Our first Graduation ceremonies of 2025 will take place on Tuesday 4 March.
Prior to gradution you will need to confirm your attendance and book your tickets as well as arranging academic dress and photography.
On the day of your ceremony, you will first check in and collect your tickets and gown as well as have the opportunity for professional photography in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building on the University’s Severn Campus.
You’ll then make your way to your ceremony, which will be held at the magnificent Worcester Cathedral.
Following the ceremony, all graduates plus their guests with tickets and University staff are invited to return to the Severn Campus for a celebratory drinks reception at the University Arena.
You can view the ceremony information below, including the timings of the day. We also recommend taking a look at the Graduation FAQs, which are full of useful information about all aspects of graduation.
This page includes information on:
Preparing for graduation
All graduands eligible to attend March's graduation ceremonies will receive an email from the Graduation team, with the time and date of their specific ceremony and information on how to book tickets and academic dress.
To book your tickets, please follow the link from your email or log into your SOLE page and find the Graduation link. This will take you through to a booking form where you can book your place and reserve guest tickets. You will be asked how many guest tickets you would like as part of the booking process. We are able to guarantee two guest tickets per student; additional tickets will be allocated where possible should you request more. If any additional tickets are available following this process then they will be available from the check-in desk on the day.
We plan to broadcast each ceremony via a live, online video stream, allowing friends and family who are not able to join to access this link from anywhere for free, including on a mobile device. This will be available to view on our website for two weeks after graduation week. All graduates attending the graduation ceremony will be filmed on stage as part of this live broadcast. We'll also be showing the live broadcasting at our Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building at Severn Campus on the day.
The deadline for confirming your attendance and booking tickets is Monday 3rd February 2025.
You will not be required to pay for your tickets until Wednesday 5th February, once your final ticket allocation has been confirmed, and you will have until Thursday 20th February to make this payment. Tickets for Graduates are free, guest tickets are £25.
Once you have booked your tickets you should book your academic dress as soon as possible, by Tuesday 11th February at the latest. Wearing academic dress is one of the highlights of Graduation and is required for all graduates attending a ceremony.
There is an optional professional photography service available on the day to take portraits. This can include a portrait of you wearing your academic dress and photographs with your family and friends. A photograph is also taken when you are presented on stage in the Cathedral. You should aim to book and pay for your photographs in advance too, as photography may be fully booked if you wait until the day to book this.
Please visit the Marston Events website for details of how to book your academic dress as well as official photography.
Planning your Day
An overview of the timings for each ceremony including arrival and gowning, travel to the ceremony, the ceremony itself and the reception is available on this page.
Most graduates generally wear smart attire under their academic gown, such as a suit or a dress. You may find it helpful to wear a shirt or dress with buttons to help with securing the hood of your gown. There will be staff available to help you with your gown.
Graduates and guests will need to make their own way to the Cathedral from the City Campus and we are expecting most people will choose to walk. Although it’s only a 25-minute walk or wheel, you may wish to think about wearing comfortable, sturdy footwear and weather-proof clothing! You will need to access and exit the stage via a short ramp, so please remember this when choosing your footwear too.
We recommend bringing an umbrella, as you will wish to protect your gown on the walk to and from the Cathedral.
You can bring a small bag with you. If you bring a bag with you, we may ask to search this for security purposes.
The Ceremonies
We will be holding two ceremonies on Tuesday 4th March. Please see below for full details of timings.
Schedule of ceremonies
| Ceremony | Academic School |
|---|
| Tuesday 4th March, 10.30am |
School of Allied Health and Community
School of Nursing & Midwifery
School of Science and the Environment
Three Counties Medical School
|
| Tuesday 4th, 1.00pm |
Institute of Arts & Humanities
Institute of Education
School of Sport & Extercise Science
School of Psychology
Worcester Business School
|
10.30 am ceremony timings
8.00 - 9.15am - Arrive at Severn campus for check-in, ticket collection, robing and photography
Walk to Cathedral - allow 25/30 minutes
9.50am - Latest arrival time at the Cathedral (there is no admittance to the Cathedral prior to 8.30)
10.00am - All Graduates and guests seated in Cathedral
10.30am - Ceremony starts
12.00am - Ceremony ends
Walk back to Severn campus - allow 25/30 minutes
12.30pm - 2.00pm - Reception at Severn campus
1.00 pm ceremony timings
10.30 - 11.45am - Arrive at Severn campus for check-in, ticket collection, robing and photography
Walk to Cathedral - allow 25/30 minutes
12.20am - Latest arrival time at the Cathedral
12.30pm - All Graduates and guests seated in Cathedral
1.00pm - Ceremony starts
2.30pm - Ceremony ends
Walk back to Severn campus - allow 25/30 minutes
3.00 - 4.30pm - Reception at Severn campus
Arrangements on the day
There are three main parts to your graduation day: preparing for your ceremony , the ceremony itself and the reception.
