Booking Information for Graduates and Guests

Booking Information for Graduates and Guests

The Winter Graduation Ceremonies will take place at the Fire Station, Sunderland, between Monday 12th January 2026 - Friday 16th January 2026.   

Booking Your Place

• Invitations will go out to all eligible students, via email, during 20th to 22nd October 2026 and includes your ceremony date, arrival time and links to the online booking application in e:Vision.

• If you do not receive an invite email by 23rd October 2025 and are expecting to attend graduations in January 2026, please email graduations@sunderland.ac.uk immediately. We kindly ask that you check all email junk folders before emailing.

• Online bookings will open in e:Vision on Thursday 23rd October 2025 at 1pm.  Go to the 'Managing my Studies' area of e:Vision, accept the terms and conditions of the Code of Conduct, you will then be taken to the booking container to open the link to your graduation booking form.

• Once you have made a booking you will receive a confirmation email containing the link to Ede and Ravenscroft’s website to book your cap and gown.

• Online bookings will close on Thursday 13th November 2025 at 4pm.   Please note: Bookings will close once ceremony capacity is reached: therefore, we advise you to book early.  If ceremonies do reach capacity prior to the booking deadline, and you have not yet booked your place, you will receive an email confirming that you can book onto a ceremony waiting list.  Those who register on the waiting list will have their ceremony date and time confirmed once bookings have closed.  Those who register on a waiting list may be placed in alternative ceremonies and not with their cohort.

• Booking requests received after the closing date will not be accepted.

• Graduates attending without Guests must still complete the online booking form to confirm your attendance

Booking Guest tickets

• You will not book guest tickets through the University booking form in e:Vision.   If you wish to book guest tickets you will receive an email, once graduation bookings have closed, with information on how to book guest tickets through the Fire Station booking system. You will receive a unique booking code assigned directly to your booking – this cannot be shared with other graduates as it is unique to you.  Guest tickets will go on sale through the Fire Station from Monday 1st December 2025.

• Guest tickets are £27 each and limited to two per graduate.

• All guest tickets must be booked and paid for at the time of booking through the Fire Station. 

• If additional guest tickets become available (which will only be if capacity is not reached by close of bookings), an email will be sent notifying you of the date and time they will go on sale. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that there is no guarantee additional tickets will be available. 

• If you are attending with children - We recognise that students wish to celebrate their achievements with their loved ones, including their children. Please be mindful that this is a formal event and all guests, including children,  are required to remain in their seats for the duration of the ceremony. In order to ensure the safety of all of our guests, children aged 2 and over are required to have their own ticket. Children under the age of 2 years of age do not require a ticket but must sit on the knee of the ticket holding guest.

On Your Ceremony Day

• All Graduates and Guest must familiarise themselves with the

  University's Graduation Ceremony Admittance and Code of Conduct prior to arrival at the Ceremonies.

• Gowning and Photography will be held on City Campus at City Space, Chester Road, Sunderland and, once gowned, you will then make your way to the Fire Station - around a 7–10-minute walk from campus.

• Graduate and Guest Arrival Time - Graduates and guests must arrive at City Campus for gowning and then the Fire Station for registration no later than the arrival times specified to allow them to take part in the Ceremonies.  Entry to the ceremony will not be permitted after these times.  Please see the arrival times for your ceremonies on our website

• Graduates arriving after the stated arrival time, will not be permitted to take part in their ceremony.

• Entry to the Ceremony Venue – will only be permitted on presentation of a valid entry ticket.  Graduates will enter via the right-hand door of the main entrance and register with the Awards Team.  Guests enter the venue via the left-hand door of the main entrance of the Fire Station. Stewards will be on hand to give directions and assistance. 

• Graduate and Guest Entry Tickets – will be scanned for validity prior to allowing access to the venue.  Graduates must ensure their guests have access to their own entry ticket prior to arriving at the venue to prevent any potential problems with gaining access.

• We politely remind guests, irrespective of age, that all guests are there to see their loved ones graduate and request that all in attendance respect the enjoyment of others and allow them to enjoy the event free from disturbances. 

• Graduates attending with children, pushchairs are not allowed inside the building. 

• Please note that all children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult who remains with them for the duration of the ceremony. We regret that we are unable to care for children whose parents are participating in the ceremony.