Skip to content

Your graduation ceremony

Your graduation ceremony is a celebration of all your achievements at the University of Gloucestershire.

For your ceremony date and time, please see the latest update on the Graduation homepage.

Tickets

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 22 June 2023 at 11am via Student Records. The deadline for confirming your attendance and booking guest tickets is Thursday 28 September 2023.

You will be able to purchase up to four guest tickets (in addition to your graduate ticket), and once the booking deadline has passed and we know the numbers attending we will let you know in early October if further guest tickets are available.  

You’ll need to hire a gown to graduate. Booking for graduation gowns and photography will also open on 22 June 2023 through our gown provider’s website Ede and Ravenscroft.  The deadline for ordering gowns with Ede and Ravenscroft is 31 October 2023.

Seating

Students (graduands) are allocated a specific seat next to other students from their course. Seats must not be swapped as this will disrupt the running order of the ceremony and may mean that your name isn’t read out at the right time.

Ushers are on hand throughout the ceremony to guide you – please ask anyone if you are unsure where you should be.

With the exception of some reserved spaces, guest seating is unallocated.

The racecourse

The Centaur is at Cheltenham Racecourse, home of the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup, a jewel in the crown of the jump racing calendar: Evesham Rd, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL50 4SH.

There is ample free parking on site. When you arrive, follow the signs to the Members’ Car Park and/or the directions of the car parking stewards. The stewards will also be able to advise regarding disabled (Blue Badge) parking which is available close to The Centaur entrance. There is also a drop-off point available by the main Centaur doors for those with less mobile guests but no Blue Badge.

It will be busy on the day so please allow plenty of time to ensure you arrive at The Centaur at least one hour before your ceremony to allow time for registration, gowning and photography. You will need to take you seat in the auditorium 20 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

Frequent bus services run from Cheltenham Spa railway station and the town centre to the Racecourse Park and Ride car park which is a short walk from the venue entrance. The Stagecoach website has local bus timetables.

Please note: there are no cash machines onsite, and no storage facilities for coats, bags or luggage at the venue.

On the day

The timetable on each day will look something like this, please check nearer the time for an update with accurate timings.

Complimentary refreshments (tea/coffee, bucks fizz and cake) will be available before the ceremony for students and their guests. A reception area will be available after the ceremony with a pay bar if Graduates and their guests wish to stay and celebrate.

Morning ceremonyAfternoon ceremonySchedule
8.30 – 10am1.30 – 3pmRegistration
Gowning and photography
10.15am3.15pmBe seated
10.30 – 12pm3.30 – 5pmCeremony (approximate)
12 – 1pm5 – 6pmRefreshments (approximate)
Timings are subject to change, please listen out for announcements.

Registration

Entry to the graduation venue is by ticket only. Please bring your booking confirmation with you (either electronic or printed).

Registration is a crucial part of the proceedings and you must register immediately upon arrival (your designated registration point is indicated on your ticket). If you do not register we will not know that you are in the venue and your name will not be called as you cross the stage.

If you arrive late/after registration has closed, we cannot guarantee you will be able to take part in the ceremony. Please allow plenty of time to ensure that you arrive no later than an hour before the ceremony start time.

Back to graduation