Graduation FAQ's

The Graduation ceremony will take place on Friday 28 November 2025 at 12.30pm.

The ceremony will take place at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, E17 4JF. It is approximately a 15-20 minute walk from Walthamstow Central station. A map will be provided prior to the ceremony.

We hope we don't need to make any changes, but sometimes this cannot be avoided.

If we do need to make any changes to the ceremony's schedule, we will inform anyone affected as soon as possible.

The ceremony will be streamed live via YouTube. Be sure to check back soon for the 2025 ceremony playlist link.

Graduates

We'll send you regular emails, to your student email address, advising you on how to prepare for graduation, when to book your tickets, your gown and other relevant information. We will also update the graduation web pages regularly with information.

Guests

If you're a guest attending a graduation ceremony, find out how to prepare by exploring our guest information page.

Our supplier, Graduation Attire, has a dedicated booking page where graduates can book graduation attire.

Book Gowning

As a graduate, you can check details about the eligibility criteria to attend graduation on our graduation pages.

If you're still unsure or have any concerns about your eligibility contact studentlifelondon@port.ac.uk.

Please contact us at londongraduation@port.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.

Your entitlement to attend graduation depends on your course of study, and your eligibility to attend is based on your academic achievement. Details on eligibility can be found on our graduation page.

In general, if you are studying a course at the University of Portsmouth London, you should be entitled to attend a graduation ceremony:

• A Bachelor’s Ordinary Degree or a Degree with Honours, of Arts (BA), Science (BSc), Engineering (BEng), Law (LLB), Nursing (BN) or Economics (BSc Econ);
• A Master’s or an Integrated Master’s degree 
• A CertEd, CertHE, HNC or HND
• A DipHE
• A FdA or FdEng
• A PGCert, PGCE, GradDip or PGDip
• MPhil or PhD 
• Professional Doctorate

In some cases, if you are studying at one of our partner institutions, you may also be entitled to attend a University of Portsmouth graduation ceremony. You should check with your home institution first.

For any other queries about whether your course of study entitles you to attend a graduation ceremony or about academic eligibility, please contact londongraduation@port.ac.uk.

If you can’t or don't want to attend graduation, graduates should complete the Absentia and Deferral form available on the home page of University of Portsmouth London - Graduation Gown Hire.

Please note that the times listed on the schedule are the start times for the ceremony.

To ensure a smooth and stress-free experience, we kindly ask that graduates and guests arrive with plenty of time to spare. The doors of the Assembly Hall will open about one hour before the ceremony begins and you should be seated 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. If you or your guests are late arriving you may not be allowed into the ceremony.

We understand that you may have many questions as the ceremony day approaches, and we’re here to keep you informed.

As we get closer to the ceremony dates, we’ll be updating the website with more detailed information to help graduates and guests prepare. Please check back regularly, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need any support in the meantime.

If both courses are eligible, graduates can celebrate achievements for each course if they fall in the same year. Graduates should receive an invitation from the Graduation Team to book a ticket for each course studied.

Partner institutions may hold their own graduation ceremonies. The Graduation team will be in contact if you are eligible to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Portsmouth.

If you have a query about your eligibility to attend a University of Portsmouth graduation ceremony, contact the home institution for more details, or contact the Graduation Team on londongraduation@port.ac.uk.

Graduates will not be able to attend graduation with any outstanding tuition fees or other University-related debt, such as library fines or halls fees.

Any outstanding debt should be settled before 14 Nov 2025 and graduates can make payments via Student View.

Make a payment

Graduates can also contact the finance team by email at income@port.ac.uk, or by calling +44 (0) 23 9284 5533.

We appreciate managing debt can be challenging and stressful. Support and advice is available from our Student Support Services team by contacting them below.

Email us Call us

We will consider requests to defer attendance at graduation in exceptional circumstances, such as (but not limited to):

• Bereavement
• Illness (you or a family member)
• Deployment
• Jury service

Deferral would usually only be granted for one academic year.

A deferral will not normally be granted due to attendance at other events (such as holidays).

Requesting a deferral

Graduates due to graduate this year will be able to submit a deferral request.

Evidence of exceptional circumstances must be provided, and supporting documents can be uploaded when filling in the form.  Deferrals should be submitted before the booking system closes.

To request a deferral, submit your request before the booking system closes. If you missed last year's graduation or have any issues after 7th Nov that will affect your attendance at graduation, contact the graduation team to discuss your options. Note that decisions are made on behalf of the Academic Registrar and are final.

Ticket bookings will open at the end of September 2025. At this time, graduates will be able to confirm attendance and book two complimentary guest tickets for the ceremony.

Tickets can be booked here. Please note that graduates must book a place for themselves as well as for their guests.

We appreciate that graduates may want to bring extended family, including children. Please bear in mind that ceremonies are formal events that last up to an hour and a half, and this can be challenging for young children to sit through. Children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult guest (18 or over).

