July 2022 graduation ceremonies

Before the day 

Watch the ceremonies live

Eligibility and registration

The scheduled July ceremonies for week commencing 25 July are for undergraduates who completed Summer 2021 or were conferred between August 2021 and January 2022. Postgraduate Taught graduates who were conferred in absentia in January 2022. Research graduates who were conferred in absentia in January 2022 or awarded before the cut off date of the end of March.

Registration has now closed.

If you find you can no longer attend please cancel your place here.

Robe hire

It is a University regulation that all those being presented at a ceremony wear the correct academic dress. You should hire or purchase these directly from the official robe makers for the University, Ede & Ravenscroft.

Robe hire has now closed.

Robing opening times

Robes will be available for collection from Uni Central on Level 4 of the Student Union Building at the following times: 

9.30am ceremonies - 7.30am to 8.45am
12.15pm ceremonies - 9.15am to 11.30am
3.45pm ceremonies - 12.15pm to 3.00pm

Robes need to be returned by 6.00pm Monday to Thursday.  4.00pm Friday.

Cancelling your robe hire

If you find that you cannot attend your ceremony, Ede & Ravenscroft will refund your gown hire payment, but will charge a small administration fee, provided that they receive your claim for refund 7 full days before the date of your ceremony.

You can cancel your order using the 'Review/Amend/Cancel' option on their website. Please note that for security reasons, Ede & Ravenscroft cannot accept cancellations over the telephone.

Dress code

The ceremonies are formal occasions and we recommend that candidates dress smartly. We welcome national dress and military uniforms. Jeans, t-shirts, trainers and similar casual attire are not considered appropriate for graduation ceremonies.

Robe types and hood colours

Please note: Ede and Ravenscroft use stock images on their website and therefore pictures shown are not necessarily representative of the outfit you will receive.  See below for examples of the University of Sheffield different types of robes, robe colours and hoods for each level of study and department:

Academic dress examples (PDF, 743kb)

Contact details for Ede & Ravenscroft

Telephone: +44 1223 861 854.
Email: student@edeandravenscroft.co.uk
Web: www.edeandravenscroft.co.uk/graduation-services

Please note that for security reasons, Ede & Ravenscroft cannot accept cancellations over the telephone.

Your name

Ensure your name is printed and pronounced correctly on your graduation day.

At graduation your forename and surname (as held on your student record) will be announced as you cross the platform. If you have a name that is frequently mis-pronounced, you may wish to provide guidance on how your name should be said correctly. The information you provide will then be added to the presenter's script.

Name pronunciation has now closed.

Tickets and seat allocation

E-ticket download

Download your e-tickets here

Please ensure you have read the graduates instructions

Guaranteed tickets

Two guest tickets are guaranteed for each graduate attending if requested at the time of registration. This is in addition to your own ticket of admission as a graduate. These two guest tickets are only guaranteed if you request them when you register for graduation and your registration is received by the deadline of Monday 16 May.

Additional tickets

Graduates were notified about extra tickets by email. 

Ceremony schedule

The full schedule can be found here

Terms and conditions

Cancellation or postponement of the event

While every effort will be made to host graduation ceremonies as planned, the University may cancel, delay, or postpone its graduation ceremonies due to circumstances beyond its control or where ceremonies can no longer reasonably or safely take place.

In the event of any postponement or cancellation, the University will communicate this clearly on its website and will contact each attending student directly with as much notice as is reasonably practical.  

The University will not be liable for any costs incurred by either the graduand or guests due to postponement or cancellation of the event.  This includes, but is not limited to, travel, accommodation and subsistence costs or any loss of business or earnings.  

Therefore, the University strongly advises that graduands and their guests ensure they have sufficient insurance protection to cover any losses they may incur as a result of postponement or cancellation of ceremonies and book flexible rates for travel and accommodation wherever possible.

