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The University Summer Graduation Ceremonies will take place at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, between Monday 10th July 2023 - Friday 14th July 2023. Dates and times for individual courses are detailed in the course splits below.
Date |
Time |
Faculty and School |
Monday 10th July 2023 |
9.30am |
Faculty of Technology |
Monday 10th July 2023 |
3.00pm |
Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries |
Tuesday 11th July 2023 |
9.30am |
Faculty Health Sciences and Wellbeing |
Tuesday 11th July 2023 |
3.00pm |
Faculty Health Sciences and Wellbeing |
Wednesday 12th July 2023 |
09.30am |
Faculty Health Sciences and Wellbeing |
Wednesday 12th July 2023 |
3.00pm |
Faculty of Education and Society (Excluding IL Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Education) |
Thursday 13th July 2023 |
9.30am |
Faculty of Education and Society IL Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Education only |
Thursday 13th July 2023 |
3.00pm |
Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism |
Friday 14th July 2023 |
9.30am |
Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism |
Friday 14th July 2023 |
3.00pm |
Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism |
Ceremonies will be held from Monday 10th July 2023 - Friday 14th July 2023
Please be aware - You will not be able to bring suitcases or large bags into the Stadium of Light.
Dates to remember:
Invitations will be sent out via email between Wednesday 26th April and Friday 28th April 2023
Booking information will be included on your invitation email
The online booking application will open Tuesday 9th May at 2pm and close on Thursday 8th June at 2pm. No bookings will be accepted after the closing date.
Payment for any guest tickets which are over and above the 2 free allocated tickets must be made online at the time of booking.
Graduates with outstanding debts to the university - University regulations state that prior to Graduation all debts must be repaid in full. You will be unable to book your place via the online application if you have an outstanding debt recorded on your student record. You should contact our Credit Control Team to discuss payment if this is the case.
Graduates will only be invited to one graduation ceremony, the ceremony closest to completing their award.
Wheelchairs - There is a limited amount of space for wheelchairs at the ceremonies, so please make it clear that wheelchair access is required when booking. Wheelchairs are not provided by the venue.
Graduates MUST still complete the Online Booking Form even if they are bringing no guests or are bringing only 2 guests free of charge.
All guest tickets are sent electronically to the graduate, one week before the ceremony.
Graduates must print out guest tickets in advance of the ceremony.
Graduate tickets are free and are available for collection, by the graduate, on the day of the ceremony at the Stadium of Light.
Guaranteed Guest Tickets: a maximum of 4 in Total - 2 tickets free of charge, 2 tickets at a cost of £29.50 each
Additional Guest Tickets - Any graduate requiring more than the 4 guaranteed guest tickets will have the option to book and pay for up to a further 2 additional guest tickets at the time of booking. Additional guest tickets are not guaranteed at that stage, they can only be confirmed after bookings close and numbers attending are checked. Cost of the additional tickets are £29.50 each. Any additional tickets purchased at the time of booking will be confirmed by Friday 9th June 2023. Refunds for any additional tickets that cannot be provided will be processed on Monday 12th June 2023.
Prices as follows:-
Graduate with 0 guests |
Nothing to pay |
Graduate with 1 guest |
Nothing to pay |
Graduate with 2 guests |
Nothing to pay |
Graduate with 3 guests |
£29.50 in total |
Graduate with 4 guests |
£59.00 in total |
Graduate with 4 guests plus 1 additional guest |
£88.50 in total |
Graduate with 4 guests plus 2 additional guests |
£118.00 in total |
Post ceremony buffet:
Main Menu
Marinated Chicken Skewers or Mediterranean Vegetable Skewers (V)
served with Savoury Rice and Garlic Mayo or Minted Yoghurt Dressing
OR
Pulled Beef and Gravy or Pulled Jackfruit (v)
served With Horseradish Dumplings, Carrots and Peas
OR
Scampi and Triple Cooked Chips
served with Homemade Tarragon Tartar Sauce
Dessert
Selection of Mini Desserts
The post ceremony reception is a standing reception.
Please Note: If you accept your free guest tickets but fail to attend the University reserves the right to charge you for those free tickets.
Do I complete the Online Booking Form even if I require no guests?
Yes. You must complete the booking form even if:
Does the graduate need to pay for a ticket?
No, graduates attend the ceremony free of charge. Graduates collect their ticket on the day of their ceremony from the ceremony venue. Please bring photographic identification e.g. student card, passport.
Is there any restriction on the number of guest tickets I can order?
Yes, for each ceremony there will be a specified number of tickets available. Please see ticket information for further details.
Should I wait until my results are published before I complete my Online Booking Form?
No. You must complete your online booking form in advance, in anticipation of being successful in all your final examinations / assessments. Refunds for any purchased guest tickets will be processed automatically in the month following the ceremonies for any student who is unsuccessful in their final assessments.
It is vital that we have your booking form by the deadline dates given.
Late bookings are not accepted.
When will I know if I've been allocated all of the tickets I've requested?
You will be contacted by the graduations team approximately one week before your ceremony.
When will I receive my guest tickets?
Your guests tickets will be E-tickets and will be available via e-vision one week before your ceremony
How do I hire my gown and how much will it cost?
Ede & Ravenscroft are the official gown hire company for the University's graduation ceremonies. Graduates will be emailed the link to the Ede and Ravenscroft website once they have submitted the Online Booking Form. For more information please see the gown hire page.
What colour is my academic gown?
The colour of the gown depends on the subject and level of study.
How long will the Ceremony last?
Ceremonies can last anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes, but the exact length of each ceremony will depend on the number of graduates, honorary graduates and speeches. Please also take into consideration the post-ceremony reception when making plans.
