Invitations
If you have received or will receive your results between January 2024 and June 2024, you will be invited to attend our Summer 2024 graduation ceremonies (to be held on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th July 2024).
The invitations deadline is 11.59pm on the 30th June 2024.
We aim to send out the invitations to attend our July ceremonies by the end of May 2024. You will receive your invitation via email to attend your graduation ceremony along with notes for Graduands and their Guests on what to expect in each ceremony and on the day.
We will send the invitations to graduands’ personal and university email addresses. After you receive your invitation, please follow the instructions to book your ticket and secure your place at the ceremony.
We will send a reminder to book your ticket shortly before the deadline.
We strongly advise expediency as late bookings will not be permitted and enquiries relating to such will not be monitored. If you are unable to attend the ceremony you will graduate in absentia as deferrals are not allowed.
No exceptions will be made under any circumstances.
All information contained in your invitation will also be available on our dedicated graduation webpages, along with notes for Graduands and their Guests on what to expect in each ceremony and on the day.
Your certificate
All Summer 2024 Graduates will receive their certificates by the end of Autumn 2024. Therefore, certificates will not be presented at the ceremonies in July. If you have not received your certificate by the end of Autumn 2024, please contact us our Graduation Team.
Certificates will be sent via Royal Mail to your permanent (home) address. If your home address has changed, please amend it on e:Vision.
If you have no access to e:Vision, please let us know by emailing our Graduation Team, so that we can change your home address on your behalf and post the certificate to the correct location.
We accept no responsibility for the certificates sent to a wrong permanent address. If you have not updated it you will be asked to pay for a replacement certificate.
International students: if your permanent home address is overseas and you prefer instead to receive your certificate to your current correspondence address, please amend it on e:Vision.
Please note that the name on your certificate will be the name that you registered with when you joined St Mary’s. If you want to check which name will be on your certificate or if you have any other queries, please email our Graduation Team.
In order to receive your certificate you will need to ensure that you have settled any outstanding debts to the University, such as tuition, accommodation, and library fees.
If you are not sure whether you have outstanding debts please check with the following departments:
- for tuition and accommodation debts: please contact our Fees Office on 020 8240 4035 or via email
- for library debts and outstanding loans: please contact our Library Information Desk on 020 8240 4097 or via email.
Phonetic names
Phonetic names are a way of spelling out names using sounds to ensure correct pronunciation. For students graduating, providing your names in phonetics when booking for the ceremony ensures that the announcers can pronounce your names accurately and confidently.
If a student's name is "Ana Silva," the phonetic spelling might be:
"Ana (AH-nah) Silva (SILL-vah)".
On arrival
You are advised to arrive at St Vincent's at least 90 minutes prior to the start of your Ceremony. On arrival Graduands must report to the Graduand Tickets and Namecards Collection Desk, which will be situated in St Vincent's. At this desk, you will be asked to show your e-ticket either in your email or a printed copy if you prefer, in order to register and to collect your Namecard.
Your Namecard will include your seat number and name with phonetic spelling, if you have provided this when booking. You will need to hand this to the Presenter on the stage when your award is being conferred to ensure that your name is called. Please do not lose your Namecard.
The Cathedral will open approximately 30 minutes before your Ceremony. Graduands are requested to be robed in their academic gown and in their seats at least 15 minutes before the commencement of their Ceremony. The Ceremony will last for no longer than 45 minutes to one hour.
Getting there
Directions from St Vincent’s Centre to Westminister Cathedral.
Closest tube stations to Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral's closest tube stop is Victoria. From the tube stop you can follow signs for the cathedral and you will reach it in about five to ten minutes.
Academic dress
It is compulsory for graduands to wear academic dress. Graduands should wear their gowns and hoods throughout the ceremony. Mortarboards should only be worn when processing out of the Cathedral.
In addition to academic dress, graduands are asked to conform to the following dress code: smart formal wear.
We warmly encourage students to wear their traditional and/or cultural dress to graduation if they wish to.
Robing
Robing will take place at St Vincent's Centre, Hinsley Room, 5th Floor, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL. Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time to collect your gown to ensure that you are seated no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony.
Seating
Graduands are seated separately from their guests and your seat number will be given on your Namecard. Graduands will not be admitted to the Cathedral unless you have registered and collected your Namecard. You are asked to be seated at least 25 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Guests are seated in the nave, from the back of the Cathedral, facing the stage. Please follow the signs to your row and seat number (e.g. A1, A2, B1, B2). Ushers will be present to help you find your seat and answer any queries. Guest seating will be on the front of the Cathedral, facing the stage. All available seats should be used to ensure that all guests can be seated.
Presentation
As standard, presentation will be in alphabetical order within each degree or award (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.). Please note due to extenuating circumstances there could be slight diversions from this order. An Usher will signal to Graduands when to move from their seats and regulate the flow of the procession.
Graduands must bring their namecard with them, which will be passed to the Namecard Usher at the chancel steps. Each Graduand will mount the steps as his/her name is announced. They will stop and shake hands with the Presiding Officer (Vice-Chancellor or Provost), whilst the Award Photographer captures this moment. Then, they return to their seats, as directed by the Ushers.
End of the ceremony
At the end of the ceremony, Graduands are invited to put on their mortarboards and will file out behind the procession of academic staff and High Officers of the University.
Photographs
The University wishes to remind students and guests that no video film or photographs may be taken inside the Cathedral during the ceremony. Graduands are not allowed to take selfies. Our official Award Photographer will capture each individual presentation and prints will be available to purchase.
Ede & Ravenscroft will be on campus to take individual photographs before and after the ceremony. There will be five studios available and these will operate on a first come, first served basis. If you intend to have your photograph taken before the ceremony, please ensure that you allow sufficient time to ensure you are seated 15 minutes before the start time of the ceremony.
First aid
Staff with first aid training will be on duty. Should you need any attention please contact one of our Stewards or a member of Security.
Information and queries on the day
There will be Stewards around campus and at the Graduand Tickets and Namecards Desk in St Vincent's who will be happy to help with any enquiries you may have on the day.
Further information
If you require any further information relating to the degree ceremony, please contact our Graduation Team .
Please, note that due to the high volume of queries, the Graduation Team will not be able to answer to those enquiries already included in our FAQs.
We hope that you will enjoy the event and we look forward to seeing you there.