Graduation information for postgraduate taught candidates
Information for students completing a postgraduate taught degree in Autumn 2026 and eligible to attend the January 2027 ceremonies.
Eligibility and registration
Invitations to attend your ceremony will be sent (date to be confirmed).
In order to register to attend your ceremony, you need to meet the criteria below:
- You have registered your intentions for your graduation ceremony by the deadline (date to be confirmed).
- You have successfully completed your programme of study.
- Your examination results have been submitted to the Student Administration Service by their deadline (your department or the Student Administration Service can provide you with information relating to their deadlines).
- All debts to the University have been paid. See the debts information page for further details.
Please register for your graduation ceremony when you are invited to and by the deadline of (to be confirmed). Don't wait for your results, as the registration deadline will pass before you get them.
- Receiving an invitation is not a confirmation that you have officially passed your course - it just allows everyone enough time to make arrangements.
- If your final results show you haven't completed your course in time, we will automatically remove you from the attendance list.
Students who are awarded a Postgraduate Certificate exit award are not eligible to attend a graduation ceremony. You will automatically be removed from the graduation ceremony and your certificate will be made available by Student Services.
Cancelling your registration to attend
Your name
Your printed name
Your name, which is taken from your student record, will be shown on the registration form. This is the name that will be printed in the graduation programme and will also be listed in the digital programme, and printed on your certificate. Names are printed following the naming convention at the University and will appear as forename, middle name(s), surname as held on the record. If this is incorrect, you need to change it before you register.
To do this, contact the Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) with documentary evidence (eg passport, birth certificate). SSiD has more information on how to change your name.
Once this is completed, you can then register for graduation when invited.
How your name will be read out at the ceremony
As you cross the stage at your ceremony your name will be announced by the presenter. Please note only your forename and surname will be read out (no middle names).
Tickets and seating
If you are having your award conferred at the ceremony, we will contact you with the date to download your e-tickets.
If you have already received your certificate following an in absentia conferment, your e-tickets will be emailed to you.
- Your e-ticket shows seat numbers for you and your guests. Bring this with you on the day and make sure your guests know their seat numbers too.
- You are guaranteed 2 guest tickets. It is unlikely that further tickets will be available, however, if they are you will be notified via email (further information to follow). Additional tickets will not be available before this date. Requests for additional tickets cannot be processed via email.
Special seating arrangements/access arrangements
You must inform us of any specific access requirements or special assistance that you or your guests may need in advance of the ceremony. There is a dedicated section of the registration form to do this.
Once tickets have been allocated, we may not be able to accommodate special arrangements, but we will do our best to meet these requirements.
If you require the loan of a wheelchair for the day, visit your local British Red Cross Association
Children
Children over the age of three will require a ticket for the ceremony.
Due to the length and formal nature, we do not recommend bringing young children to the ceremony. Guests with young children may wish to watch the ceremony live in the Auditorium in the Students’ Union, where the atmosphere is informal and tickets are not required.
Children are not permitted on the platform at any time.
Robe hire and photography
Robe hire
It is a University Regulation that graduands wear the correct academic dress. You can hire or purchase these directly from the official robe makers for the University, Ede & Ravenscroft, or an alternative supplier that provides University Regulation compliant academic dress.
You should order your robes via the Ede and Ravenscroft Robe Hire Hub (opening date to be confirmed).
The deadline to order robes is (date to be confirmed). If you have any queries regarding pre-ordering robes for the January ceremonies please contact Ede and Ravenscroft directly: Contact Graduation Services | Ede & Ravenscroft
Robe collection/drop-off on the day of your ceremony will be from Uni Central on Level 4 of the Students’ Union Building.
All robes must be returned on the day of hire. If you are no longer able to attend your ceremony, you can cancel your order using the 'Review/Amend/Cancel' option on the Ede & Ravenscroft website. For security reasons, cancellations cannot be made over the phone.
Robe types and hood colours
View examples of the different types of robes and hoods for each level of study and Faculty here: Academic dress examples (PDF, 743kb)
Official photographs
The official photographers are Ede & Ravenscroft Photography, located on Level 4 in the Students' Union on each day. You can pre-book photography packages when you order your robes through Ede & Ravenscroft or you can turn up on the day.
Ordering deadline and opening times during graduation week (to be confirmed).
School receptions
School receptions allow graduates, their guests and school staff to celebrate together. You should receive an invitation directly from your academic school. A list of school receptions will be provided here nearer to the time.
Certificates
Graduation and attending
If you attend your ceremony you will receive your certificate on the day unless you have already received it following an In Absentia ceremony.
Graduation and not attending
If you are not attending graduation you need to register your intention to graduate 'In Absentia'. This allows you to confirm your personal details and to provide an address for us to post your certificate to following the ceremonies. We are unable to send your certificate if you don't complete this process.
