you did not submit your interest, you won’t be eligible to attend your ceremony. Registering your interest is essential to receive an invitation to formally register and secure your place on the Graduation Portal.
- Secondly, all students who express interest in attending a ceremony on Portico will later receive a link to our Graduation Portal as the ceremony date approaches. Through the portal, you’ll be able to confirm your attendance, reserve your gown, and purchase guest tickets. If you fail to confirm your spot on the Graduation Portal whilst it is open, you will not be able to attend your ceremony.
Please ensure your email address is current in your Portico account, as all graduation-related communications will be sent there- if this is out of date or incorrect, you will not receive any information regarding graduation.
- Do I have to attend the 2026 ceremonies in order to graduate?
We would be delighted to welcome as many of our students to celebrate your achievements with us, as possible! However, attendance at graduations is optional. Your degree will be valid, and degree certificates and final transcripts are dispatched within three months of your award being conferred, regardless of whether you attend.
If you’ve lost your degree certificate or never received it, you can contact Student Lifecycle Services to get a new one. Please see their webpage for more information.
- When will I find out my ceremony date and time?
Exact dates and times of specific graduation ceremonies for faculties and departments will be emailed to all eligible students who completed their expression of interest to attend on Portico. This is normally around end of February. Please note that if you do not complete your initial expression of interest on Portico you will not be invited to graduation and therefore will not be provided with a date and time.
Eligibility
- Who is eligible to attend their graduation ceremony in 2026?
All graduates must have their award confirmed in order to attend a graduation ceremony. There will be specific criteria by which your award must be confirmed to be eligible for attendance at a ceremony in 2026. Unfortunately, if your award is confirmed after these deadlines, you would not be eligible to attend a ceremony and would be invited to a later set of graduations once you have been awarded.
Eligibility for the 2026 ceremonies has now been confirmed. You can find all eligibility information here: Schedule and Availability page. It is important to check this page once available to ensure you are eligible to attend a ceremony in 2026. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact our team at ceremonies@ucl.ac.uk.
Please note, when applying for an extension or deferral in your course, it's important to keep in mind that this could make you ineligible to meet the deadlines required to graduate with your cohort and attend your designated ceremony in 2026. It may cause delays to your attendance at graduation.
Conferral is the date on which a UCL degree is confirmed as being completed and awarded to the student. If your award is conferred after these dates, you will be invited to a later ceremony.
For students who go into late summer assesment or reassesment, please see additional details about eligibility below.
- Outstanding Debt
Please make sure you have no outstanding debt on your account, as only those with no outstanding fees will be invited to register for graduation. Please contact fees@ucl.ac.uk to arrange payment.
- Late Summer Assessment and Resits
Any students that need to complete late summer assessments or resits will not be eligible to attend the planned ceremony with their cohort. Please also note, when deciding to applying for an extension or deferral in your course, it's important to keep in mind that this could make you ineligible to meet the deadlines required to graduate with your cohort and attend your designated ceremony with your cohort. It may cause delays to your attendance at graduation.
Please make sure your email address is up to date in Portico to receive information about attending a ceremony at a later graduation period.
- Step down eligibility- MSci or MEng to BSc or BEng
If you are in year three of an MSci or MEng programme and wish to exit with the BSc or BEng award, please notify your department of your wish to exit, complete a programme transfer application or log an enquiry with askUCL | Students - UCL – University College London.
Booking your ceremony
- Step 1: Expressing your interest to attend a ceremony - How and when
To attend a ceremony, you must first complete an initial expression of interest for Graduation on Portico.
The expression of interest for 2026 graduations will open 15 January 2026. All eligible graduates will receive an email with further instructions on completing your expression of interest when this is made available. Please make sure you can access your Portico account, as it will be the only way to indicate your interest in attending - if you are unable to access this, please follow the troubleshooting directions under the 'I am having issues accessing Portico, what should I do?' tab below.
Please also confirm on your Portico account that your contact email(s) are current, as all graduation communication will be sent there. If your email information is incorrect or outdated, you may miss important graduation updates.
If you do not indicate your interest in attending Graduation by the deadline, you will not be able to participate in the ceremony and will not be invited to register and confirm your spot on the Graduation Portal.
- Step 2: Confirming and registering your place at your graduation ceremony - Graduation Portal
For all those eligible students who have completed their expression of interest on Portico to attend a graduation ceremony in 2026, you will receive a link to our Graduation Portal where you will be able to confirm your place, book your gown and order guest tickets. You must complete this step in order to attend your ceremony and have your name read out on the day.
Graduates for the May and July periods will be invited to register on the Graduation Portal at the end of February 2026.
Graduates for the September period will be invited to register on the Graduation Portal at the end of July 2026.
Please note that you will not be invited to register on the Graduation Portal unless you have previously completed your expression of interest.
- I am having issues accessing Portico, what should I do?