Before the Ceremony - Severn Campus
Download a map of Severn Campus.
Arrival at Severn Campus
You should aim to arrive at the Severn Campus around 2 hours before your ceremony. Full details can be found in our Ceremony Schedules. This will give you time to collect your gown, have your photograph taken and make your way to the Cathedral. Your guests can stay with you while you do this.
There will be plenty of signage and staff on site to direct you.
Parking at Severn Campus
There will be limited free parking available at Severn Campus (WR2 5JN).
Should the Severn Campus car parks fill up then there is also free parking available at our St John's Campus car park M (WR2 6AJ) and the nearby Moors Car Park (WR1 3ED).
The nearest pay and display car parks to the Severn Campus are Pitchcroft Car Park, Croft Road Car Park, Cattlemarket Car Park.
Collecting your tickets and gown - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building
The first thing you should do when you arrive is check in and collect your tickets and your academic gown and mortar board (cap) from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building. This is the large, golden-clad building that now houses the Medical School and was the former Worcester News building. It will be well signposted on the day.
Collecting your tickets
When you enter the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building you will need to collect your ticket and your guests' tickets. Please keep your tickets with you, as you and your guests will need them at the Cathedral and to access the reception.
Collecting your gown
Once you've got your tickets staff will be ready to take your name and to give you your specially reserved gown. Your guests can stay with you while you do this.
Photography - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building
Once you’ve got your gown on, it’s time for your official photography. Follow the signs to the photography studios, which are also in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building. The optional photography should be booked in advance, so you simply need to arrive at the studio. Your guests are also very welcome to join you for the photographs.
You can bring a small number of extra friends and family with you for the professional photography (even if they are not attending the ceremony). You will have the opportunity to buy your photos at the reception in the university of the University Arena.
You can find out more on the official photography website.
If you have chosen not to have photographs, you will be directed out of the building and can make your way directly to the Cathedral. The Cathedral does not allow indoor photography.
Facilities at the Severn Campus
The Severn Campus has toilets, including disabled toilets, which will be open throughout the day.
Our Starbucks coffee shop will also be open for light refreshments.
Flowers including a range of bouquets, will be available to buy outside our Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building.
Staff will be available across the site, but if you need urgent help, please visit the Main Reception desk in the University Arena.
Travel to the Cathedral (graduates and guests)
Once you have collected your gown and tickets and had your photographs taken, it’s time to go to the Cathedral.
You and your guests will need to make your own way to the Cathedral. Transport is not provided.
There are two recommended walking routes to the Cathedral from Severn Campus. The shorter route includes steps and a short, steep hill. The slightly longer route is more accessible. Please view the route map for further details. You should allow about 25 minutes for the walk.
The entrance to the Cathedral is a flat walkway. Graduands access and exit the stage via a short ramp – please bear this in mind when choosing footwear.
You may also choose to drive to the Cathedral. There is no parking or drop off available at the Cathedral itself. If you are driving, you will need to park at a public pay and display car park.
The nearest car parks to the Cathedral are King Street (Sidbury) Car Park, Worcester Cathedral Square NCP, Clare Street Car Park and Copenhagen Street Car Park.
You will need to be at the Cathedral at least 40 minutes before your ceremony. This gives you time to get checked in and seated.
Guest seating at the Cathedral is on a first come, first served basis, so your guests will be able to choose where they sit.
This may be subject to change due to ongoing works in the Cathedral grounds.
The Ceremony - Worcester Cathedral
The Cathedral provides a splendid setting for the ceremonies, but due to the nature of the building some seats may have restricted views of proceedings.
To overcome this difficulty, the University arranges for screens to be placed around the Cathedral.
Arrival at the Cathedral
You should aim to be at the Cathedral at least 40 minutes before your ceremony is due to start.
Please note that there is no access to the Cathedral toilets until after 9.30am.
When you arrive at the Cathedral, you will be directed to the ‘North door’. There will be staff outside the Cathedral to help direct you and answer questions.
There is no parking or drop off available at the Cathedral itself. If you are driving, you will need to park at a public pay and display car park. If you need to be dropped off, you are recommended to stop in the King Street Car Park and make your way up Severn Street to the ‘North door’.