Book on the Student Portal

The deadline for guaranteeing a place at this year’s graduation ceremonies is 17 Oct 2025.

If graduates do not book a place by the deadline, we cannot guarantee a space will be available on the same ceremony as fellow coursemates. 

It may be possible to purchase additional tickets if there is capacity at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall at a later date. If additional tickets are available, these will be on sale no later than 22 Oct 2025.

When ticket bookings open on 30 Sept 2025, graduates will be able to book complimentary tickets for themselves and two guests. Please note that graduates will not be sitting with guests during the ceremony.

Once the initial booking period closes on 17 Oct 2025, we will email graduates if additional guest tickets are available to purchase.

Ticket bookings will re-open no later than 22 Oct 2025. Additional tickets will cost £20 for persons aged 15 and over and £5 for those under 15. To give everybody the same opportunity, additional tickets, where available, will initially be limited to two guests per student. Additional tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Please do not wait until you know your results to book tickets, formal photography and/or academic dress. If graduates do not book tickets before the deadline, we cannot guarantee a space at a ceremony with fellow coursemates.

If graduates can’t attend a graduation ceremony due to academic reasons, a full refund from the University and its external providers will be issued.

Please bear in mind that the ceremony is a formal occasion and lasts for around 1-1.5 hours. Depending on whether a child is comfortable sitting for that long, guests with young children may wish to watch the ceremony live online. 

The ceremony will be live-streamed on the University’s YouTube channel for any guests who are unable to attend in person. 

There is no space for prams/pushchairs in the main auditorium, and these will need to be left in the reception area of the Walthamstow Assembly.

Please note that children cannot be left unattended and must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. First guest tickets must be an adult ticket (15 and over). Please be aware that children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult guest over the age of 18 (unfortunately, graduates can't supervise children, as guests are seated in a different area of the auditorium). Children are not permitted to sit in the student seating area. The safety and well-being of children are the responsibility of accompanying adults. Children cannot be cared for by the University of Portsmouth London or Walthamstow Assembly Hall members of staff. Children are not allowed to accompany graduates across the stage.

If graduates or guests need specific seating or need help accessing the venue, let us know when you book your tickets by using the ‘additional requirements’ fields. We’ll do our best to accommodate your request. .

If graduates or guests have a registered carer, we’ll provide an additional free companion ticket. Let us know if you need a companion ticket by providing details in the ‘additional requirements’ field when booking guest tickets.

We may contact graduates to confirm exactly what requirements are needed so you have the best possible experience on the day.
If graduates or guests use a wheelchair, let us know by using the ‘additional requirements’ field when you book your tickets.

If graduates haven’t booked tickets by the deadline, please contact the Graduation team on londongraduation@port.ac.uk.

It may not be possible for graduates to attend a ceremony if tickets are not booked within the ticket booking period.

To cancel tickets, graduates should log in to the student booking portal.

If graduates have made any other bookings, such as for gown hire or photography, please remember to cancel them. Refunds for these services are handled directly by the respective companies, and the University cannot be held responsible for any funds lost. We encourage you to reach out to those companies as soon as possible to discuss options.

Any graduate who is unable to attend a graduation ceremony due to academic reasons will automatically receive a full refund of any monies paid to the University or any of its external suppliers.  

Otherwise, refunds will only be given in exceptional circumstances such as bereavement, illness (family member or graduate), deployment, visa refusal, or jury service. As a rule, refunds will not be given if graduates decide to attend another event (such as a holiday or wedding) rather than graduation.  

If graduates make any other bookings, such as for gown hire or photography, please remember to cancel them. Refunds for these services are handled directly by the respective companies, and the University cannot be held responsible for any funds lost. We encourage you to reach out to those companies as soon as possible to discuss options.

Any request for a refund should be submitted within 30 days of the last graduation ceremony by contacting the Graduation team at londongraduation@port.ac.uk. Supporting evidence will be required for the refund to be considered.  

All refunds will be credited to the account used when making the original payment.

Academic reasons

If you’re unable to attend your Graduation ceremony due to academic reasons, you’ll automatically receive a full refund of any monies paid to the University or any of its external suppliers. (This doesn’t include if you’re eligible to attend the Graduation ceremony if you’ve been awarded an Ordinary Degree.)

Visa reasons

If graduates or any guests receive a visa refusal, graduates should cancel the relevant tickets via the Student booking portal and upload evidence of the visa refusal. We’ll then review the request for a refund of your ticket bookings. You will need to arrange for refunds with other companies e.g. academic dress and photography suppliers. 

Exceptional circumstances
Exceptional circumstances that could result in a refund include (but are not limited to):

• Bereavement
• Illness
• Deployment
• Jury service

To request a refund for exceptional circumstances, cancel the relevant tickets via the Student booking portal  You may be requested to provide supporting evidence of the exceptional circumstances. We’ll then review the request for a refund.

Our official gowning company is Graduation Attire.

