Graduation Ceremony dates for 2024

Ceremony dates and times

Ceremony Number	Date and Time	Faculty	Schools and Courses
1	Monday 8th July 2024  at 9.30am	Arts and Creative Industries	School of Art and Design (all courses) The School of Media and Communications (all courses)
2	Monday 8th July 2024  at 3.00pm	Technology	School of Computer Science (all courses) School of Engineering (all courses)
3	Tuesday 9th July 2024 at 9.30am	Health Sciences and Wellbeing	School of Nursing and Health Sciences (All Nursing and Allied Health Professions courses, excluding IDL courses) School of Medicine (all courses)
4	Tuesday 9th July 2024 at 3.00pm	Health Sciences and Wellbeing	School of Nursing and Health Sciences (All Health Sciences courses and IDL Nursing courses)
5	Wednesday 10th July 2024 at 9.30 am	Health Sciences and Wellbeing	School of Psychology (all courses) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (all courses)
6	Wednesday 10th July 2024 at 3.00pm	Business, Law and Tourism	Sunderland Business School (Various PG Courses including IDL courses)
7	Thursday 11th July 2024 at 9.30am	Business, Law and Tourism	Sunderland Business School (Various PG Courses)
8	Thursday 11th July 2024 at 3.00pm	Business, Law and Tourism	Sunderland Business School (All UG courses) School of Hospitality, Events, Aviation and Tourism (all courses) Sunderland Law School (all courses including IDL courses)
9	Friday 12th July 2024 at 9.30am	Education and Society	School of Social Sciences (all courses)
10	Friday 12th July 2024 at 3.00pm	Education and Society	School of Education (all courses including IDL courses)

To view the list of courses assigned to each ceremony please Course list

Detailed Graduate and Guest Ticket Information

Important information

• Bookings open at 2pm on Wednesday 8th May 2024  and close at 4.00pm Friday 14th June 2024
• It may be necessary to close ceremony bookings earlier than this date if demand is high and ceremonies reach capacity

Graduate tickets

• Graduates do not pay for their ticket, HOWEVER they do still need to book their ticket in advance by completing the online application form. 
• You must complete the online application form even if you do not want any guest tickets - this is the only way we will know you are attending your ceremony.
• Graduates collect their ticket on the day of the ceremony when they register their attendance
• Please go to the online booking page before 4pm 14th June 2024 to book a place for you and any guests

Guest tickets

• All graduates can book up to 4 guest tickets for the Main Stand area of the stadium - 2 of which are FREE  and 2 at a cost of £30.00 each.  
• Any graduate requiring more than 4 guest tickets will have the option to book and pay for up to a further 2 additional guest tickets at the time of booking. These 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 £30.00 each.
• Any additional tickets purchased at the time of booking will be confirmed by Wednesday 19th June 2024. Refunds for any additional tickets that cannot be provided will be processed (to be confirmed).

Children

• Ceremonies are not recommended for children, however we do understand that there may be circumstances that require graduates or guests to bring their children along and therefore we do require that any child aged 2 years and over have their own seat and are included in your guest ticket numbers. 
• 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. 

Payment for guest tickets

• Payment for any guest tickets which are over and above the 2 free allocated tickets must be made online at the time of booking.  

Other key points

• 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. 

Main Stand Ceremony Tickets - Costs

Guaranteed Guest Tickets:  a maximum of 4 in Total - 2 tickets free of charge, 2 tickets at a cost of £30.00 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 £30.00 each.   Any additional tickets purchased at the time of booking will be confirmed by Wednesday 19th June 2024 . Refunds for any additional tickets that cannot be provided will be processed (date to be confirmed)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​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	£30.00 in total
Graduate with 4 guests	£60.00 in total
Graduate with 4 guests plus 1 additional guest	£90.00 in total
Graduate with 4 guests plus 2 additional guests	£120.00 in total

 

Included with your ticket(s):

• Pre-ceremony tea and coffee
• Post-ceremony buffet
• Copy of the Awards Ceremony programme (one per family)
• Parking

 

Post ceremony buffet: 

Main Menu

 

Steak & Ale Suet Pudding 

Buttered Mash, Roasted Carrots, Broccoli , Beef Jus 

Bourguignon Pie (vg)(gf)

Parsley Mash, Roasted Carrots, Broccoli , Rosemary Jus 

 

Chicken Bhuna Flatbread

With pickled cabbage, masala Chips, minted Yoghurt

 

Quorn Bhuna Flatbread

With pickled cabbage, masala Chips, minted Yoghurt

 

Dessert

Selection of Mini Cakes, tea and coffee

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I complete the Online Booking Form even if I require no guests?
Yes. You must complete the booking form even if:

• You do not have any guests
• You have only 2 free guest tickets
• You are unsure if you have passed
  
  

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.

Gown Hire and Photography

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.

Gown hire

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)

Photography

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.

To book a graduation gown and/or photography

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.

PLEASE NOTE:

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