Preparing to graduate

We intend to host the next University of London Graduation ceremonies on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 April 2025 at The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London.

You must have cleared all your study-related debts with the University (it is your responsibility to do this), and your name must appear on our approved pass list. University regulations stipulate that a qualification cannot be awarded / conferred on any student who has study-related debts outstanding to the University (including library fines). Receipt of any graduation email invite DOES NOT, therefore, imply successful completion of your studies and you must ensure that you meet the above criteria in order to graduate.

We intend to hold three ceremonies: 

• Monday 28 April 2025 – Morning – 10.30am ceremony 
• Monday 28 April 2025 – Afternoon – 3.00pm ceremony
• Tuesday 29 April 2025 – Morning – 10.30am ceremony

Please note that these dates and times may be subject to change, and details of the confirmed four ceremonies will be included in the invitations which will be sent out via email. 

You will be invited to book the most convenient date and time for you. Please note that registration is on a first come, first served basis and places are limited.  

You will not be able to graduate and attend the ceremony in 2025 if your award has not been approved by Monday 17 March 2025 or if you are in debt to the University.

The Awards and Ceremonies Team will not action your registration request and your name will not appear in the graduation proceedings. 

If you have successfully completed your studies but are in debt to the University, you will be invited to the next available ceremonies after you have cleared your debt. 

If you have not completed your studies, or your award has not been approved by Monday 17 March 2025, you will be invited to attend the next available ceremonies.

Degree certificates and graduation documents are produced by the Diploma Production Office and should usually be despatched by post six months after the confirmation of the graduate’s results.  

If you haven’t received your degree within this timeframe, you can email: diploma.enquiries@london.ac.uk 

You do not need to attend a graduation ceremony in order to graduate – these are celebratory events and if you have been awarded your degree, you have officially graduated. 

Once bookings for the graduation ceremonies in 2025 are closed, we will no longer be able to register any further students. 

You can apply to attend the 2026 ceremony however, please be aware that due to ever-increasing demand, tickets for 2026 graduation ceremonies will be prioritised and offered to those who have undertaken/passed assessments during the calendar year of 2024. Any further tickets will be available to you and others on the deferral list on a first come, first served basis, as we cannot guarantee availability at future events. 

Please note that you do not need to attend a ceremony in order to graduate – these are celebratory events and if you have been awarded your degree, you have officially graduated.

We are currently inviting the following students to register:

• Students who contacted us to defer graduation from 2024 to 2025
• Eligible students who have completed their course and have been verified to us by the exam boards 

Students who have passed assessments in 2024 will be invited from the end of 2024. This is to give us time to process the awards and ensure we are sending invitations to all those who are eligible.

If you think you should have received an email invitation but haven’t, please check junk and spam folders, and then contact us with your full name, student number and date of birth and we will check if you are eligible.

If you took assessments this year up until July 2024, we anticipate inviting you to graduation from the end of November 2024. For those who graduate between July and December 2024, we anticipate inviting you to graduation early in 2025.

The UoL Graduations Team can supply Visa support letters if they are needed, but you MUST carry out the application process for a Visa first. We will only consider Visa support letter requests when accompanied by a valid booking reference. If you require a letter the UK Visa team will ask for additional information. You will be asked to supply information to support your Visa when you register for graduation.

Find out more about the visa application process and check if you need a Visa and which one to apply for.

Students who are returning to the UK for the graduation ceremony and whose student Visa has expired, will need to apply for a Standard Visitors Visa Online 

If you need a letter to support your application, you will be able to request a letter during the registration process. You will need the following information to hand:

• Your full name (and names of any guests who also need a Visa)
• Your booking reference number
• Your passport number (and the same for any guests who need a Visa)
• Your date of birth (and the same for any guests who need a Visa)
• Your address (and the same for any guests who need a Visa)

Check if you need a visa and which one to apply for on  GOV.UK

Apply, make payment and book your appointment at the Visa Application Centre online.  

All customers applying for a visit visa can now use our new online application form. This upgraded system is faster, simpler and user friendly. Use this link - Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor. 

Attend your appointment at the Visa Application Centre to submit your application and biometric data. Choose one of our added value services to enhance your experience. 

UK Visas & Immigration’s global service standard for visit and non-settlement Visa applications is 15 working days from submission of your application and biometric data at the Visa Application Centre. We encourage all applicants to remember this when planning their travel to the UK, and to ensure they apply for a Visa in good time.