Please note that the graduation team is not best placed for any of your technical queries. You will need to get in touch with ISD for any assistance. You can find contact information here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/help-support
If you are having trouble accessing your Portico account due to password issues, please follow the advice below:
If you have access to the phone number or email you used to register on the MyAccount service please visit: https://myaccount.ucl.ac.uk/resetpw
This page will take you to a self-service management tool to reset your password anywhere, anytime. To use the tool you will need your UCL UserID in lower case and the last 5 digits of your registered mobile number (or your registered personal email address).
For further guidance and FAQs about the MyAccount service please visit the link below: https://myaccount.ucl.ac.uk/
If you don't have access to the phone number or email you used to register on the MyAccount service, please contact us directly via any route advertised on https://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/help-support sharing the following details:
- User ID:
- UPI (you can find it on your UCL Card):
- Student Number:
- Date of Birth:
We will then request a new phone number or non-UCL email address to allow you to self-reset your password. Please note that the Portico portal requires up to 2 hours to synchronize with the new password.
To register for the Graduation Ceremony, you need to log into Portico using your UCL UserID with your new password using the link below:
https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_lgn- I am having issues registering on the Graduation Portal, what should I do?
The Graduation Portal is where those who have expressed their interest attending their ceremony on Portico are invited to confirm their spot and register their student ticket. Only those who completed their expression of interest on Portico will be invited to regsiter on the Graduation Portal.
If you have any issues whilst accessing the portal, we ask that you please contact Marston Events as they run the website and will be best placed for assistance. There is also a helpful video which provides a walk through of how to register on the portal on our Graduation Checklist.
For queries on anything purchased through the Graduation portal, including guest tickets your gown or photography you may have ordered, or any refunds, please contact Marston directly. You can reach them Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (BST) via the following channels.
- Email: uclgrad@marstonevents.com
- Phone: +44 (0)1293 822211
- Live Chat: https://www.marstonevents.com/UCL
- Does UCL provide financial assistance to attend graduation?
At UCL, it really matters to us that no one feels excluded from graduations. If you want to attend graduation, but the costs may be preventative from you attending, please get in touch with our team for more information.
Preparing for the day
- How do I book my gown?
It is mandatory for all graduates to wear Academic Dress to be able to cross the stage. You will be able to book your gown via the Graduation Portal once it opens for your period. This will be sent to you via the contact email(s) you have provided on Portico.
Marston Events are our appointed supplier who will be on site at the graduation ceremonies to help graduates collect and put on the gowns. You can arrange a gown from elsewhere, but if you have chosen to get your gown from another supplier please contact us to make sure it complies with UCL's gown specification - ceremonies@ucl.ac.uk.
- What should I wear?
All students crossing the stage must wear a gown which identifies the degree level of the award you have studied - the people at the gowning station will make sure you have the right gown and help you put it on.
We suggest graduates wear smart or formal wear under the gown. We also recommend wearing appropriate footwear for walking up and down several steps and across the stage.
- How do I arrange official graduation photography?
During registration, you will be able to prebook your professional graduation photography via the Graduation Portal. Please note that this is an optional service. This will be available at the Royal Festival Hall for you to take photos on your own and with your loved ones, before the ceremony.
- Can I provide any information to make sure my name is read out correctly?
We know it’s important that your moment crossing the stage is as special as possible. When you register for your student ticket, we'll ask you to share with us how you’d like your name to be read out when you cross the stage, including phonetic spelling. An example of phonetic spelling can be found below where capitals are used to show where emphasis should be placed:
E.G. Wiktoria Lihan (Vic-tor-ree-a LEE-hahn )
Please note that unless specified when registering on the graduation portal, the name you are registered with at UCL will be the default to what is read out as you cross the stage.
- What if I or any of my guests have accessibility requirements?
Our team at UCL and at the Royal Festival Hall look forward to welcoming you and your guests. Our aim is to ensure that every graduate and guest feels at ease and has all necessary arrangements to fully participate and enjoy the festivities.
Upon booking through the graduation portal, you'll have the opportunity to specify any accessibility requirements for yourself or your guests. Please provide as much relevant detail as possible so we can have these in place for you. Additionally, we'll be in contact closer to the graduation date to discuss how we can offer the best support to you and your guests. You can view further details about accessibility at Royal Festival Hall here.
If there's any information we can provide now to help you feel more comfortable about attending, please don't hesitate to let us know how we can assist.
- UCL Go App
Download the UCL Go app on your phone and head to the graduation section! This will provide you and your guests further information regarding the upcoming ceremonies. It will also provide you with alerts for important deadlines and information you need to know.
No username or password is required so friends and family can also use the app. If you already have UCL Go, to Access the Graduation information, log out of the app and choose 'Graduation'. To log out on Apple devices tap Settings in the bottom navigation bar and scroll down to 'Logout'. On Android devices tap the three lines in the top right and then tap the 'key' icon.
