Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ceremony for my course?
We will be holding the graduation ceremonies for students who studied at Ipswich, London School of Commerce (UK campuses), LD Training, Suffolk New College, Unicaf, Unitas, and all SCITT providers, from Saturday 19 October to Thursday 24 October 2024 on the Ipswich Waterfront. Details of the exact date and time for your graduation ceremony will be published in the summer.
 

Where are the graduation ceremonies being held?
The graduation ceremonies are being held on the beautiful waterfront in Ipswich, the home of the University of Suffolk. Registration, gowning and photography will take place in the Waterfront Building and the ceremony itself will be held in the Grand Marquee on the waterfront next to the James Hehir Building.
 

Is there parking at the Waterfront?
If you are travelling to your graduation ceremony by car, you will need to park in one of the public car parks in Ipswich. The closest car park is in Duke Street (IP3 0AQ). Further information about car parking and public transport in Ipswich is available on the Ipswich Borough Council website. Please remember that the University car parks are for permit holders only. The University car parks are managed by Ipserv and ANPR cameras are in operation. If you do not have a valid 2024/25 permit for the car you are travelling in and you park in one of the University car parks, you will be fined.
 

Where do I go when I get to the Waterfront?
On arrival, you should go to the registration desk in the foyer of the University's Waterfront Building. After you have registered, you can collect your gown and have any official photographs taken in the studios based in Lecture Theatre 2. Once gowned, you should follow the directions along the waterfront to the Grand Marquee for your graduation ceremony.
 

What time do I need to arrive?
You are advised to arrive at least an hour before your ceremony is due to start. The registration desk in the foyer of the Waterfront Building will open an hour and a half before the scheduled start time. The Grand Marquee will open an hour before your ceremony is due to start for you and your guests to start taking your seats.

I haven’t previously registered my interest in attending my graduation ceremony. Is it too late?
If you have not registered your interest in attending your graduation ceremony by noon on Tuesday 24 September 2024, then unfortunately it is likely that you will not be able to attend and your award will be conferred in your absence.
 

Having registered my interest in attending my graduation ceremony, do I need to do anything else?
Yes. After completing your graduation registration form and registering your interest in attending, you will be sent information about how to order your gown and purchase your tickets through the Marston Events booking portal. All guest tickets must be purchased in advance through the Marston Events portal, and you must also order your gown in advance and at least 10 days before the graduation ceremonies begin.
 

I registered my interest in attending, but I have decided not to attend. Do I need to let you know?
Yes please. If you are no longer able to attend, or have decided not to attend, please email the Graduation Office as soon as possible so that we can update your record accordingly and remove your name from the list of potential attendees.
 

How much does it cost to attend?
All graduating students attending their graduation ceremony must wear the correct academic dress for their award. Gowns must be hired from Marston Events, the official gown suppliers for the University. The cost of hiring your academic dress is £39 for undergraduate awards and £44 for postgraduate awards when ordered in advance. There is no charge for your student ticket for the ceremony, but all guest tickets cost £5 each.
 

Can I swap to another graduation ceremony if the date and time of my ceremony is inconvenient or if I am unable to attend on the day?
No. You are invited to attend a particular ceremony and it is not possible to swap to another ceremony or defer attendance to a future year. If you are unable to attend your designated ceremony, your award will be conferred in your absence. 
 

Do I have to attend my graduation ceremony?
You do not have to attend your graduation ceremony in order to graduate. Your award will still be conferred even if you do not attend. If you are unable to attend or do not wish to attend your ceremony in person, you will graduate in absentia (i.e. your award will be conferred at the graduation ceremony in your absence). If you had previously registered your interest in attending your graduation ceremony but no longer wish to attend, please let the Graduation Office know as soon as possible.
 

I will be coming from overseas; what can I use to support my visitor visa application?
You can use either your email inviting you to complete the graduation registration form or your email confirming that you have completed the graduation registration form as evidence that you are invited to your graduation ceremony, and these emails can be used to support your visitor visa application. These emails are sent to your personal email address and your @uos.ac.uk email address, and you can also download a copy from your correspondence history in OASIS. You can also include links to the information on the graduation webpages as evidence of the date, time and venue for your graduation ceremony. If you have had confirmation that you have successfully completed your studies but have not yet received the email inviting you to complete the graduation registration form, you should be able to use relevant documentation showing the completion of your studies along with information on the graduation webpages to support your visitor visa application.
We do not routinely provide invitation letters as these are not listed as a requirement for a visitor visa application on the UKVI website. However, if you are specifically asked for an invitation letter by your embassy, please email the Graduation Office. We cannot provide the invitation letter until you have been invited to complete the graduation registration form.

