Instructions for graduates

This page gives an overview of your ceremony day.  Please read it carefully in advance to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible.

We recommend you arrive around 2 hours before your ceremony is due to start, so please plan your travel in advance.

Pick up your wristbands

Wristbands are required for all graduands and guests in order to gain entry to the ceremony and can be collected from any of these locations:

• Students’ Union foyer
• Outside the Information Commons
• Outside Firth Court
• BarOne on Glossop Road

You will need to show your etickets, and your Ucard (or other form of photo ID) in order to be issued with wristbands.  Please ensure your party arrives together as guests will not be able to collect wristbands themselves.

Collect your gown

Once you have your wristbands, you can collect your gown from Uni Central, Level 4, Students’ Union.  Please use the main entrance to access this space.

Robes should be returned to Uni Central by 6.00pm on the day of your ceremony (8.00pm on Wednesday & Thursday).

Go through security

Safety at the university has always been, and continues to be, our highest priority. We therefore have security procedures in place at our graduation ceremonies. 

Access to the Octagon Centre will only be permitted by the wearing of a wristband, and bag and person searches will be in operation. Please do not bring large bags or suitcases to the Octagon Centre.  Alcohol is not permitted in the Octagon Centre and anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted entry. 

Take your seats

Graduands need to be in their allocated seats in the hall around 40 minutes before the ceremony begins to allow time for registration.  Make sure you allow plenty of time for wristband and gown collection beforehand, and to pass through bag checks. 

Each graduand is allocated a specific seat to ensure wards are presented in the correct order.  You must sit in your allocated seat for registration, and remain there until you are called for presentation.

Guests must be seated no later than 10 minutes before the ceremony begins. 

During the ceremony

• A Marshal will signal to you when it is your turn to be presented
• You should immediately approach the platform by the steps to the left hand side and join the queue
• Once at the top of the platform, your name will be checked by the Marshal to confirm you are in the correct order for presentation
• When your name is announced, you should proceed across the platform, doff your cap to the Presiding Officer and then continue to the far end of the platform and down the stairs
• You will be handed your certificate at the foot of the stairs and will be guided back to your seat by the floor stewards
• Please note: nothing is to be brought on to the platform, including mobile phones

• Graduates and guests will exit the hall block by block, under the direction of Event Staff.  You will leave through the fire exits at the rear of the building and head left into the Octagon Centre car park on Durham Road.  Please ensure you arrange a meeting point  in advance of the ceremony.  Make sure you take all belongings with you, as re-entry to the hall will not be permitted.

Catch the live stream

Graduation ceremonies will be relayed live to the Auditorium in the Students’ Union to enable family and friends without tickets to watch the ceremony.  Access is on a first-come-first-served basis and the University cannot be held responsible should this venue reach capacity.

Each ceremony is also streamed live on our website. Graduates and guests seated in the Octagon Centre should be aware that they might appear on the live stream.

Take some photographs

Photography is permitted during the ceremony but this must be done from your seat; please do not move around the hall or restrict the view of other guests.  Tripods and other photography equipment are not permitted and there is strictly no access to the platform at any time.

Ede & Ravenscroft are the official graduation photographers and will be located in the Gallery Rooms, Level 4, Students Union throughout graduation week.

Grab something to eat

There are lots of places on campus to grab refreshments, from a quick bite through to a celebratory meal.

• Please see www.sheffield.ac.uk/cafesandbars for a full list of University outlets, including opening times
• Celebrate your big day in style at Inox, the University’s signature restaurant

Additional Information

Graduation Enquiries Desk

The Graduation Enquiries Desk is situated in the foyer of the Students’ Union Building, next to wristband collection

Regulations regarding academic robes

The University's Regulation 17 concerning Academic Costume states that: "A graduand and any other person who is to be presented at a Degree Congregation shall wear the appropriate academic dress …... The Marshal may exclude from presentation any candidate whose attire does not, in the Marshal's opinion, comply with this regulation".

Children

We do not recommend bringing children into the ceremony, due to the length and formal nature of proceedings. As an alternative, guests with children may wish to watch the ceremony in the Students' Union Auditorium, where the atmosphere is informal and tickets are not required.

Children in the Octagon Centre must have a ticket if they are 3 years old or over. We respectfully request that children are taken out of the hall if they become noisy or restless during proceedings. Children are not permitted on the stage at any time.

Due to health and safety restrictions, prams and pushchairs are not permitted in the ceremony hall and should be left in the complementary cloakroom.

Students’ Union

Sheffield Students’ Union building will be open to offer Graduands and their families space to relax, eat, drink, and enjoy their day.

Inside you can have your official Graduation photo taken, pick up a souvenir or bouquet of flowers, and enjoy a drink at their champagne bar.

Coffee Revolution and Bar One will be serving food and drink throughout the day and ‘Our Shop’ will be supplying all the essentials to ensure everything goes smoothly. They even have a Graduation Kids’ Zone for keeping children entertained!