Your Presentation Ceremony
Ceremony start times
The ceremonies start at 10.00am. 12.30pm and 3.00pm and last about an hour and a half. Announcements will be made when you and your guests need to take your seats in the ceremony hall. Doors will 15 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony, so make sure that you and your guests are seated by then.
Arriving at the venue
In 2012, the ceremonies are being held at the Royal Festival Hall, on London's Southbank. The venue will be open from 8:30am and you should arrive at least one hour before your ceremony begins.
The venue is easily accessible by public transport and the closest tube stations are Waterloo, Embankment and Charing Cross. The venue is within the congestion charging zone and parking is very limited, so we recommend that you and your guests travel to the venue by public transport where possible.
Plan your journey to the Royal Festival Hall with Transport for London.
Venue address
Royal Festival Hall
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
Collecting your tickets and gown
One of the first things that you'll need to do when you arrive at the venue is to register with us and collect your ticket/s.
Visit us at the registration desks with a copy of your confirmation email, and we'll give you your tickets and answer any queries you might have.
Note: Confirmation emails are sent out to students approximately three weeks before their ceremonies.
If there is a queue at the registration desks, feel free to collect your gown first and register with us afterwards. Visit the gown collection area with a copy of your gown order confirmation. When the ceremony is over, you'll need to return your gown to the same place by 5pm, unless you have made other arrangements.
During your ceremony
When everyone is called into the ceremony hall, take your seat promptly and make sure that you are sitting in the place that has been allocated to you. Do not change seats and, when called to the platform, do not change your position in the line-up, as graduands will be presented in a predetermined order.
Guests will sit in a separate area, in the rear stalls and balcony of the auditorium.
The ceremony begins with the entrance of the Academic Procession (whose members will include the Vice-Chancellor and senior academics from your school), and you'll need to stand during this opening part.
As the ceremony progresses, you will be called to the platform to be presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Chairman of the Court of Governors, Honorary Guests, and academic staff.
At the end of the ceremony, you will need to stand as the Academic Procession leaves the auditorium. The auditorium doors will open when the procession has left the hall.
Note: You do not receive your award certificate at the ceremony - see our Award Certificates page for details of when you'll receive your certificate.
Drinks reception after the ceremony
After your ceremony, there will be a drinks reception for you and your guests in the Level 4 and 5 Foyers. Sparkling wine, soft drinks, and tea and coffee will be served.
