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Ceremony 1 (9:30 Ceremony)

Arrive at City Campus for academic dress collection and photography: Between 7:00 and 8:30

Walk to the Cathedral: 20 minutes

Arrive at the Cathedral by: 9:00

All Graduates and Guests seated in Cathedral by: 9:15

Ceremony: 9:30 to 11:00

Walk back to City Campus: 20 minutes

Reception at City Campus: 11:30 to 1:00

Ceremony 2 (12:00 Ceremony)

Arrive at City Campus for academic dress collection and photography: Between 9:30am and 11:00

Walk to the Cathedral: 20 minutes

Arrive at the Cathedral by: 11:30

Ceremony: 12:00 to 1:30

Walk back to City Campus: 20 minutes

Reception at City Campus: 2:00 to 3:30

Depart City Campus: 3:30

Ceremony 3 (2:30 Ceremony)

Arrive at City Campus for academic dress collection and photography: Between 12:00 and 1:30

Walk to the Cathedral: 20 minutes

Arrive at the Cathedral by: 2:00

All Graduates and Guests seated in Cathedral by: 2:15

Ceremony: 2:30 to 4:00

Walk back to City Campus: 20 minutes

Reception at City Campus: 4:30 to 6:00

Depart City Campus: 6:00

Ceremony 4 (4:45 Ceremony, Tuesday only)

Arrive at City Campus for gown collection and photography: Between 2:15 and 3:45

Walk to the Cathedral: 20 minutes

Arrive at the Cathedral by: 4:15

All Graduates and Guests seated in Cathedral by: 4:30

Ceremony: 4:45 to 6:15

Walk back to City Campus: 20 minutes

Reception at City Campus: 6:45 to 8:15

Depart City Campus: 8:15

Arrival at City Campus

You should aim to arrive at the City Campus about 2 hours before your ceremony. This will give you time to collect your gown, have your photograph taken and make your way to the Cathedral. Your guests can stay with you while you do this. 

Gowning will take place in the Charles Hastings building while photography will happen in the Jenny Lind building. You can view a map of the robing area here.

There will be plenty of signage and staff on site to direct you.

Collecting your gown and tickets

The first thing you should do when you arrive is to collect your tickets and your academic gown and mortar board (cap). 

Staff will be ready to take your name and to give you your specially reserved gown. Your guests can stay with you while you do this.

Collecting your tickets

When you collect your gown, you will also collect tickets for you and your guests. Please keep your tickets with you, as you and your guests will need them at the Cathedral and to access the reception. 

Photography

Once you’ve got your gown on, it’s time for your official photography. Follow the signs to the photography studios, which are in the Jenny Lind building. You should have booked your photography in advance, so you simply need to arrive at the studio. Your guests are also very welcome to join you for the photographs. You can view a map of the photography area here.

You can bring a small number of extra friends and family with you for the professional photography (even if they are not attending the ceremony).

You can find out more on the 

If you have chosen not to have photographs, you will be directed out of the building and can make your way directly to the Cathedral.

You are very welcome to take your own photographs on campus, including against the stunning backdrop of the historic Charles Hastings and Mulberry House buildings. The Cathedral does not allow indoor photography.

Facilities at the City Campus

The City Campus has toilets, including disabled toilets, which will be open throughout the day.

Refreshments including tea and coffee will be available to purchase at the City Campus.

Staff will be available across the site, but if you need urgent help, please visit the Main Reception desk in the Charles Hastings Building.  

Travel to the Cathedral (graduates and guests)

Once you have collected your gown and tickets and finished your photographs, it’s time to make your way to the Cathedral.

You will need to be at the Cathedral at least 30 minutes before your ceremony. This gives you time to get checked in and seated.  

Graduates and guests will need to make their own way to the Cathedral and we expect that the majority of people will walk or wheel. The route is 0.8 miles (this is the same distance as travelling from the St. John’s reception to the Arena, to give you a sense of timing). It should take you about 15- 20 minutes to walk. , but you can of course use any route you wish.

If you need/prefer to drive, the link below indicates the nearest public pay and display car parks. There is no parking or drop off at the Cathedral itself.

Find out more at 

Guest seating at the Cathedral is on a first come, first served basis, so your guests will be able to choose where they sit.

Arrival at the Cathedral

You should arrive at the Cathedral at least half an hour before your ceremony.

When you arrive at the Cathedral, you will be directed to the ‘North door’. There will be staff outside the Cathedral to help direct you and answer questions.

There is no parking or drop off available at the Cathedral itself. If you are driving, you will need to park at a public pay and display car park. If you need to be dropped off, you are recommended to stop in the King Street Car Park and make your way up Severn Street to the ‘North door’.

Once you are in the Cathedral, in order to respect the wishes of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral you are requested to remove your mortar board whilst inside the Cathedral.

Seating for Graduates

When you arrive at the Cathedral, staff will guide you in. All Graduates sit together.  You will sit in an assigned seat - this will be allocated and you’ll receive your seat number details prior to the ceremony. This ensures that you are called up to the platform at the right moment. Seating at the Cathedral is mainly fixed and mostly wooden chairs or pews.

Seating for Guests

When you arrive at the Cathedral, staff will guide your guests in. Your guests are able to choose their seats, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you indicated a special requirement when you booked (i.e. a wheelchair space, for example), our staff will be expecting you and will be able to assist. Seating at the Cathedral is mainly fixed and mostly wooden chairs or pews

What happens during the ceremony?

