During the Ceremony
The ceremony begins with the entry of the processions. You should stand as the procession music begins and remain standing until the Presiding Officer has taken his seat in the centre of the platform.
In addition to your degrees, we often confer Honorary Degrees. These are usually presented midway through a ceremony.
Except for the honorary graduands, all graduands in a Faculty will be presented in one continuous stream controlled by Marshals. The Marshals, who will be standing in prominent positions around the Hall, will be easily recognisable in maroon gowns and caps. If a Marshal gives you an instruction, please act promptly as they are there to guide you through your ceremony. To ensure that you are in the correct order, your name will be checked several times. If the person after you on the list is absent, you will be given a yellow card to hand to the Marshal as you step on to the stage.
The presenter for your Faculty (or School) will read out a presentation statement for each particular award type and will then read out the list of names for that award. The order will correspond exactly to the order in which you are standing. The Marshal at the top of the steps will release you when your name is read out and you should walk across the stage towards the Presiding Officer, shake his hand and then continue across the stage. The Presiding Officer may speak to you briefly and if so, he will hold on to your hand.
After shaking hands, you should leave the stage by the steps on the opposite side. You should collect your certificate from the Marshal at the foot of the steps, unless you have already received it. You will then proceed back to your original seat under the direction of the floor Marshals.
If you are handed the wrong, or no, certificate - don´t panic - return to your seat and speak to a member of staff afterwards. Please do not interrupt the ceremony.
The atmosphere of the ceremonies is always enhanced if you, your friends and relatives applaud as each name is read out, so please encourage them to do so. Your guests may take photographs or film during the ceremony, but only from their seats. Please note there is strictly no admittance onto the platform at any time.
Everyone attending a ceremony should ensure that their mobile telephone is switched off. Children are permitted into the ceremony, however, any child who becomes noisy or restless should be taken out of the hall via any of the exits.
At the end of the ceremony the Presiding Officer will address the Congregation, after which he will declare the ceremony closed. The Processions will then leave the stage. All graduates will then process out of the hall under the direction of the Floor Marshals. Graduates are advised to arrange to meet their guests outside the Octagon Centre following the ceremony.