Please follow the links below to the Graduation website for more information on:
- Dates and times of Graduation Ceremonies
- Checking your eligibility to attend a Graduation Ceremony
- How to register to attend your Graduation Ceremony
- Key dates and deadlines for Graduation
- Tickets for Graduation Ceremonies
- Visa Support letter
- Accessibility and additional requirements at Graduation Ceremonies
- Robe hire for Graduation Ceremonies
- Photography at Graduation Ceremonies
- Watching Graduation Ceremonies online
Our February Graduation Ceremonies
Following student feedback, we have decided to move our December ceremonies from campus to February at the St Albans Cathedral. The Cathedral is an impressive venue and historic landmark in the county. Perfect for your photo opportunities!
This change will be implemented from this year, so December 2023 ceremonies will be moved to February 2024. The new dates are Monday 19 to Saturday 24 February 2024. Eligible students who have an award confirmed and locked between 1 August 2023 and 31 December 2023 will be invited to book their place from the end of November and close mid-January 2024.
This is a big change and you may have questions. Please see some helpful Questions and Answers below:
- I am an international student and my Visa will have run out, what do I do?
Our Student Immigration team will be able to support with this. Please visit their Ask Herts page and contact them if you require this advice. You can also request a Visa Support letter when registering for your graduation ceremony (please see below).
- How can I help my family/friends come to my ceremony?
For information about what you can do to support your friends or relatives visa applications if they wish to visit you in the UK, please visit Ask Herts: Family or friends visiting the UK | Ask Herts | University of Hertfordshire You can also request a Visa Support letter when registering for your graduation ceremony (please see below).
- How can I get a Visa Support letter?
If a Visa is required for you or your guests to enter the UK for a Graduation Ceremony, you can request a Visa Support letter during your registration to support the application. We will provide you with an electronic letter on our headed paper to confirm that you are eligible to attend and are entitled to bring at least 2 guests. We have a 3-5 working day turnaround for Visa Support letters. Please note, we can only provide a Visa Support letter to graduates who have registered for their ceremony.
- Why have the ceremonies moved?
The ceremonies have moved because the student body at the University of Hertfordshire is growing and our previous venue for this ceremony session, the Weston Auditorium on De Havilland, is no longer big enough to fit all our graduates. We spoke to students and staff who expressed and how they love St Albans Cathedral so we have been able to facilitate this change.
- Where will the ceremonies be?
The ceremonies will now be held in the Abbey at St Albans. We talked to lots of groups at the University and found that the majority of people love the Abbey and wanted the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony there. We are delighted to now be able to offer this to all our graduates.
- Will ceremonies be back in the auditorium/December?
No, we will no longer be holding December ceremonies in the Weston Auditorium on De Havilland.
- How do I know if I’m eligible?
To attend a University of Hertfordshire graduation ceremony, you must meet our eligibility criteria. One part of the eligibility criteria is about when your full and final award is confirmed and locked on our system. To be eligible for a February 2024 graduation ceremony, for example, a student must have their full and final award locked between: 1st August 2023 and 31st December 2023.
- When can I register?
Registration for our February 2024 graduation ceremonies will open in November 2023. When registration does open, all eligible students will receive an email from us inviting them to register their attendance at their graduation ceremony.
You can check the important deadlines for our upcoming ceremony session on our website: Important Deadlines | Graduation (herts.ac.uk)
- When will registration close?
Registration for our February 2024 graduation ceremonies will close in mid-January 2024. If you have been invited to attend a February 2024 graduation ceremony but have not registered before Christmas, we will send you a reminder email.
You can check the important deadlines for our upcoming ceremony session on our website: Important Deadlines | Graduation (herts.ac.uk)
- I am unable to attend the February ceremonies, what do I do?
If it is your first invitation to a ceremony, you can defer your invitation once to the next ceremony period. To do so you must complete a deferral request form. You can find out more about this on our website: Unable to attend your ceremony? | Graduation (herts.ac.uk)
- Can I come to a Graduate photo day instead of a ceremony?
If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, you can attend a Graduate Photo Day. Our graduate photo days are an opportunity to have your photograph taken in graduate robes individually and/or with your family and friends.
Due to the limited availability of our photography and robing company, we do not yet know when our next photo day will be. If you would like to be notified once we have confirmed the date of our next photo day, please email us on awards@herts.ac.uk and include your full name, student ID and preferred email address.
- When do debts need to be cleared?
In order to attend a February 2024 graduation ceremony, eligible graduates will have to have cleared their debts by early-January 2024.
- Can I get financial support for my ceremonies?
Please see this page on Ask Herts for further information about Financial Support: Financial Support | Ask Herts | University of Hertfordshire