Once you are in the Cathedral, in order to respect the wishes of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral you are requested to remove your mortar board whilst inside the Cathedral.
University/Cathedral staff may ask to check your bag.
Seating for Graduates
When you arrive at the Cathedral, staff will guide you in. All Graduates sit together. You will sit in a pre-assigned seat - this will be allocated and you’ll receive your seat number details prior to the ceremony. This ensures that you are called up to the platform at the right moment. Seating at the Cathedral is mainly fixed and mostly wooden chairs or pews.
Seating for Guests
When you arrive at the Cathedral, staff will guide your guests in. Your guests are able to choose their seats, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you indicated a special requirement when you booked (i.e. a wheelchair space, for example), our staff will be expecting you and will be able to assist. Seating at the Cathedral is mainly fixed and mostly wooden chairs or pews
What happens during the ceremony?
During the ceremony, there will be speeches from University and Cathedral staff.
The highlight of the ceremony is the presentation of the graduates. A staff member will call you up from your seat at the right moment. When your name is read out, you will cross the stage and have a photograph taken. There is often lots of enthusiastic clapping!
You will need to access and exit the stage via a short ramp, so please remember this when choosing your footwear.
Once you have collected your certificate, staff members will direct you around the Cathedral and back to your seat. We plan to broadcast each ceremony via a live, online video stream, allowing friends and family who are not able to join to access this link from anywhere for free, including on a mobile device. This will be available to view on our website for two weeks after graduation week. All graduates attending the graduation ceremony will be filmed on stage as part of this live broadcast.
Photography in the Cathedral
You are not permitted to take photographs inside the Cathedral.
A professional photographer will take your photo when you cross the stage and you will be able to view and purchase this image, if you wish, through the official photographers.
You will be able to take your own photos when you return to the Severn Campus.
Facilities at the Cathedral
There are toilets, including disabled toilets, in the Cathedral cloisters. These will be well-signposted.
There is a hearing loop available during the ceremonies and staff will be able to advise you on this.
There is a cafe at the Cathedral.
Find out more about the Cathedral and accessibility.
Leaving the Cathedral
When the ceremony concludes, there will be a short procession of staff from the stage, who will lead everyone out. Ushers will indicate when it is time for your row to stand and make your way out of the Cathedral.
When you leave the Cathedral, it’s very important that you continue to walk forward (i.e., not waiting by the doors) so that everyone can easily make their way out of the building.
You will have time to take photographs with fellow Graduates if you wish, but our staff will be encouraging everyone to begin their walk back to the Severn Campus as soon as possible.
The Reception - University Arena, Severn Campus
Reception timings
Depending on how quickly you return from the Cathedral, you should have about an hour at the reception.
Full details are provided further up this page.
Your schedule will indicate a departure time for you and your guests. As we are managing site numbers carefully you will need to leave the site at your appointed time, so we are ready to welcome the next ceremony.
University staff may ask to check your bag on arrival at the reception.
Do I have to attend the reception?
You do not have to attend your reception. You are very welcome to make your own plans following the ceremony, but it is essential that you promptly return your academic gown and cap to the Severn Campus.
What’s happening at the reception?
The reception is a friendly, informal drinks reception, which will give you a chance to spend time with classmates and staff.
The reception also offers you the chance to take your own photographs in your cap and gown.
Returning your academic gown - University Arena
Gown return is located at the University Arena on Severn Campus and will be signposted.
Getting help on the day
Accessing assistance
If you need help on the day, look out for our many friendly staff and student ambassadors: most will either be wearing a blue student ambassador t-shirt, or a red academic gown, so they will be easy to spot!
If you have an emergency or require first-aid assistance, please report to the main reception desk at the Severn Campus. You can also telephone main reception on 01905 855 000.
Staying in touch after Graduation
Be part of the Alumni association
The Alumni Association is here to help you keep in touch with the University and with each other – you’ll be part of a worldwide network with thousands of other former students.
As one of our graduates, we’d love to keep you informed about careers support, alumni benefits, our suite of events and exciting opportunities linked with the University that you may be interested in. We also want to hear your news! We can help you keep in touch with old friends too.
Whether through practical or advisory involvement, the support and interest of our graduates makes a real difference to the experience of current and future students.
Get in touch with us at alumni@worc.ac.uk or search for us on Facebook.
Careers Advisory Service
The University’s Careers and Advisory Service is here to support you after graduation.
We offer graduates:
- Advice & guidance
- Job vacancies
- CVs and application support
- Mock interviews
Contact us at: careers@worc.ac.uk , 01905 855166 and find out more on our Careers webpages.