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Graduation Ceremony Timetable

Ceremonies take place either in the morning or afternoon, check below to see a breakdown.

Morning 10.30am start Afternoon 2.30pm start To Do
8.00am 11.30am Arrive at the BIC
Collect tickets (Solent Hall)
Collect Robes (Solent Hall).
Photos (Solent Hall)
More Info
9.45am 1.45pm Doors open to Ceremony (Windsor Hall)
Students register with course marshals(Windsor Hall).
More Info
10.15am 2.15pm All guests to be seated (Windsor Hall).
10.30am 2.30pm Ceremony begins and lasts for approximately one hour and a half.
More Info
12.00pm 4.00pm School Reception -If you have opted to attend (Purbeck Hall).
More Info

At least an hour and a half before the ceremony:

  1. On arrival at the BIC, head to the Solent Hall to collect your ticket and guest tickets (please see floor plan (pdf - 70 kb)). Please ensure you bring your Graduation Registration Confirmation email. You will need this to collect your tickets.
  2. Collect your gown from the Solent Hall. Please ensure that you have your Gown Order Confirmation with you. It will be best for your family and friends to wait outside as this area gets extremely busy.
  3. Have your photographs taken in the Solent Hall.
  4. If you have ordered a T-shirt, collect this from the Graduation Gear stand. Even if you haven't ordered, there will still be a chance to buy one. Further souvenirs will also be available from the Alumni stand.
  5. Refreshments will be available to purchase all day from various outlets within the BIC.

Half an hour before the ceremony:

You will need to report to your Course Marshal in the Windsor Hall half an hour before the ceremony starts. They will arrange for you to be seated and will be able to answer any questions you may have about the ceremony You won't be able to sit with your guests.

Your guests will need to be seated (in their allocated seats; their seat numbers will be shown on their tickets) at least a quarter of an hour before the ceremony is due to start. Please ensure you give your guests their tickets, as you will sit separately in the hall.

When the ceremony starts, everyone will be asked to stand as the procession enters the hall. The Master of Ceremonies will advise you when to sit down, once the congregation is declared open.

Your Course Marshal will conduct you to the platform. Please do not wear your mortarboard and don't carry anything with you. The Dean of School will announce your name, and, as this is done, you should cross the platform. Please stop in front of the Chancellor, turn and bow. The bow is a formal greeting made by a bending of the head and upper body. Please remember, you are not paying respect to the person, but to the university of which you are about to become a member. Continue across the stage, shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor and collect your certificate at the bottom of the steps.

If your name isn't read out, please step to one side and speak to your Marshal; you shouldn't cross the platform.

Once you've received your certificate, you should return to your seat. Please don't stop to check your certificate; a member of staff can deal with any queries at the end of the ceremony.

Please be as quiet as possible to avoid distracting other guests. You or your guests should not leave the ceremony until the Master of Ceremonies has closed the proceedings (except in an emergency).

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Following the ceremony:

Continue celebrating with your family and friends at the School Reception in the Purbeck Hall.

Before you leave the BIC:

Please ensure your gown is returned to the Solent Hall and that you have all your belongings (especially your certificate).

Things to bring on the day

  1. Graduation Registration Confirmation email
  2. Gown Order Confirmation
  3. Confirmation of other pre-purchased goods/services
  4. A couple of safety pins and hair grips (to help secure your gown, hood and mortarboard)*.

*You do NOT wear the mortarboard to graduate

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Order of proceedings:

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