How much do guest tickets cost?
Tickets for all guests cost £5 each and must be purchased in advance through the Marston Events booking portal. See the Graduation Guest Ticketing Policy for more information.
 

How many guest tickets am I allowed?
Each graduating student who registers their interest in attending their ceremony has the opportunity to purchase up to three guest tickets in the initial allocation. Additional tickets may become available depending on uptake of the initial ticket allocation, but we cannot guarantee that there will be any additional tickets available for any ceremonies. Any additional tickets that are available will be offered for sale on a first come, first served basis and there is likely to be a limit on how many additional tickets each graduating student can purchase. All guest tickets must be purchased in advance through the Marston Events booking portal.
 

If I get additional tickets, will all my guests be able to sit together?
We do not allocate seating for guests in the Grand Marquee, so if you have been successful in purchasing additional tickets all your guests should be able to sit together. However, choice of seat will depend on time of arrival. It is therefore advisable for all your guests to arrive together and in plenty of time before the scheduled start of the ceremony if they wish to sit together.
 

If no additional tickets are available or my ceremony is fully booked, will I be able to go on a waiting list for any returns?
We do not operate a waiting list for tickets. If a particular ceremony is fully booked, then it will not be possible for you to get additional tickets. We are, however, live-streaming each ceremony so guests who are not able to attend in person will be able to watch you graduate from home. All students who register to attend their graduation ceremony will be sent a link for the live-stream to share with family and friends.
 

If I can’t get tickets for all my guests, can they still come to the waterfront for photographs?
If you do not have tickets for your guests, they will not be able to attend your ceremony in the Grand Marquee. If you have ordered a family photography package from Marston Events and have family you wish to have in the photograph who do not have tickets for your ceremony, they may accompany you to the photography studios in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Waterfront Building for your official photographs either before or after your ceremony but will not be able to enter the Grand Marquee. There are a number of open-air seating areas, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants along the waterfront where guests without tickets can wait while your ceremony is taking place.
 

How will I get my guest tickets?
All guest tickets must be purchased in advance through the Marston Events booking portal. A few days before the graduation ceremonies begin, you will receive an email confirming your booking from Marston Events which will contain your e-tickets. Please remember to bring this email with you to your graduation ceremony.
 

Can children attend the event?
Children are welcome to attend the ceremony, but it may not be suitable for very young children. Children under 5 years of age will not require a ticket but it is expected that they will sit on the lap of an accompanying adult guest. If the child creates a disturbance during the ceremony their guardian may be asked to take them out of the marquee. Due to limited space, push chairs and infant carrier car seats are not allowed in the Grand Marquee. There will be a designated area where these items can be left while the ceremony is taking place. Children aged 5 years and over will require a ticket and will be included in your count of purchased tickets.
All children attending the ceremony must be accompanied by an adult guest (not the graduating student).
 

Are guest seats allocated?
There are specific areas in the Grand Marquee where guests may sit but seats are not allocated. Choice of seat is therefore based on arrival time. Stewards will be on hand to help seat your guests. If you have told us about any accessibility requirements for your guests, such as space for a wheelchair or a seat in an appropriate location due to sensory requirements, seats will be reserved for all of your guests. On entering the Grand Marquee, your guests should tell the steward your name and the steward will show your guests to their reserved seats.
 

If I didn't purchase any guest tickets on the Marston Events portal, can I still bring guests to my graduation ceremony?
All guest tickets must be purchased in advance through the Marston Events booking portal. Space in the Grand Marquee is limited and it is likely that there will be no seats available for some ceremonies. If you did not purchase any guest tickets through the Marston Events portal, then we will not be expecting you to bring any guests to your ceremony.
 

If I have guests who are unable to attend my graduation ceremony in person, are they able to watch it online?
All the graduation ceremonies will be recorded and live-streamed. If you have friends and family who are not able to attend the graduation ceremony in person, they will be able to watch a live-stream of your ceremony from home. All students who register to attend their graduation ceremony will be sent a link for the live-stream to share with friends and family.
 

