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Frequently asked questions

When will my graduation be?
The July 2012 degree ceremonies will take place between the 9th and the 20th July 2012.  A full schedule is available here

Providing that you have been awarded in time, you can choose whichever ceremony period that you wish to attend (e.g. July 2012 or December 2012). The only conditions on your attendance at a ceremony are that you:

  • have been officially awarded
  • do not owe money to the University
  • do not have an outstanding appeal against your classification or a module mark
  • have informed the Ceremonies Office of your intention to attend a degree ceremony

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

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How can I obtain a letter to invite my family from abroad?
For guidance on how to apply for a visa for your family to attend your graduation please click here.

To support the application the only document you will need from the Student Services Centre is a Registration Confirmation Certificate. To request this document please click here.

This service is free for registered students. Non-registered students may incur a small charge. You will be contacted by email/telephone if this is the case.

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Do I have to attend a degree ceremony?
If you do not want to attend a Ceremony then your degree can be conferred in absentia. In this case we would post your certificate to your permanent home address shortly after the degree ceremonies. If you are unsure which address that the University has recorded as your permanent address, then please check and amend via the student Portal. If you want your certificate posting to an address other than your permanent home address then please update this on the Portal.

Certificates sent to UK addresses are sent via first class post. Certificates sent internationally are sent by standard airmail. If you require your certificate to be sent by DHL then please purchase this here. Please ensure that you state the delivery option for DHL as your 'original certificate (in absentia)'

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How many guests can I bring?
Each graduand can obtain a maximum of 2 guest tickets which they need to apply for during the registration process online via the Student Portal. Tickets are available for collection from the degree ceremonies Ticket Desk in the Leeds University Union Building. Tickets will not be issued until 90 minutes before the ceremony start time.

There will be strictly no admission to the Great Hall without a ticket and there are no exceptions to the rule. Guest seating is not numbered but guests will be seated by the University Portering staff in the Great Hall, excluding the seating area reserved for graduands.

Your tickets will not be posted to you.

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Can I get extra guests tickets?
Due to the limited capacity of the Great Hall, each student is only guaranteed an allocation of up to 2 guest tickets which they have to apply for during the registration process online.

Students will be able to express their interest in extra tickets by submitting a request form.  The form will be available on the ticket tab from 10am on the  27th June until  5pm on the  29th June (requests received before or after this will NOT be considered).

The allocation of extra tickets will be on a first come first served basis.  Students will be informed via email to their graduation email address, submitted during the registration process,  if they have been successful or not in due course thereafter.

Please be aware that unfortunately we cannot guarantee there will be extra tickets available for every ceremony.

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How much will graduation cost me?
Leeds University is one of the few UK Universities who do not charge for graduation. The only compulsory cost graduands will encounter is the Academic Dress hire. Please see Academic Dress for further information.

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How can I hire a gown?
Graduands must wear Academic Dress (gowns and hoods) to take part in a Degree Ceremony. Academic Dress can be hired from the University Robe makers Ede and Ravenscroft, on line at www.gownhire.co.uk or by phone on 01223 861854 .

Those being awarded diplomas, first degrees and masters degrees at the University’s degree ceremonies wear academic dress:  they do not, through long established University custom and practice, wear the cap (mortarboard) prescribed as part of full academic dress. Caps are available for photographic purposes from the University Robemakers, who are in attendance at all ceremonies. Academic dress for bachelors and masters degrees consists of a black gown with the appropriate hood for your degree. Higher degrees often wear coloured gowns and hoods and in some instances, a velvet hat. For a description of what your gown will look like click here .

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What could stop me graduating?
If you have any of the following you will not be eligible to attend a ceremony and it is your responsibility as the student to check your eligibility:

  • any outstanding debts to the University
  • have not successfully completed your course in time for the degree ceremonies
  • have lodged an appeal

Debts to the University

Any student who is in debt to the University will not be eligible to attend their degree ceremony. The deadline to pay any outstanding debts to the University in preparation for the July 2012 degree ceremonies is the 15th June. This outstanding debt will also prevent you from receiving any certificate or confirmation of your award. Please note that a certificate can take up to 3 weeks to process from the debt being cleared.

I don't know if I have outstanding fees, how do I check?

To check outstanding debts with the Accounts Receivable Section and make payment:
-Log onto the student portal here
-Select the "Student Services & Admin" tab
-Select “Log me into Student Services”
-Select “Finance”
-Select “Payments”
-Select “Make Online Payment”
-Select “View Account Summary” to see what balance is outstanding and make the relevant payment 
  by credit / debit card by selecting “Make Payment”

To check outstanding debts with the Library please go to https://wam.leeds.ac.uk/patroninfo . To make payment for a Library debt please call (0113) 343 5540.