- Graduation Checklist
We encourage all of our graduates due to attend a ceremony to thoroughly read through the Graduation Checklist as this will provide a detailed walk through of your day before, during and after. It will answer many common questions such as how long the ceremony lasts and when to arrive. It also provides helpful videos for our graduates who may want more information of what to expect on the day when you arrive to Royal Festival Hall and prepare you for your walk across the stage!
You can find the graduation checklist here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/graduation/graduation-checklist
- On campus
Graduates and guests are more than welcome to head back to campus to explore, take photos and continue their celebrations. We will keep graduates informed of any possible on campus activity via email as it is confirmed.
Guests
- Can my family and friends attend?
Yes. We welcome you to invite your friends and family who have supported you throughout your studies to join us in celebrating your special achievement. Please be aware that on the day guests and graduates are sat separately. Information on how to book guest tickets will be communicated once the Graduation portal opens. You can also book a private box for up to four guests. Based on the venue's capacity, tickets may be limited per graduate but we anticipate that you will be able to bring as many guests as you would like. Ticket limits per graduate will be confirmed and communicated when the Graduation Portal opens. All graduates will have the chance to secure guest tickets while the graduation portal is open, regardless of the time of booking. Start making your guest list now!
- Can I bring children to my graduation?
When deciding whether to bring a child as a guest, we ask you to consider the formal nature of the event and that guests will be required to sit for a long period of time so this may not be particularly suitable for babies or young children. Please note that only our graduates cross the stage so children must be seated with another guest whilst you have your moment!
Children under 3 can attend for free and will need to be seated on a guests lap. If they are over 3, they will be required to have a ticket and their own seat.
Travel
- What if I need a visa to attend?
Please check the UK Government guidance on whether you need a visa to travel to London.
For students graduating in 2026 - if you require a visa invitation letter from UCL, you will be able to download one on the Portico visa letter application once you have expressed your interest in attending a graduation on Portico. Obtaining a visa might take several weeks and we ask that you make sure you request a visa letter from UCL and complete all legal requirements before you travel.
- What if my family need a visa?
We can only provide invitation letters for our students and graduates. We cannot write invitations to family and friends who also want to attend. Details on how you can write your own invitation and apply for guest visas are available on the UCL visitor visa page.
- What if I need accommodation for my ceremony?
We don't directly offer accommodation. However, UCL Summer Residences are open to the general public at affordable prices. As a UCL student or alumni, you are eligible for a 10% discount on your booking! For more information, please visit the UCL Summer Residences page.
Certificate information
- Will I receive a certificate if I don't attend my graduation ceremony?
Whilst we would love to welcome every graduate to attend their ceremony, it it not a requirement and you will be provided with a certificate regardless if you attend a ceremony or not. Certificates and final transcripts are dispatched within three months of your award being conferred to the address provided on Portico.
- I have not received my certificate - How do I get a replacement?
Please note that certificates are sent within three months of your award being confirmed. If you still have not received your certificate after this time, you can find further information and guidance on obtaining a replacement degree certificate here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/exams-and-assessments/certificates-results/degree-certificates
- I would like an E-transcript - How do I receive one?
To request a copy of your e-transcript, please place an order through the UCL Online Store using the following link: https://onlinestore.ucl.ac.uk/product-catalogue/student-registry-services-c19/assessment-student-records-j13/j13-e-transcripts. You will be notified via email once your e-transcript is processed which may take up to 10 working days. Unfortunately, we are unable to expedite e-transcript orders as these are processed in the order that are received. Please note that, if you have requested an e-transcript to be sent to a third party, the link will expire 7 days after it’s been received.
- Self-serve e-transcript - for UG and PGT finalists from July 2023 onwards
You can download your e-transcript directly from Portico in “My Portico". This means that you should not place an order in our UCL online store if you require a transcript to be sent to yourself. This transcript can be for your own records or for third party verification purposes where they are happy to receive the e-transcript directly from you. You will be sent an email to let you know when your transcript is ready to download. If you require an e-transcript to be sent from UCL directly to a third party, then you should still place an order through the UCL online store.
- If I attend graduation, will I receive my certificate at the ceremony?
Graduates on an undergraduate programme will receive a hard copy of their certificate and one copy of their transcript when they attend their ceremony. The documents will be in a sealed envelope. All results are confidential and are not read out on the day. If you choose not to attend, these will be mailed to the contact address provided on Portico.
Graduates on postgraduate or research programmes will receive a letter of congratulations. Certificates and final transcripts are dispatched within five months of your award being conferred to the address provided on Portico and will not be provided at the ceremony.- Other certificate queries
Please note that the Graduation Team does not directly deal with certificates. If you have any other queries regarding a certificate, please log a query with AskUCL where a member of the Student Lifecycle Services Team will be able to assist accordingly.
Contact us
If your questions have not been answered in our FAQs or the other pages of the website, you can contact the Graduation Ceremonies Team by emailing ceremonies@ucl.ac.uk. Please remember to quote your student number (for example: 12345678) when emailing.