Do I need to let you know if any of my guests have accessibility requirements?
When you purchase your guest tickets on the Marston Events portal you will have the opportunity to let us know if any of your guests have any accessibility requirements such as space in the Grand Marquee for a wheelchair or a seat in an appropriate location due to sensory requirements. Both the Waterfront Building and the Grand Marquee are fully accessible for wheelchair users.
 

One or more of my guests will be coming from overseas; what can I use to support their visitor visa application?
You can give your guests a copy of the email inviting you to complete the graduation registration form or the email confirming that you have completed the graduation registration form as evidence that you are invited to your graduation ceremony, and this can be included with their visitor visa application. These emails are sent to your personal email address and your @uos.ac.uk email address, and you can also download a copy from your correspondence history in OASIS. You can also include links to the information on the graduation webpages (www.uos.ac.uk/graduation) as evidence of the date, time and venue for your graduation ceremony. We do not routinely provide students with invitation letters as these are not listed as a requirement for a visitor visa application on the UKVI website, and we do not provide letters naming guests. However, if you are specifically asked by your embassy for an invitation letter, please email the Graduation Office. Please note that we also live-stream each ceremony so that guests who are not able to attend in person will be able to watch you graduate from home via the University's website.

Do I have to wear a gown if I attend the event?
Yes. All graduates attending their graduation ceremony must wear the correct academic dress for their award. Gowns must be hired in advance from Marston Events, the official supplier of gowns for the University of Suffolk.
 

How much does it cost to hire the gown?
The hire cost for academic dress for undergraduate awards is £39 and for postgraduate awards it is £44, when ordered in advance through the Marston Events booking portal. When you order your gown, you will also be given the option to pay £30 to extend the hire for seven days to enable you to take the gown home with you and then return it by post using the pre-paid returns bag supplied rather than returning it at the end of your graduation ceremony. If you wish to extend your hire you must select this option when placing your order. It will not be possible to extend your hire on the day.
 

What does the academic dress look like?
All graduates will wear a black gown with yellow accent details, a black mortar board and a hood. The hood colour and style will depend on the level of the award that you are due to receive and the awarding institution. For graduates with a University of Suffolk award, the undergraduate hoods are yellow, lined with white and trimmed with grey, red or blue depending on the award, and the postgraduate hoods are grey, lined with white and trimmed with yellow, red or blue depending on the award (see the drawings of the University of Suffolk Academic Dress for more details). The colours for the hoods reflect the colours on the Suffolk county flag.
 

Will I wear a mortarboard?
All graduates attending the event will wear a mortarboard. You will order your mortarboard at the same time that you order your gown and hood from Marston Events. You will need to provide your head size for your mortarboard. To do this, you should measure the circumference of your head about an inch (or 2.5cms) above your ears. Graduates who wear a turban will not be required to wear a mortarboard.
 

What do I wear under the gown?
This is a formal occasion and as such graduates are expected to dress appropriately. Graduates who wish to wear the traditional dress of their country are welcome to do so but this must be worn underneath their academic gown.
 

How do I get my gown?
You must hire your academic dress in advance from Marston Events, the official gowners for the University of Suffolk. Once ordered, your gown will be delivered to the Waterfront Building for you to collect when you arrive for your graduation ceremony.
 

Where do I collect and return my academic dress?
You will collect your academic dress from the gowning area in the foyer of the Waterfront Building on the day of your ceremony. Unless you have paid for extended hire, gowns should be returned to the gown return station in the foyer of the Waterfront Building no later than 2 hours after your graduation ceremony. If you are attending the last ceremony of the day, gown returns will close at 7.30pm on Saturday, 4.30pm on Sunday, 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday, and 4.30pm on Thursday.

 

Do I have to return my gown at the end of the ceremony?
The standard hire is for the duration of your ceremony only so you will need to return your gown before leaving the waterfront. There will be a gown return station in the foyer of the Waterfront Building for you to return your gown at the end of your ceremony. When you order your gown, you will be given the option to extend the hire for seven days, which would enable you to take the gown home with you. You will be provided with a postage paid returns bag for your gown to be posted back to Marston Events at the end of the seven days. The cost to extend your hire is £30. If you wish to extend your hire you must do so when you place your order. It will not be possible to extend your hire on the day.
 

How do I know that I have ordered the correct gown?
When you register your interest in attending your graduation ceremony, the University will provide Marston Events with your student number, name, email address, ceremony date and time, and award details. When you log in to order your gown through the Marston Events booking portal (www.marstonevents.com/suffolk), the academic dress required for your award will be automatically selected for you.
 