Please note, it is not possible for someone to collect your certificate on your behalf at the graduation ceremony.
Postage of certificates
Certificates to the UK: certificates sent to addresses in the UK are sent by second class mail as standard. However, if you would like your certificate sent by a tracked service, we can send it using Royal Mail Special Delivery. Instructions on how to order this service and the deadline to order (to be confirmed).
Certificates to overseas addresses: Royal Mail is unable to provide a tracking service for most overseas countries. Certificates are therefore sent by standard airmail. However, if you would like to have your certificate sent using the DHL Express Worldwide service we can arrange this for you. The cost for this service is dependent on the destination country and is available to more than 220 countries worldwide. Instructions on how to order this service and the deadline to order (to be confirmed).
Certificates lost in transit
Occasionally some items will get lost in transit. In order to guarantee the delivery of your certificate, we would strongly advise you to use one of the guaranteed methods above. If your certificate doesn’t arrive using these methods please contact us. If you choose a standard service for delivery, you will need to order a replacement certificate (for which the usual fee will be charged) from Student Services.
Digital certificates
Following graduation, your digital certificate will be released in Gradintelligence.
Travel and venue
All ceremonies take place in the Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN.
We recommend using public transport or Park and Ride to get here, as parking on campus is limited. Find out more on our Maps and Travel page.
We suggest using the following car parks if you are travelling by car:
- QPark Durham Road, across from the Octagon
- QPark Rockingham, approximately half a mile from the Octagon Centre
- All the car parks in the city centre
Disabled parking spaces for blue badge holders are available in QPark, Durham Road. Blue badge holders can also park on double yellow lines for a maximum of 3 hours providing there are no loading restrictions and the vehicle is not causing an obstruction. Please ensure the blue badge and parking clock are displayed. See Sheffield City Council for more details.
Security
The safety of visitors to the University is our highest priority. With this in mind, the following procedures are in place at the venue:
- Bags will be searched. No bag larger than a small handbag will be allowed into the building. Please do not bring large bags or suitcases to the Octagon Centre. There will be person searches on entry.
- Anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted entry.
You should arrive at the Octagon as close as possible to the published opening times, bearing in mind that security checks take place.
Accessibility and support
We are committed to making graduation inclusive and accessible for all our graduands and guests. If you have accessibility or support requirements, detail these in the appropriate section of the registration form and we will do our best to ensure suitable arrangements are put in place.
Alternatively, you can Contact Us and we will be happy to talk through the options available to you. Please give us sufficient notice to put arrangements in place
Ceremony and robing venues
The Octagon Centre is accessible by ramp and has lifts and accessible toilet facilities. More detailed information can be found on AccessAble.
Items such as mobility scooters and pushchairs should be left in the cloakroom once guests have taken their seats as it is not possible to store them in the ceremony hall.
Robing is on Level 4 of the Students’ Union. The building is accessible by level access and contains lifts and accessible toilet facilities. The Octagon Centre can be accessed from the Student’s Union via the link bridge. More detailed information can be found on AccessAble.
Gender neutral toilets are located in the Students’ Union Building, next door to the Octagon Centre.
The Students’ Union Building (Level 2) has a Prayer Room with Wudu facilities.
Parking information can be found under travel and venue.
Dining and activities on campus
Further information will be given here closer to the time.
Live stream
Watch online anywhere
All ceremonies will be streamed live on our website. For family and friends attending in person, there are on-campus venues where they can enjoy the livestream.
- Students' Union Auditorium (Nelson Mandela Auditorium)
- BarOne
- Kids Zone. A family-friendly space where adults can watch the livestream while children enjoy games and craft activities.
A sharable link will be provided shortly before each ceremony.
By electing to take part in the ceremony proceedings, you are giving permission for your image to be recorded and broadcast.
Terms and conditions
Cancellation or postponement of the event
The University reserves the right to change, cancel, or postpone the ceremonies as deemed necessary by the University.
In the event of any change, 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.
Academic robes
It is a University Regulation that graduands wear the correct academic dress. You can hire or purchase these directly from the official robe makers for the University, Ede & Ravenscroft, or an alternative supplier that provides University Regulation compliant academic dress.
Data Protection
Publication of names
The names of graduating students will be published in the printed graduation programme and the digital graduation programme, which are available to all ticketed guests on the day. If you would like your name removed from this publication, you must advise the Corporate Events Team in writing by using our Contact Us form, giving your full name, student registration number and award title and clearly confirm that you wish to be removed from the programme by (deadline to be confirmed).
We do not print degree classifications in the graduation programme.
Digital media
Graduation live stream of the ceremony - the graduation ceremonies are live streamed on the website. By electing to take part in the ceremony proceedings, you are giving permission for your image to be recorded and broadcast.
- 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.
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.