Will there be any provision for people with hearing difficulties and wheelchair users?
We offer British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on request for Graduates. If you require a BSL interpreter please email graduations@sunderland.ac.uk as soon as possible, and also detail the request on your booking form.
Guests: If any of your guests use a wheelchair or have any other accessibility needs you must state this clearly on the booking form so that suitable seating arrangements can be made.
Graduates: If you use a wheelchair or have difficulty walking please detail this on your booking form. A member of the Graduations Team will contact you prior to your graduation to discuss your requirements and ensure that suitable arrangements are made to assist you during the ceremony.
What should I and my guests wear for the ceremony?
Graduates should wear formal dress under their Academic Gown (jeans and trainers are not acceptable). For the summer graduation ceremonies at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, the ceremonies are held outdoors and graduates and guests will be seated in the terraces, therefore graduates and guests should dress accordingly (high heels are not advised due to the nature of the terraces).
I owe the University money - what can I do?
University regulations state that all outstanding fees must have been paid prior to the booking deadline for your ceremony.
Can I bring my young child to the ceremony?
Ceremonies are not recommended for children, however we do understand that there may be circumstances that required graduates or guests to bring their children along and therefore we do recommend that any child aged 2 years and over have their own seat and are included in your guest ticket numbers.
Please Note - To make the day smoother for all graduates or guests attending with young children, there will be a dedicated pushchair parking area. Upon arrival, please ask your nearest steward for directions. Pushchairs will be stored in our concourse area, and you will receive a receipt which will need to be presented to collect. All pushchairs must be parked 30 minutes prior to the graduation ceremony commencing and can be collected post ceremony. Pushchairs are stored at your own risk and no valuables should be left behind.
Will I receive my degree parchment at the Ceremony?
No, your degree parchment will be posted out to you following the ceremonies if you have not already received it.
What happens if I am unsuccessful in my final year assessments, will I still be able to attend graduation?
If you are unsuccessful in your final assessments you will not be eligible to attend the ceremonies. You will receive an email to that effect and any payment for guest ticket will automatically be refunded following the ceremonies.
You should also contact robe hire suppliers Ede & Ravenscroft and let them know whether you wish to have your gown order carried forward to the next ceremony, or if you would prefer a refund. You must do this in writing seven days prior to your ceremony.
If I don't turn up for my graduation, do I get a refund?
Any student who is unable to attend their ceremony once they have booked their place should contact the Graduations team and refunds will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
If I can't attend how do I get a refund for my robe?
Gown suppliers Ede & Ravenscroft can only process gown hire refunds if refund requests are made at least seven days prior to the Ceremony date.
Will I be able to obtain a family portrait at my graduation?
Yes, the University's official photography company, Ede & Ravenscroft, will be available on your graduation day at the Stadium of Light.
The University can also recommend the following local hotel:
The Hilton Garden Inn is offering £112.00 for a double room and £102.00 for a single room including breakfast - Please quote this code GSU23
Please click here for further details.
Ede and Ravenscroft are the official gown hire and photography company for the Graduation Ceremonies for the University of Sunderland. The University of Sunderland has supported our Academic Dress supplier and has helped subsidize the gown hire price for our students.
To participate in the Graduation Ceremonies, graduates are expected to wear University of Sunderland academic dress and may not be allowed to cross the stage if they do not wear academic dress. Under the academic dress graduates should wear formal dress (jeans and trainers are not acceptable).
You should hire your gown online (the web address will be emailed to you once you have made your graduation ticket booking), before you start, make sure you know your head circumference, chest and height measurements and have your credit/debit card details available. You will also require your student number (this is not your bh or bg number)
We advise you to book photography prior to your graduation day. When you order your academic dress you will be offered photography options as part of your order. Ede and Ravenscroft photographers can take an individual portraits, as well as photographs with family and friends.
Before you place your order for your gown, you MUST have booked your place at your graduation even if you are not bringing any guests. You book your place via the online booking form provided in your email invitation sent from the graduation team. IMPORTANT: If you do not book your place at your graduation ceremony, then you will not be permitted to attend the ceremony. Once you have booked your place at graduation you will be sent the link to book your gown and any photography packages you may require. Please ensure you have your height, head and chest measurements to hand and a debit/credit card available before you start your robe/photography booking. Upon completion of your booking you will receive your confirmation and order number, please take this order number to the ceremony venue on your graduation day to collect your gown and to have your photographs take if appropriate.
Ede and Ravenscroft are an external company. Payment for photography and gown hire are processed by their own staff and not staff at the University of Sunderland.If you book your gown and photography through the Ede and Ravenscroft call centre rather than using their online booking system, there will be additional booking charge of approximately £5.Refunds will only be processed if Ede and Ravenscroft receive a request AT LEAST 7 days prior to your ceremony. You should email Ede and Ravenscroft indicating your cancellation and request a refund. You must include your name, address, course, date of ceremony and receipt number.Should you have any queries please contact:
Ede & Ravenscroft
Unit A, Denny Industrial Centre
Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB5 9QD01223 861854 (Monday-Friday 9-5pm) / customer.services@graduation-services.co.uk
If you are a student from outside the European Economic Area your guests may need a visa or entry clearance to attend the ceremony. As a general guide, if you require a visa to come to the UK it is almost certain that your family will need one too.
If your family need a visa to attend the ceremony they can apply for a Visitor's Visa which will allow them to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months. A Visitor's Visa is only intended for short visits and cannot be extended.
Full details of who needs a visa can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website.
To help your family get permission to come to the UK you should send them the following documents:
Your family should take all of the above documents with them when they go to apply for a Visitor's Visa from the British Embassy or High Commission in their own country.
Please follow the below link for further information: