UCL Graduations 2023: how staff can make them an occasion to remember

There are two sets of Graduation Ceremonies this year, from 7-14 July 2023, predominantly for Postgraduates, and from 4-8 September 2023 predominantly for Undergraduates. You can find out the provisional dates for your faculty’s ceremonies on the 2023 Graduation Schedule.  

These ceremonies are incredibly meaningful to our students, and a key part of this is the support of their academic and professional services staff. We would be delighted if you could please block out these dates now so that you are available for them. 

Our students tell us that it’s the presence of staff which makes all the difference to their ceremonies and creates a celebratory and unforgettable atmosphere. 

The best way to do this is to join the Platform Party, which sits on the stage, in academic dress, during their ceremony. This means that students will have your visible support and encouragement when they cross the stage – an extremely significant moment in their lives.  

Platform Party registration will open in April  

What happens next? 

All students eligible to graduate this year will shortly be emailed the expected date of their ceremony. Their registration opens in March. Once it closes, we will know student attendee numbers – and then we will confirm our graduation timetable and share the specific time for each ceremony. 

For staff, you can register for your ceremony’s Platform Party from April.

Can I volunteer at the Graduation ceremonies instead or as well?

Absolutely! Volunteering at Graduations is a rewarding and unforgettable experience, and staff are a vital part of our brilliant team of Graduation ceremony volunteers. As a member of staff – whether academic or professional services – you can make a huge difference to Graduations by signing up in April for volunteering shifts. This will involve e.g. being on the Registrations Desk, and other forms of helping the ceremonies run smoothly on the day. 

We will be in touch with you in April about volunteering for the ceremonies. You can be in the Platform Party for your Faculty and also volunteer if you wish.

Where will the ceremonies take place? 

The July ceremonies will take place at ExCel London, and the September ceremonies will take place at the Royal Festival Hall. We are excited to return to these venues which have previously hosted us for our catch-up ceremonies last year and our 2019 ceremonies, respectively. 

Graduations are a chance to support your students at a special moment as they look back on their time at UCL and look forward to the rest of their lives.  

We hope you will save the dates in your diary now, and we can't wait to see you all there.