Our annual Graduation ceremony is a proud and memorable occasion for all involved and we cannot wait to celebrate the outstanding achievements of achievements of our students.

This year’s event will take place at Hull City Hall on Wednesday 30th November, starting at 1:30pm, and will allow you to come together and celebrate with family, lecturers and dignitaries.

The information provided below will update you on how to plan for and what to expect on your big day.

Registration

‍Registration will take place at the entrance to the Mortimer Suite at the Hull City Hall. It is important that you register otherwise your name will not be announced during the ceremony. Please note that you will need to arrive in plenty of time to register and be gowned and photographed (if applicable) before making your way to the Main Hall to be seated at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts.

Gowns and Photography

‍We work closely with William Northam, Robemakers and Photographers, who will be at Hull City Hall to fit you with your gown and take photographs before the ceremony starts. You will be able to collect your gown from 10am-12pm in the Mortimer Suite at the Hull City Hall. You will also have photographs taken at Hull City Hall before the ceremony. Alternatively, you will be able to have your photograph taken after the ceremony closes.

Tickets and Seating Arrangements‍

Booking for the event is now closed and admission to the ceremony is by ticket only and non-ticket holders cannot be accommodated. You will have been issued an e-ticket by William Northam to confirm your booking, which you may need to produce on the day when collecting your gown.  

Due to the capacity of the venue, only two free guest tickets per graduand. Extra tickets (up to a maximum of 3) can be booked until Friday 25th November. We strongly advise you NOT to make travel or accommodation arrangements for extra guests without confirmation that you have extra tickets. We may also need to consider any restrictions in place that affect capacity at the venue.  

You will be issued with a ticket on the day when you register. It is important that you are in your correct seat otherwise you may miss your name being read out and the opportunity to cross the stage. Additional tickets for guests and will also be issued to you on the day during your registration.  

Please note that all graduands will sit separately from their guests. The Hull City Hall’s Health and Safety regulations require that all participants and guests at the ceremonies must be seated.

Children‍

The ceremony is a lengthy formal event, which can be unsuitable for young children. We do of course encourage you to bring along children to experience the day with you, out of respect for other guests we request that small children and babies should be taken outside if they become unsettled during the ceremony so as not to disturb proceedings.  

Children over two years of age must have their own seat in the venue and therefore need to be included in your ticket allocation. Children under the age of two must be kept on a guest’s knee for the duration of the ceremony. Please note prams and pushchairs will not be permitted inside the Main Hall.

Format for the Day‍

The Ceremony will commence at 1:30pm with a number of introductory speeches from a range of speakers before graduands will be conferred their degrees. We anticipate the ceremony will be finished by 3:30pm, so if you do want to make plans for afterwards then do so after this time. All students and guests must stay for the full ceremony. Please note that the bars at the venue will be closed during the ceremony.  

What Happens on the Day of Your Graduation?‍

This is a formal occasion so please dress in smart, presentable attire. All graduands are required to wear full academic dress for the ceremony (gown, hood and cap). Please note that you will not be able to pass across the stage if you are not dressed appropriately.

When arriving at the City Hall, you will enter via the Paragon Street entrance and make your way up to the Mortimer Suite to register, please make sure you sign in.

The official photographers will be in the Mortimer Suite and we suggest you are photographed immediately after being dressed as there may not be the opportunity once the ceremony has finished.

You should be seated in the Main Hall half an hour (by 1pm) before the ceremony commences. There will be staff on hand to show you to your allocated seat.

At the opening and close of the ceremony, please stand whilst the platform party process in and out of the Main Hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to attend the award ceremony?
You will only be allowed to graduate if your award has been confirmed by the Board of Examiners.

When and where do I register and get my gown etc?
You will be notified of the start time of the ceremony here and when making your booking. You should allow two hours prior to the start time of the event to register, collect your gown and have photographs taken. You will be required to take your seat 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

I can’t make the date of my graduation - can I swap to a different day?
Unfortunately, the date for graduation is set, you may be able to attend the following year but you would need to arrange this with HE Quality and Registry.

Is there anything I need to do in preparation for my graduation?
Yes, you should have already confirmed your attendance and hire (or purchase) of your gown using the online booking system through William Northam. Please ensure that your correct correspondence address is recorded at the college.

How many guests can I bring?
You will have been allocated two free guest tickets. Due to capacity restrictions at the venue, we are unable to issue extra tickets until after the closing date (21st October) and final attendee numbers have already been confirmed.  

When should I expect my tickets to arrive?
You will receive an e-ticket when making the booking through William Northam. You will also be issued tickets on the day of the ceremony when you arrive to register with your allocated seat number and for your guests.

I am (or a member of my graduation party) is disabled, what should I do?
You should have already indicated on your booking form if either you or any of your guests are disabled. It was important to inform us of this when making the booking so that special seating arrangements could be made if required.

What if my plans change and I can’t attend my degree ceremony?
Please contact HE Quality and Registry as soon as possible via HERegistry@hull-college.ac.uk.

My friend has not received any graduation information; can I let them have mine?
Please do not pass this graduation information to other people - there may be a particular reason why they haven’t received any. They should contact HE Quality and Registry via email - HERegistry@hull-college.ac.uk - to find out why.

What will the timings of the ceremony be on the day?

10am: Pick up robes from Hull City Hall

10:30am: Get your photographs taken at Hull City Hall

12:30pm: City Hall doors open for guests  

1pm: Graduands and guests to take their seats in the Main Hall  

1:30pm: Ceremony starts  

3:30pm: Ceremony finishes

4:30pm: Gowns to be returned

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