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Data Protection

Publication of names

The names of graduating students will be printed in the graduation programme which is available to all ticketed guests on the day.  If you would like your name removed from this publication, you must advise the Events Team in writing. Please email rescheduled-graduation@sheffield.ac.uk giving your full name, student registration number and award title and clearly confirm that you wish to be removed from the programme.

We do not print degree classification in the graduation programme.

Digital media

Graduation video - The ceremony proceedings are filmed and the recording is available to purchase after the ceremony. By electing to take part in the ceremony proceedings, you are giving permission for your image to be recorded.

Graduation live web cast of the ceremony - The graduation ceremonies are broadcast live over the University web site. By electing to take part in the ceremony proceedings, you are giving permission for your image to be recorded and broadcasted.

Photography - Professional photographers will be on campus during graduation and their photographs may be used in the university's future promotional literature. By electing to take part in the ceremony proceedings, you are giving permission for your image to be photographed and used.

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Academic robes

By confirming your attendance at graduation, you the graduand confirm that you agree to wear official University of Sheffield academic robes provided by our robing company Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd at the ceremony.

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Graduand and guest conduct

Graduands and guests are expected to behave in a manner fitting for the occasion. Any person who becomes disruptive will be asked to leave the hall.

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Children

Children are very welcome at graduation but those over the age of 2 must have their own ticket of entry and occupy their own seat.  We regret that children are not permitted onto the platform.

Visas

Information relating to visas for graduation can be found here.

Checklist

Before the day

Task	Deadline
Register to confirm if you wish to attend your graduation ceremony	16 May
Ensure the name pronunciation form has been completed (if relevant)	17 June
Ensure you have read all information on visas (if applicable)
Order your robes from Ede & Ravenscroft	1 July
Download your e-tickets containing seat numbers for you and your guests	2.00pm 19 July
Ensure you've read the 'graduands instructions' for detailed instructions about the ceremony (below)	Day before your ceremony

On the day

Task	Deadline
Ensure you have downloaded your e-tickets showing your seat numbers. You can either print the tickets out or show them on a mobile device	Before you leave home
Ensure you have a copy of your robe order confirmation	Before you leave home
If you have pre-paid for photographs, ensure you have a copy of your order confirmation	Before you leave home
Plan to arrive on campus absolutely no later than 90 minutes prior to the start time of your ceremony	90 minutes before ceremony start time
Collect your robe from Uni Central, Level 4, Students' Union	Robing timetable (above)
Have photographs taken	Photography timetable (below)
Arrive at the Octagon Centre, clear security and take your seat	Doors to the hall open 45 minutes prior to ceremony start time
Registration in the hall commences	40 minutes before ceremony
Doors to the hall will be closed. Any gradutes not seated will be marked as absent and removed from the presentation list. Any guest seats not taken will be reallocated	10 minutes before ceremony
Ceremony commences	Given ceremony start time
Ceremony ends	Ceremonies are approximately 45-60 minutes
Have photographs taken if you did not do this prior to your ceremony	6.00pm
Return your robes to Uni Central	6.00pm
Visit the Alumni Relations stand and collect your free goodie bag, mug and graduate guide	8.00am-5.30pm

On the day

Graduation locations and useful links

A map of all the key graduation locations and useful information for the day can be found here

Venue, travel and security

More information can be found here.

Graduates instructions

Graduate instructions are available here. Please read these page ahead of your ceremony. 

What happens in the ceremony

• Ceremonies last for around 45-60 minutes.

Before the ceremony

-Graduates need to be seated in the hall 40 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. This is because University marshals will undertake student registration from their seats. Graduates sit in the two front blocks, seat numbers are on all e-tickets. 

-Guests can sit anywhere in the guest section of the hall that is not marked with a reserved notice.

-There will be a keepsake graduation programme on all graduates seats. Programmes for guests can be found in the dispensers around the hall.

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During the ceremony

-Everyone will stand for the staff and officers processions. The two processions will make their way on to the stage.

-The Presiding Officer will declare the congregation open, ask graduates and guests to be seated and give a few words of welcome.

