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Due to the ongoing impact and associated restrictions of coronavirus, our summer 2020 graduation ceremonies will regretfully not be taking place this year.
As a University community, we understand that this will be disappointing for our students and staff. Your safety, however, and that of your friends, families and the wider University community is our first priority; therefore, it has been agreed that all students eligible to receive their award in the summer will be invited to register to graduate in absentia (not in person) in July 2020. Award parchments will be posted to graduates as soon as possible thereafter.
We are pleased to confirm that, once restrictions on large gatherings have been lifted by the UK Government, all summer 2020 graduates will have the opportunity to attend a unique celebration event to mark their success, together with their fellow graduates, friends and family.
Our Registry Team will be in touch by email over the coming weeks to send you further information advising you of how to register to graduate in absentia and how to note your interest in attending a future celebration event in due course.
The ceremonies in November are generally for undergraduate and postgraduate level students whose results are confirmed after May 30.
The 2020 UWS winter graduation ceremonies will take place on:
Depending on the programme being studied, students who have been awarded Certificates and Diplomas generally do not attend a graduation ceremony, but will be sent their parchments by post. Students eligible to attend a graduation ceremony will be given graduation details along with their assessment results.
You can watch the 2020 London graduation ceremony live-streamed on our Youtube channel here.
If you’re eligible to graduate, you will receive further details with your assessment results.
Before graduation, all students must register for a graduation ceremony. The graduation registration fee is £40 if you are attending the ceremony, and £10 if you are graduating without attending.
Graduation without attending is known as graduating ‘in absentia’. This is the term used in university graduation programmes and brochures. Students who graduate in absentia are not allowed to attend a graduation ceremony in person at a later date.
Eligible students will be notified by email, approximately 5-6 weeks before the ceremony and asked to register for their graduation online using Self Service Banner. During the registration process, you can confirm whether you plan to attend a graduation ceremony or graduate in absentia. Once registered, the graduation fee can be paid through the UWS Online Store.
If you have a tuition fee debt to the university, the university’s finance office will contact you about this before the ceremony.
Each student attending graduation can receive up to two tickets for guests. You can order these as part of the online graduation registration process.
A limited number of additional tickets may be available for each ceremony. These are allocated via a ballot, which takes place a week before the ceremony. You’ll get details of how to enter the ballot when you go through registration. Tickets allocated via the ballot cost £10 each.
The University’s official graduation photographers is Marston Events. You can place your order via their website - https://www.yourgraduation.co.uk/UWS.
Guests may take photographs during the graduation ceremony. However, please stay seated and don’t obstruct the view of other guests.
Gowns may be hired from Ede and Ravenscroft, the University's official gown provider, at least 21 days before the ceremony. Hire cost will be between £42 and £47. You’ll get details of how to order gowns at the time you register for graduation.
On graduation you’ll receive a formal award parchment, confirming your award and endorsed with the University seal. If you attend your ceremony, you will generally receive your parchment on the day.
If you graduate in absentia, your parchment will be posted to your home address within a week of the ceremony.
Graduation ceremonies are public events. The University publishes the names of all graduands, including those graduating in absentia, in the graduation programme. If you object to publication of your name, award, and academic performance in the programme please contact Student Administration on your Campus. Your name, award and academic performance will only be published in newspapers if you give your consent by opting-in at online registration for graduation.
Crowd shots will be taken by the University photographers at the venue and at our graduation receptions and these may include images of you and your guests. During the ceremony and the subsequent celebrations, members of University staff will be present taking photographs, and this may include photographs of you and your guests as individuals or part of a small group. These images may be used on the University's graduation website and social media channels. They may also be used in future graduation brochures and booklets and in our marketing and promotional materials both in the UK and overseas. We will use these images in both printed and electronic format and may use them for a period of up to 5 years after they have been taken. The photographer will ask for you and your guests' verbal consent before taking any pictures of you individually or as part of a small group. If you do not wish for your photograph to be taken and used in the way described you should tell the photographer when they ask for your consent.
There’s more specific information about ceremonies, including local maps, under the campus headings below.
As a graduate, you’ll automatically become a member of the UWS Alumni Association.
UWS alumni make up a diverse network of over 100,000 graduates across Scotland and the world. We’re here to support you in your future career and keep you in touch with old friends and the university.
Join the alumni LinkedIn group and keep in touch on Facebook and Twitter.