It is your responsibility to check that your account is clear.

What do debts to the University include?

Unpaid academic fees and charges, residence fees and charges, examination fees, registration charges and library fines (including unreturned books). Please note that a debt will be recorded on your account if your sponsor had not paid your fees.

Awards

It is your responsibility to check with your School or by logging onto the portal that you have successfully completed your award.
If you are due to receive your results in the Summer you can check your award status on the portal from the 2 July 2012 for a limited time only. In the event that you have been unsuccessful, your invitation to attend a degree ceremony will be considered withdrawn.

Appeals
If you intend to appeal or you are pursuing an appeal you must not have your degree conferred either at a ceremony or in absentia. This means that you must not attend a ceremony and must ensure that your certificate is not posted to you.  If you do your appeal will be void. Please refer to the Students' Handbook for full details of the Appeals Procedure and the action that you need to take.

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What happens on the day?
On the day of your ceremony we recommend that you, the graduand, are on campus 90 minutes before your ceremony is due to start. When you arrive on campus you should go to the Leeds University Union Building to exchange your summary page for your tickets. Students will then be able to collect the academic dress (please refer to the section on Academic Dress). You can also discuss your photography and video requirements in this building. Photography is provided by Ede and Ravenscroft and Video/DVD's are supplied by iamagraduate.com.

The doors to the Great Hall are opened 30 minutes before the Ceremony commences and you need be seated in your allocated seat 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Please ensure you are on time as the ceremony start time will not be delayed and once the doors are closed you will not be permitted into the ceremony.

The Ceremony begins with a formal academic procession into the Great Hall, after which the Presiding Officer – The Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor or one of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors – addresses and welcomes the graduands and guests in a short speech.

You will receive your degrees as follows:

The Secretary to the University or another senior official – announces the degree, and calls upon a senior member of the academic staff to present graduands for that degree.

Graduands are directed to the foot of the stairs where they are checked off the ceremony list by the Key Marshal.

Graduands will proceed onto the stage one by one, as their names are announced by the Presenter.

Graduands will curtsey or bow at the top of the stairs if they wish and then proceed forward to the Presiding Officer to collect their certificate and shake hands as they are admitted to their degree and become a graduate of the University of Leeds. (Male research students are asked to tip their hat to the Presiding Officer at the top of the stairs)

Graduates will turn left and exit the stage and will be directed to their seat.

After all graduates have received their degrees the Presiding Officer then declares the Congregation closed, and the academic party recesses out of the Hall.

You will follow the procession as directed by the Key Marshals who will lead all of the new graduates out of the Great Hall two rows at a time.

Each ceremony will last between three quarters of an hour to an hour, depending on the number of graduands.

To see a webcast of a degree ceremony, please click here .

If you, the graduand, or any member of your party have any particular requirements regarding seating arrangements or additional support please see details of disabled access or contact the Events Team for more information.

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Where can we park?
There will be free parking at the Woodhouse Moor car park on Woodhouse Lane (this is not the multi-storey car park) for all graduands and their guests during the ceremony period. The car park is about half a mile from the main entrance. See preparation and arrival for further details.

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Where can we stay overnight in Leeds?
Please see information on Accommodation in Leeds.

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Is there disabled access for graduands and guests?
Parking attendants will be available to direct disabled drivers to parking bays on campus. You must have the disabled parking permit on display. For a full description of disabled access for degree ceremonies please see the additional information for disabled graduands .

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Can I get a recording of my degree ceremony?
Yes, IamaGraduate.com will provide the graduation videos and DVDs.

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Memorabilia
You can order a range of graduation souvenirs from www.gifts4occasions.co.uk/graduation.html.

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Contacts
For any queries about degree ceremonies not covered by these pages please contact the Events Team as below:

Sharron Murphy (Events Manager) s.murphy@adm.leeds.ac.uk Tel 0113 343 4005

Chayley Davies (Supervisor) c.m.davies@adm.leeds.ac.uk Tel 0113 343 3796

Rachael Parker (Events Clerk) r.parker@adm.leeds.ac.uk Tel 0113 343 4117

Marian McGuire(Certificates Clerk) m.mcguire@adm.leeds.ac.uk Tel 0113 343 3976

Ceremonies office general email address Graduation@leeds.ac.uk

See also useful contacts.

Page owner: Graduation@leeds.ac.uk | Updated: 08/05/12