On the day - undergraduate ceremonies

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions

Travel and venue

Octagon Centre
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN

We recommend using public transport or park and ride to get to graduation as parking on campus is limited. 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
• A map detailing all the car parks in the city centre can be found here

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.

Robing opening times

Robing opening times

Robes will be available for collection from Uni Central on Level 4 of the Students’ Union Building, following the timetable below: Monday, Tuesday, Friday - 7.30am to 2.45pm, Wednesday, Thursday - 7.30am to 5.15pm

All robes must be returned by 6pm Monday/Tuesday/Friday and 9pm Wednesday/Thursday.

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

Cancelling robe hire

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 department here:

Robe types and hood colours

View examples of the different types of robes and hoods for each level of study and department here:

Academic dress examples (PDF, 743kb)

Accessibility and support

Accessibility and support 

Accessibility requirements should have been provided when registering. If you have any queries regarding anything to do with accessibility please email graduation@sheffield.ac.uk and we will be happy to discuss these.

Assistance Dogs

As with accessibility requirements, assistance dogs will be permitted but the details should have been given when registering. 

Ceremony
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.

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. 

What happens in the ceremony

Before the ceremony

• Graduands need to be in their allocated seat 40 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. University marshals undertake student registration from seats in the hall.
• Graduands sit in the two front blocks, seat numbers are on tickets.
• Guests have seats in the remainder of the hall.
• University staff stewards will be in the hall to assist graduands to their seats if necessary.
• There will be a keepsake graduation programme on all graduands seats. Programmes for guests can be found in the dispensers around the hall.

During the ceremony

• Ceremonies last between 45 and 90 minutes.
• Everyone in the hall will be invited to stand, if they are able, for the staff and officers processions. The two processions will make their way on to the platform.
• The Presiding Officer will declare the ceremony open, ask graduands and guests to be seated and give a few words of welcome.
• Marshals will direct graduands out of their rows and re-check names. As graduands leave their seat they must ensure they follow the graduand immediately in front of them. Graduands must not change position in the queue.
• Once graduands are at the bottom of the stairs their names will be checked again. There will also be a member of the Edes and Ravenscroft robing team to check robes.
• Graduands will ascend a short flight of steps onto the platform (alternative access can be arranged if we are notified in advance). Names will be checked again and then read out by the Presenter. Graduands will proceed 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, graduands will be given their certificate (if they have not already received it).
• Stewards will direct graduands back to their seats.
• Some ceremonies will have a honorary degree. This is usually presented in the middle of the ceremony.

After the ceremony

• After all students have graduated, the Presiding Officer will deliver a closing speech.
• Following the speech, the Presiding Officer will declare the ceremony closed, ask everyone to stand if they are able to and the staff and officers processions will depart

Dining and activities on campus

Dining and activities on campus

Departmental receptions
Some departments hold receptions before or after the ceremonies. Please contact your department about these.

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 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!

A full list of the University's cafes can be found here.

INOX Dine - Celebrate your graduation ceremony in style at INOX Dine

Live stream

Ceremonies will be live streamed through the week and available to view here.

Relay link to auditorium

Each graduation ceremony is relayed live to the Students' Union Auditorium, to enable family and friends without allocated seats to see the ceremony. 

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.

Tickets are not required.  However, 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.

The Auditorium has tiered seating and 10 spaces for wheelchair users.

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