During the ceremony, there will be speeches from University and Cathedral staff.

The highlight of the ceremony is the presentation of the graduates. A staff member will call you up from your seat at the right moment. When your name is read out, you will cross the stage and have a photograph taken. There is often lots of enthusiastic clapping!

You will need to access and exit the stage via a short ramp, so please remember this when choosing your footwear.

Once you have collected your certificate, staff members will direct you around the Cathedral and back to your seat. We plan to broadcast each ceremony via a live, online video stream, allowing friends and family who are not able to join to access this link from anywhere for free, including on a mobile device. This will be available to view on our website for two weeks after graduation week. All graduates attending the graduation ceremony will be filmed on stage as part of this live broadcast.

Photography in the Cathedral

You are not permitted to take photographs inside the Cathedral.

A professional photographer will take your photo when you cross the stage and you will be able to view and purchase this image, if you wish, through the 

You will be able to take your own photos when you return to the City Campus. 

Facilities at the Cathedral

There are , near the entrance to the Cathedral.  These will be well-signposted.

There is a hearing loop available during the ceremonies and staff will be able to advise you on this.

Find out more about the .

Leaving the Cathedral

When the ceremony concludes, there will be a short procession of staff from the stage, who will lead everyone out. Ushers will indicate when it is time for your row to stand and make your way out of the Cathedral.

When you leave the Cathedral, it’s very important that you continue to walk forward (i.e., not waiting by the doors) so that everyone can easily make their way out of the building.

You will have time to take photographs with fellow Graduates if you wish, but our staff will be encouraging everyone to begin their walk back to the City Campus as soon as possible.

Travelling back to the City Campus

Immediately following the ceremony, you and your guests should make your way back to the City Campus for your reception.  from the Cathedral to City Campus.

You will need to enter the City Campus at the bottom of the site, through the railway arches by The Hive. Staff and student ambassadors will be available to help direct you. 

Reception location

The reception will be held outdoors at the City Campus, in a series of large marquees.

You will need to enter the City Campus at the bottom of the site, by The Hive, through the railway arches. Staff and student ambassadors will be available to help direct you. 

Reception timings

Depending on how quickly you return from the Cathedral, you should have about an hour at the reception.

Your schedule will indicate a departure time for you and your guests. As we are managing site numbers carefully you will need to leave the site at your appointed time, so we are ready to welcome the next ceremony. 

Can additional guests join me at the reception?

Additional guests are able to join you at the post-ceremony reception at City Campus, but only you and your ticketed guests will be able to receive a complementary glass of fizz. Please have your ticket ready to show at the reception.

Do I have to attend the reception?

You do not have to attend your reception. You are very welcome to make your own plans following the ceremony, but it is essential that you promptly return your academic gown and cap to the City Campus. 

What’s happening at the reception?

The reception is a friendly, informal drinks reception, which will give you a chance to spend time with classmates and staff.

There will be covered marquees, with live music and a limited bar as well as opportunity to purchase your ceremony photograph and ½Û×Ó¶ÌÊÓƵ merchandise.

The reception also offers you the chance to take your own photographs in your cap and gown.

Available facilities at the reception

The reception will be hosted in marquees.

There are toilets, including disabled toilets on the reception site as well as in Mulberry House, the Charles Hastings Building and The Hive library.  These will be well-signposted. 

Returning your academic gown

Gown return is located at the City Campus and will be signposted.

Accessing assistance

If you need help on the day, look out for our many friendly staff and student ambassadors: most will either be wearing a blue student ambassador t-shirt, or a red academic gown, so they will be easy to spot!

If you have an emergency or require first-aid assistance, please report to the main reception desk at the City Campus. You can also telephone main reception on 01905 855 000.

Accessing the livestream broadcast

We plan to broadcast each ceremony via a live, online video stream, allowing friends and family who are not able to join to access this link from anywhere for free, including on a mobile device. This will be available to view on our website for two weeks after graduation week. All graduates attending the graduation ceremony will be filmed on stage as part of this live broadcast. We’ll also be hosting this in a room within the Charles Hastings building.

Follow us on social media

You can follow us on social media throughout the week, where we will be posting lots of stories, pictures, interviews and updates every day. Follow us using #WorcGrad

Please stay in touch and share your content with us!

Our local newspaper, the Worcester News, will also be covering Graduation. You can purchase a paper, or read the . 

Be part of the Alumni association

The Alumni Association is here to help you keep in touch with the University and with each other – you’ll be part of a worldwide network with thousands of other former students.

As one of our graduates, we’d love to keep you informed about careers support, alumni benefits, our suite of events and exciting opportunities linked with the University that you may be interested in. We also want to hear your news! We can help you keep in touch with old friends too.

Whether through practical or advisory involvement, the support and interest of our graduates makes a real difference to the experience of current and future students.

Get in touch with us at alumni@worc.ac.uk or search for us on Facebook. 

Careers Advisory Service

The University’s Careers and Advisory Service is here to support you after graduation.

We offer graduates:

• Advice & guidance
• Job vacancies
• CVs and application support
• Mock interviews

Contact us at: careers@worc.ac.uk , 01905 855166 and find out more on our .