If I haven't ordered my gown in advance, will I be able to order one on the day?
If you didn't order your academic dress in advance, it may be possible for you to hire on the day but this cannot be guaranteed. Marston Events will bring a small supply of spare gowns, hoods and mortarboards, but availability will depend on how many graduating students have not pre-ordered and are therefore using the spares. There is also an additional £5 charge for on the day hire. Please be aware that if you are not able to hire a gown, then you will not be able to participate in the ceremony.
 

Will there be an official photographer at the event?
Marston Events are the official photographers for this event. They will have a number of studios in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Waterfront Building for your pre-booked official portrait photographs to be taken. Photography packages can also be ordered on the day if required, but please be aware that you will incur a non-refundable £15 studio session fee. If you would like formal portrait photographs, you are therefore strongly advised to pre-book your photography package when you order your gown through the Marston Events portal.

Marston Events will also have a photographer in the Grand Marquee to take your photograph as you cross the stage to have your award conferred. A copy of the photograph of your crossing the stage will be available to purchase in the foyer of the Waterfront Building after your graduation ceremony for you to take home on the day.
 

How do I order photographs?
If you want to have official portrait photographs, you will be able to order your chosen photography package when you order your gown on the Marston Events portal. It is possible to order on the day if required, but please be aware that you will incur a non-refundable £15 studio session fee (see the FAQs on the Marston Events website for more information). You are therefore strongly advised to pre-order your photography package in advance when you order your gown. There are a number of photography packages available, both for individual and family portraits, with prices starting at £25.
A copy of your award photograph can be purchased after the graduation ceremony from Marston Events either from the stand in the foyer of the Waterfront Building or online.
 

If I order guest tickets, a gown or photography package but then cannot attend my graduation ceremony, can I get a refund?
Marston Events require a minimum of 5 days notice prior to the start of the graduation ceremonies if you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony to be able to offer a refund on gown hire (i.e. a minimum of 5 days before 19 October 2024). Unfortunately, they are not able to process refunds for gowns after this time as the gowns are prepared in advance of the event with the student’s information and are shipped to the ceremony location ready for collection. Refunds for ticket purchases can be requested via Marston Events no later than Thursday 31 October 2024. See the FAQs on the Marston Events website for more information about the refund policy for gowns and photography packages. 

 

Can my friends and family take photographs during the ceremony?
Yes, your guests will be able to take photographs throughout the event. Guests are allowed to use handheld cameras in the Grand Marquee to take photographs whilst the ceremony is taking place but are asked to be considerate of people who may be seated behind them so as not to obstruct their view. Cameras which require tripods are not allowed to be used during the ceremony as the walkways need to be kept clear for the procession and for health and safety requirements.
There will also be a number of opportunities for informal photographs with your family and friends. You will see signs identifying good photo opportunities along the waterfront, as well as areas with suitable backdrops in the Waterfront Building and Grand Marquee.
 

Will the graduation ceremony by recorded?
Each graduation ceremony will be recorded and live-streamed, and a digital download of the ceremony will be available following the ceremony.
If you have friends and family who are not able to attend the graduation ceremony in person, they will be able to watch a live-stream of your ceremony from home. All students who register to attend their graduation ceremony will be provided with a link to the live-stream to share with friends and family.
 

Will there be anyone else taking photographs at the event?
Yes. There will be a photographer appointed by the University present at the graduation ceremonies who will be taking photographs for promotional purposes to be used in future University of Suffolk publications, on the University of Suffolk website and alongside relevant press coverage. If you have any objection to your photograph being taken and used in this way, please make a member of staff aware at the earliest opportunity.
 

Who are Marston Events?
In order to provide our graduating students with a "one-stop-shop", the University has entered into a contract with Marston Events for the supply of academic dress, photography services and ticketing at the graduation ceremonies. The University receives commission from Marston Events for the hire and sale of academic dress and photography purchases and pays Marston Events for the ticketing service. For more information, please contact graduation@uos.ac.uk.

What time do I need to arrive?

You are advised to arrive at least an hour before your ceremony is due to start. The registration desk in the foyer of the Waterfront Building will open an hour and a half before the scheduled start time. The Grand Marquee will open an hour before your ceremony is due to start for you and your guests to start taking your seats. 