Bookings will open in Sept 2025. Graduates will receive an email from the Graduation team when the booking system is available. As our official gowning company, Graduation Attire has an in-depth knowledge of the University’s academic attire requirements and will provide the correct gown and hood based on the award.

It is recommended that graduates hire or purchase the appropriate academic dress as soon as possible after the booking system opens. This ensures enough time to correct any errors and answer any queries. The booking system will close on 27 Oct 2025. Whilst graduates may be able to book academic attire after this date, it is likely to incur a late booking fee.

If graduates do not book academic dress in good time, we cannot guarantee that the appropriate academic dress will be available on the day. Availability on the day is not guaranteed, and costs may be different from the advance booking prices.

Academic dress will be available for collection in advance of graduation ceremonies. Graduation Attire staff will be on hand in Waltham Forest Town Hall to assist with gowning. 

We recommend you give yourself at least an hour to collect and get dressed in your academic attire. Graduates will also receive a text when the academic dress is ready to collect.

More detailed information will be available on the Graduation Attire booking site, once you start your booking

The prices below are for Graduation 2025 and are for guidance only:

Bachelors gowns

• Day hire: £39.60
• Extended hire*: £75.00
• Purchase: £150.00

Masters gowns

• Day hire: £39.60
• Extended hire*: £75.00
• Purchase: £162.00

PhD gowns

• Day hire: £45.00
• Extended hire*: £80.00
• Purchase: £210.00

*Extended hire means returning your gown using the pre-paid Royal Mail bag within 7 days of your ceremony.

Graduation is a formal event, so we recommend graduates and guests dress smartly, however, it is also important that you are comfortable and can move easily.

Gowns and hoods often come with a button loop at the front. This enables graduates to secure the attire to a top button and stops it from sliding backwards. Safety pins are a handy thing to bring if you are planning on wearing something with no buttons!

Ideally, we would like graduates to pre-book photography packages online as this will save time on the day. 

Even if photography has not been booked, do come along on the day of the ceremony with family/guests to the studios, which will be located in the reception of Waltham Forest Town Hall. Note, there may be a short wait time for a studio to be available. We strongly recommend you have your photographs taken before the ceremony as there will be limited time afterwards. Studio photography closes at 3.15pm.

Book Photography

Please note that Graduation Attire pays the University a commission. This is standard across the university sector. This commission is reinvested by the University into the running and organisation of the graduation event.

All Graduation Attire’s photographers are experts and will know how to get the best pictures. Listen carefully to the photographer's instructions and try not to be distracted by others.

The photography packages allow up to two "poses", with the opportunity to arrange additional "poses" on the day of the event by consulting with the photography team. 

Graduation Attire’s photographers will capture a variety of shots for each "pose", offering a selection of images to choose from.

We recommend that there be no more than seven people in a group picture.  

Groups with more than seven individuals (graduates included) will be charged an additional £25.00. The maximum number of people we can accommodate in a single photograph is fifteen.

This policy ensures that each person is professionally positioned against the backdrop for optimal presentation. For those wanting to have larger groups, we recommend contacting the customer service team at service@graduationattire.co.uk in advance of the ceremony for further advice

Group photographs take time as everyone needs to be ready to have their picture taken.

Make sure everyone is listening to the photographer as they direct everyone where to stand or sit (if required) for the photograph, and when they are ready to take the pictures, everyone must stop talking, and look towards the photographer.

Student speakers commit to engage in a professional process, speaking on behalf of their cohort to celebrate their time at university, and their achievements, and to thank the University and its services on behalf of all the students at the ceremony. 

To be selected, speeches need to fulfil certain requirements, and speakers will be asked to attend a series of training events.

As part of the application process, an outline of what you would like to say must be provided.

To be successful, the Student Speech needs to reflect some key elements, which are outlined below.

• Speeches should be no more than two minutes in length.
• Selected speakers understand that they are speaking on behalf of all graduates attending the ceremony to celebrate and thank the University.
• Speeches should show appreciation of positive experiences, achievement, the University, academics and professional service staff.
• The content and vocabulary used should be positive, appreciative, uplifting, and suitable for a formal celebratory ceremony.
• Speeches can use your personal experience, but it must be brief and used to highlight positive experiences and/or feelings which apply, as far as possible, to all graduates attending.
• Speeches must not refer to individual family members, staff or others.
• Speeches must not thank “families and friends” or “loved ones” or refer to their presence at the ceremony (as some graduates won’t have anyone to celebrate with).
• Jokes must not be included, but humour is encouraged as long as it fits the tone and formality of the occasion and is accessible to all.
• The complexity of the ceremony means that visual aids or other items should not be used.
• Avoid American examples of student speeches and speech-writing how-to instructions. These are not in line with UK student speeches.

Please note the University reserves the right to require amendments to content which does not meet the terms of the speech, or withdraw speakers if they have difficulties adhering to the terms of the speech.