Ceremony and reception information

Ceremony

The Edinburgh graduation ceremonies are held on campus in the James Watt Centre.  Ceremonies are scheduled in the Summer and Winter, please see our Edinburgh graduation ceremonies page for the upcoming dates.

Ceremonies at the Edinburgh campus last between 1 and 2 hours depending on the size of the graduating cohort, honorary graduate attendance and the number of prizes being presented.  Students should be in their seat in the James Watt Centre 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony so please ensure you register and collect your seat card at the advertised event arrival time to allow enough time to also collect your gown and be seated.  The doors will be closed 15 minutes before that start of the ceremony and late comers may not be granted entry.

The James Watt Centre has a strict maximum capacity and therefore, we cannot grant entry without a wristband.  Please do not arrive for your graduation with extra guests in the hope that tickets will become available as it will not be possible to purchase extra tickets on the day of your ceremony.

Seat card collection

Graduands will not be able to gain entry to the graduation ceremony venue without a seat card.  Please ensure you register and collect your seat card at the advertised event arrival time to allow enough time to also collect your gown and be seated. Pre-ordered Student Reception Tickets will be issued in the form of a wristband and will be available for collection along with your seat card. Graduands must wear the wristband for admittance to the reception.

Reception

There is a charge for attendance at the reception that follows the ceremony.  If you wish to attend the reception, you will need to order a Student Reception Ticket (£tbc) and pay for it when you apply to graduate.  Further details about the reception provision will be provided in due course.

Guest ceremony and reception tickets

Guest tickets are ordered via the online graduation application system for all ceremonies.  Guest tickets include admittance to the reception following the ceremony.

Please ensure you explicitly state the number of guest tickets (0, 1, 2) you require when you order.  It may not be possible to increase your order (up to max 2) following the graduation application deadline.

Guest ticket collection

Guest ceremony and reception tickets cost £tbc each and are capped at two per graduand. Tickets, which take the form of a wristband, entitle guests to attend the graduation ceremony and the reception afterwards. Guests must wear their wristband for entry in to the ceremony and admittance to the reception.  No entry will be permitted without a wristband.

Please note tickets are not posted out, all ordered guest tickets should be collected during registration from the arrival time for your ceremony.

Guest ticket allocation

Guest tickets are capped at two as we are limited by venue capacity. It will not be possible to purchase more than two guest tickets per graduand. 

It will not be possible to purchase extra tickets at the graduation venue. Please do not arrive for your graduation with extra guests in the hope that tickets will become available as it will not be possible to purchase extra tickets on the day of your ceremony.

Children

Children are welcome to attend, however you should note that graduation ceremonies may not be suitable for very young children. Your party may be asked to sit at the end of an aisle or near an exit so that the child can be taken outside should they become restless. If children age 5 or under require their own seat, a ticket must be requested for them.

Special arrangements

If you or your guests have special requirements, e.g. a wheelchair user, vision/hearing impaired or claustrophobic etc, or if they have very young children, please indicate this in the special arrangements section of online graduation application. Please note that only Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Assistance Dogs are permitted. Car parking will be available on campus in selected areas, including an area of accessible parking for people who are disabled or with limited mobility.

Guests with mobility issues

Please note that entry to the James Watt Centre is accessible.  When you collect your guest tickets, please advise a member of staff at the desk and an usher will be called to assist you into the auditorium.

Food and Drinks

Food and hot drinks are not permitted in the graduation ceremony venue.

Visa information

If you wish to invite your relatives to the UK for your graduation ceremony you will find more information on our Visa and Immigration webpage.