What time do my guests need to arrive?
The Grand Marquee will open one hour before the published start time of the ceremony for you and your guests to start taking your seats. You and your guests are advised to arrive at the Grand Marquee together so that you can be checked in and your e-tickets for your guests can be scanned. Seats are not allocated to guests (unless you have previously advised the Graduation Office that space is required for a wheelchair) and therefore choice is based on arrival time. All graduating students and guests should be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony is due to start.
 

What time do I need to be seated?
Graduating students may start taking their seats one hour before the published start time of the ceremony and should be sitting in their allocated seat at least 15 minutes before the ceremony is due to start. On arrival at the Grand Marquee, you will need to check-in with a steward. You will then be directed to your allocated seat.
 

What happens if I am late for my ceremony?
The graduation ceremony will start at the published time. If you are late for the ceremony you may miss your opportunity to cross the stage. Please ensure you allow plenty of time for your journey and plan to arrive at least an hour before your ceremony is due to start.

 

How long does the ceremony last?
Each ceremony will last approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
 

What happens during the ceremony?
The congregation is asked to stand on entry of the procession. The ceremony will then be formally opened and the congregation will sit down for the opening address. If there is an honorary award an oration will be made and the recipient will make a response.
Graduands will then be called onto the stage. A steward will ask a row of graduands to leave their seats and line up in the left-hand aisle. Another steward will tell you when to go and wait at the bottom of the ramp for your name to be read out. Once your name is called, go up the ramp and cross the stage. As you go across the stage you will be greeted by the conferring officer (normally the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, or Pro-Chancellor) signifying the conferral of your award. A photographer from Marston Events will take your photograph with the conferring officer as you cross the stage.

When you leave the stage you will be directed to the back of the marquee to collect your certificate, before returning back to your original seat.

After a closing address, the ceremony will then be formally closed and the stage party will leave the stage and process to the back of the marquee.

A steward will then ask the new graduates, a row at a time, to process out of the marquee.

Guests will be directed by stewards to the exits and out on to the waterfront where they will meet the new graduates when they leave the marquee.
 

Will I be sitting with my guests at the ceremony?
No. You will not be sitting with your guests during the ceremony. All graduands will sit together in designated seats. Guests will sit in the guest seating area in the marquee. Guest seats are not allocated and therefore their choice of seat is based on arrival time. 
 

Can I sit with my friends at the ceremony?
Each graduand will be allocated a specific seat in the graduands’ seating area. Your seat number will be shown on your graduate e-ticket. Graduands are seated alphabetically within each course. It is important that you sit in your allocated seat to ensure that the correct name is called when you cross the stage.
 

How will I know when to go up on stage?
At the appropriate time in the ceremony a steward will ask a row of graduands to leave their seats and line up in the left-hand aisle. Another steward will tell you when to go and wait at the bottom of the ramp for your name to be read out. Once your name is called, go up the ramp and cross the stage. As you go across the stage you will be greeted by the conferring officer, signifying the conferral of your award. When you leave the stage you will be directed to the back of the marquee to collect your certificate and gift bag, before being directed by stewards back to your seat.
 

Will I have to shake hands with the conferring officer?
You do not have to shake hands with the conferring officer when you cross the stage. The conferring officer will instead greet you and acknowledge the conferral of your award with a nod of the head. You will then stand next to the conferring officer for your photograph to be taken.
 

What happens after the ceremony?
Once the ceremony is over and you have taken any photographs required, you should return your gown to the gown return station in the foyer of the Waterfront Building before leaving.
 

What do I do if I can't make it to my graduation ceremony on the day?
If you find you are unable to attend your ceremony on the day, please contact the Graduation Office as soon as possible on 01473 338833. Your award will be conferred in absentia and arrangements will be made for your certificate to be posted to your home address by recorded delivery in November.
 

Is there car parking available on the Waterfront?
If you are travelling by car, you will need to park in one of the public car parks in Ipswich. The closest public car park is in Duke Street (IP3 0AQ). Further information about car parking and public transport in Ipswich is available on the Ipswich Borough Council website. Please do not park in the University car parks unless you have a valid 24/25 car park permit. The University car parks are managed by Ipserv and have automatic number plate recognition cameras. If you do not have a valid permit for the car you are using and you park in the University car parks, you will be fined.
 

Will there be any souvenirs or merchandise available to purchase?
All graduates attending their graduation ceremony will be given a commemorative gift from the University.

Marston Events will also have a stand in the foyer of the Waterfront Building where you will be able to purchase a copy of your award photograph (i.e. the photograph of you crossing the stage) to take away with you on the day.