The UK Government can post-date a visit Visa for up to 3 months to accommodate your intended travel date.

There are now only four visit Visa routes to the UK. A Standard Visitor Visa is the most common. On a Standard Visitor Visa, you can travel to the UK for tourism, to see family and friends, to shop, and to attend Graduation Ceremonies.

That depends on the type of Visa. You’ll find full guidance online. Start on this page to get to the right information for your personal situation.  

UKVI does not require that flight tickets be submitted with a Visa application. View full guidance.

We recognise that applicants may have a sponsor who is contributing financially to their trip.  

In all cases the UK Visa office must be satisfied that you can fund your stay in the UK, check how to evidence this at: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa/documents-you-mustprovide 

You can apply for a UK visit Visa in any country, whether you are resident there or not. Please note however, that it may take a longer to process your application, if you are not resident. If you wish to do this you must ensure that you choose the country you want to apply in on the UK Government systems to access the correct appointment information for the Visa Application Centres.

You must pay for your guest ceremony tickets and Alumni Evening Celebration tickets (if attending) upon registration by credit card or bank transfer. Any tickets that are not paid for by 28 February 2025 will be made available for those on waiting lists. 

All tickets will be emailed out to you in the form of an e-ticket before the ceremony. Please keep your e-ticket with you because it will have your seat number on it and you will need it to enter the venue on the day.

Guest tickets are allocated for entrance to the ceremony room at a cost per guest. If you would like to purchase guest tickets to your ceremony booking, you can do so during the booking process. Tickets for children aged 10 and under are free, but you must reserve their seat during the booking process.

Graduate tickets are free of charge.

There is a cost for each guest ticket purchased, which will be displayed for during the registration process.

Details on how to make changes to your guest tickets, Alumni Evening Celebration tickets, gown hire or photography will be displayed on your booking confirmation. Should you need any further information, please email: universityevents@london.ac.uk

You will be able to inform us if you or any of your guests are wheelchair users or require other accessible seating arrangements in the Barbican during the booking process.

If circumstances change for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible: universityevents@london.ac.uk

Please note that we are not able to provide wheelchair or mobility aides.

You can request ticket(s) refund for any guest(s) who are unable to attend. You must submit your request prior to the submission deadline, which is outlined in our Cancellation and Refund Policy below.

Yes, everybody graduating and walking the stage will need to wear full Academic Robes.  
If you do not already own the correct robes, you will need to hire them in advance of the date. You can do so via our official gowning and photography provider as part of the registration and booking process. 
 

It is expected that all graduates must be smartly dressed (e.g. collar and tie, no sportswear).  

Members of the armed forces may wear the appropriate uniform and members of religious orders their normal mode of dress. Graduates may also wear their national dress. 

Upon arrival at the Barbican, you will need to collect your robes, prior to your ceremony, and return it after before leaving the venue. There will be staff on hand to guide you to the collection and drop off points.  

TIP: Although the hood is secured with velcro to your gown, it may also be useful to bring pins or safety pins so you can secure your hood at the shoulders, so it does not slip back or slide off your shoulders.  

You may also wish to bring hair grips to help secure your hat. 

Details on how to book will be outlined in your invitation. 

Please note that photography can be booked on the day, but advanced booking is highly recommended. Photography booked in advance must be booked and purchased at least two weeks before your allotted ceremony day.  

You will be able to book this during the registration process when booking your tickets and robes.  

There will also be the opportunity to purchase a photo of you crossing the stage as well as other professional photography on the day. 

If you are eligible to attend graduation in April 2025 but can’t make the dates, please let us know and we will add you to the list for future ceremonies.

You can apply to attend the 2026 ceremony however, please be aware that due to ever-increasing demand, tickets for 2026 graduation ceremonies will be prioritised and offered to those who have undertaken/passed assessments during the calendar year of 2024. 

Any further tickets will be available to you and others on the deferral list on a first come first served basis, as we cannot guarantee availability at future events. 

If you need to cancel purchased tickets, please email us at: universityevents@london.ac.uk 

If you need to cancel your gowning, photography, please contact Marstons Robing – details can be found on your booking confirmation 

You must submit your request prior to the submission deadline, which is outlined in our Cancellation and Refund Policy below. If we receive notice of cancellation after this date no refunds will be given.

Please read our revised terms and conditions for 2025 (coming soon)...

Please read our revised Graduation Privacy Notice for 2025 (coming soon)...