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Graduation is a significant moment – and at UWS we take pride in helping to make it a day to remember.
Graduation ceremonies are held at Ayr, Hamilton and Paisley campuses twice a year and at Dumfries and London campuses once a year.
The ceremonies in July are generally for Honours level students who have completed their studies in April of that year, and for undergraduate and postgraduate level students whose results are confirmed by May 30 of that year.
The November ceremonies are generally for undergraduate and postgraduate level students whose results are confirmed after May 30.
The UWS winter graduation ceremonies will take place on:
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. You’ll need to pay a graduation registration fee of £40, whether you plan to attend the ceremony or wish to graduate 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. You will only be able to graduate if you clear the outstanding amount before the university’s deadline.
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 are Success Photography Ltd. You can place your order via their website - www.successphotography.com.
Guests may take photographs during the graduation ceremony. However, please stay seated and don’t obstruct the view of other guests.
Graduands should dress for a formal occasion.
The recommended dress is:
All students attending a graduation ceremony must wear the gown associated with the award with which they are graduating.
You’ll need to hire or buy your gown 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 and in the press. If you object to publication of your name and award, please contact Student Administration on your Campus. Video recordings and photographs may be taken at the ceremonies for University marketing and publicity.
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.