-University marshals will pull graduates out of their rows and re-check names. As graduates leave their seat they must ensure they follow the graduate immediately in front of them. Graduates must not change position in the queue.

-Once graduates are at the bottom of the stairs their names will be checked again. There will also be a member of the Ede and Ravenscroft robing team to check robes.

-Graduates will ascend a short flight of steps, with a handrail, onto the platform. Names will be checked again and then read out by the Presenter.

-Graduates will walk across the stage, doff their cap to the Presiding Officer and descend the steps at the other end of the stage.

-Once off the stage University stewards will direct graduates back to their seats.

-Some ceremonies will have a senate award, honorary degree or both. This is usually presented in the middle of the ceremony.

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After the ceremony

-After all graduates have been presented, the Presiding Officer will deliver a short closing speech.

-Following the speech, the Presiding Officer will declare the congregation closed and ask graduates and guests to stand for the exit of the staff and officer’s processions.

-Once the staff and officer’s processions have left, the University marshals will lead a graduate procession. The graduate procession will lead out to the Octagon Foyer or Octagon Bar area depending on the block.

-Once in the Foyer and bar area, graduates should leave the Octagon via the main doors and meet guests outside on the concourse.

Photography and souvenirs

Official photographs

The official graduation photographers are Ede & Ravenscroft Photography and you will find them located in the Students' Union on each day. You can pre-book photography when ordering your robes. The option to turn up on the day for photography is limited and cannot be guaranteed, as priority has been given to customers who have pre-ordered.  

A presentation photograph will be taken when you walk across the stage and this can be purchased from the Online Store.

Opening times:
Monday - 9.30am-6.30pm
Tuesday to Thursday - 7.30am - 6.30pm
Friday- 9.30am-3.30pm

Location:
Level 4 Students' Union

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Official graduation film

Your graduation ceremony will be recorded by the University and will be available for you to purchase on a USB memory stick. You can either pre-order your copy in advance or order from the sales desk on the day. You can purchase it after the event here.

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University gifts and souvenirs

University gifts and souvenirs are an excellent way to remember your time at the University of Sheffield. A full range of gifts and souvenirs, including 'Made in Sheffield' items, will be available for purchase in the foyer of the Octagon Centre throughout the week.

Dining and activities on campus

See where to eat and what is on offer throughout the week here.

Graduation live stream

All of the ceremonies will be live streamed here from Monday 25 July 2022.

Students' Union Auditorium

Each graduation ceremony will be broadcast live to the Auditorium, Students' Union to enable family and friends without tickets to see the ceremony. The Auditorium has tiered seating and 10 spaces for wheelchair users.

This facility may be particularly useful for guests with young children who may not be able to remain seated throughout the ceremony. Seats in the Auditorium are not allocated or ticketed and are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

It should be noted that whilst the Auditorium seats 400 people and does not normally reach capacity, the Events Team cannot be held responsible should seats be unavailable at busy times.

Honorary graduates 

Monday 25 July 2022 at 12.15 pm - Dame Alison Nimmo DBE

Dame Alison Nimmo is a world leader in economic and physical regeneration. She led the redevelopment of Manchester City Centre after the 1996 terrorist bombing. Moving to Sheffield to run its city-centre regeneration project, she later became a director of the London Olympic Delivery Authority, followed by eight years as CEO of The Crown Estate. Here she delivered significant sustainable development, making a major contribution to the UK’s success as one of the world’s largest providers of offshore wind energy.

Friday 29 July 2022 at 12.15 pm - Dr Alexzandra Hildred FSA

Dr Alexzandra Hildred is the Head of Research and Curator of Ordnance and Human Remains at the Mary Rose Trust, which is responsible for preserving, displaying and spreading knowledge of Henry VIII’s warship and its crew. A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BA Prehistory and Archaeology 1978), she joined the Trust as a volunteer diver in 1979 and has since made a tremendous contribution to our understanding of this unique 16th-century time capsule.

Information for guests

Family and friends attending may find these pages useful to read before the day.