What to expect from your graduation day
Graduation is one of the most exciting days of your university experience so to help you feel prepared, here is everything you need to know about your graduation day.
Where to go on the day
Registration and gowning
Once you’ve arrived, please go to the Sir Denis Rooke Building for registration and gowning
Photography
For professional photos and souvenirs, please go to James France where Tempest Photography will be taking photos throughout the day
Graduation ceremony
The ceremony will take place in the Sir David Wallace Building
Post-ceremony reception
Please go to Towers Dining Hall and the Martin Hall Theatre next to Shirley Pearce Square where there will be a reception after the ceremony offering a celebratory drink and nibbles
Return gown
To return your gown before you leave, please go to West Park Teaching Hub. Staff from Ede & Ravenscroft will be inside the building to collect the returned gowns. Please be aware all gowns must be returned by 6.30pm
If you’re unsure about where to go throughout the day, our team will be on hand in purple t-shirts to help.
What happens during the ceremony
Graduand seating
In Sir David Wallace there will be a seat allocated with your seating card, please ensure you’re in the right seat. Graduands are called to the stage in a particular order meaning failure to sit in your allocated seat may result in your name not being called out during the ceremony. If you’re struggling to find your seat, don’t worry, staff will be available to help.
Guest seating
Guests will be able to sit in any of the guest seating rows.
Ceremony
Graduands and guests will be welcomed to the Ceremony and the celebrations will begin. When it is your turn to cross the stage and collect your certificate, a member of staff will collect you from your seat and you will be called one row at a time to the stage.
Once directed to the stage, your name will be called. Walk forwards and stop at the marker on the floor, doff your hat (i.e nod your head slightly and touch the front of your hat) to the Chancellor (or his representative) and then cross the remainder of the stage.
Congratulations, you’re officially a Loughborough University graduate! Please feel free to encourage family and friends to cheer in support as you cross the stage.
After crossing the stage, please collect your certificate.
Tempest Photography will be taking photos of students as they cross the stage. When you exit the stage, please ensure you do not obstruct the photographer’s view when returning to your seat.
End of ceremony
At the end, the procession will leave the hall before the rest of the audience. All new graduates will join the procession behind the members of Academic Staff, with the front row leaving first. Once the ceremony is complete, please leave Sir David Wallace for a post-ceremony reception at Towers Dining Hall where there will be celebratory drinks and nibbles.
There will also be food stalls on Shirley Pearce Square where further refreshments can be purchased.