• I've confirmed my place but I'm now unable to attend, what should I do?

  Please email us as at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. soon as possible if you are unable to attend. 

• Do I have to attend my graduation ceremony?

  Attendance to your graduation ceremony is not compulsory; but it is a lovely way to celebrate your achievements with your lecturers and fellow students.

• I'm graduating - do I need a ticket?

  As a graduate, you need to confirm your attendance but you do not need to purchase a ticket to attend your ceremony.

  Once you confirm that you are attending, you'll be allocated a seat at the ceremony, a souvenir programme and refreshments at the post-ceremony reception. After you confirm your place, you'll receive a confirmation email. Your name will be checked against a list of confirmed attendees on the day.

  You'll collect your seat number on the day from the check-in desk in the King’s Lynn Minster. It is important you sit in your allocated seat, as you will be called up to the stage in seating order.

• How many tickets can I buy for my guests?

  Between the beginning of June and 31 August 2026, you are able to purchase a maximum of two guest tickets. Due to venue capacity, guest tickets are limited to two per graduand in the first instance.

• Can I buy an additional guest ticket?

  Additional guest tickets are not guaranteed. You are strongly advised not to make any arrangements for guests on the assumption you will receive additional guest tickets.

  Once initial ticket sales close on 31 August 2026, we will review capacity and if available, release any additional tickets. All graduands will receive an email and additional guest tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

• Are my guests seated with me?

  Graduands will be seated separately from your guests, in the order in which your name will be called to cross the stage. Each row will be directed to the stage at the correct time by one of the marketing team.

  Guest tickets do not have allocated seat numbers and your guests will be directed to the best available seats on the day. If your guests arrive late or separately, it may not be possible to seat them together.

  If you, or any of your guests, have any special/accessible seating requirements, please indicate these when purchasing tickets. Special seating requests will be based on your requirements and will not necessarily be at the front. We will endeavour to accommodate all requirements.

  To avoid disrupting proceedings, guests are asked to remain in their seats for the duration of the ceremony.

• Can I bring children to the ceremony? Do they need a ticket?

  We know that it is not always possible to make alternative childcare arrangements, but we do advise against bringing any young children to your graduation ceremony, as it is a long and formal occasion where children can become bored and restless.

  Children aged five years and over who attend must have their own seat. Discounted tickets are available at £22.50. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guest and are your responsibility. Children under the age of five years old are not permitted.

  It is not possible for children, no matter their age, to be seated with graduates, so please ensure they have a chaperone with them at all times. If they are not accompanied by a suitable adult guest, you will be asked to leave so that you can care for them and you will miss your graduation ceremony.

  Buggies and seat carriers are not permitted in the venue.

  We reserve the right to ask any child (with their adult) to leave the venue during the ceremony if they are making unnecessary noise which is disruptive to the proceedings or to the enjoyment of other guests.

• I've bought guest tickets and I'm now unable to attend. What should I do?

  If you require a refund on any (or all) of your guest tickets, please submit a request before 1st October 2026. No refunds will be made after this date.

  Requests for refunds must be made in writing and sent via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  Refunds will be made to the person who purchased the tickets and not to any third party. All eligible refund requests will be processed within two weeks of the date the request is received.

• What name will you read out during the graduation ceremony?

  The name read out at the ceremony will be your full, official name which also appears on your award certificate and the ceremony programme.

  However, if you prefer to be referred to by another name, please inform us via email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 11 September 2026. 

• Can I have photographs taken on the day?

  Yes. Please book a photography package when you place your gown order with Ede & Ravenscroft. Photography packages start from £39.

• I’ve missed the deadline to purchase additional guest tickets. What can I do?

  Unfortunately, due to seating and catering requirements, we are unable to extend the deadline given for purchasing additional guest tickets.

Our webpages are full of information to assist you with your Graduation ceremony. If you are unable to find the answer to your question, then the best way to contact the Graduation Team is to contact us by email. Please ensure that you include your student ID number (UcWA six digit number) when sending your email, as it enables us to better assist you.

• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Can I take my own photos or video?
  
  Taking photographs and video is permitted in the venue, however, we would ask guests to be considerate of others and not block aisles or exits.

• Can I have a professional photograph taken?
  
  Ede and Ravenscroft offer a professional photography service and will be located in the University Centre before the ceremony, from 08:00. 

  Individual portrait shots are available, as well as the opportunity to have photographs with your guests. For further information on the type of package Ede and Ravenscroft offer, please see here.

  You can save time and money by pre-booking your graduation photography online at the same time as you book your academic dress. 

Image capture statement
We would like to inform you that the UcWA graduation ceremony will be photographed, videoed and/or otherwise captured in image form. These images and video content may then be used by UcWA and CWA for publicity and promotional purposes such as prospectuses, advertising campaigns, websites, exhibition stands, posters, leaflets, national or local press articles etc. It is important to note that if any images are published on the internet, they will be accessible to users from all over the world.

It is possible that representatives from the press, television or radio may attend the graduation ceremony and capture their own images for publication or broadcast purposes. Due to the scale of this event we are unable to obtain written consent from each individual attending or working at the event. Therefore we will assume that, whilst participating in this event, all persons agree to their image(s) being captured for the purposes stated above.

If you do object to your image(s) being used in this way, please make yourself known to one of the organisers on the day or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before you attend.

Previous ceremonies 

The UcWA graduation is held in the historic King's Lynn Minster, it is a celebratory event which is filmed and available to watch shortly after the ceremony. 

Watch previous ceremonies below

Graduation bookings are currently closed and will open later in the year. When bookings open, we'll send you an invitation with instructions on how to book.

It is very important you keep your email address up-to-date on your student portal. Emails will come from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., so please add this email address to your safe senders list.

• How do I confirm my attendance?

  As a graduate, you do not need to buy a ticket to attend your ceremony, but you must confirm your attendance.

  You will receive an email at the beginning of March 2026 with a link to confirm your attendance. 

  Confirming your attendance is free of charge and must be done by 5pm on Monday, 24 August 2026 if you are planning to attend. If you have not confirmed your attendance by 24 August 2026, we will assume you do not wish to attend.

• How do I purchase guest tickets?

  Once you have confirmed your attendance, you will be able to purchase a maximum of two guest tickets. These are required for entry to the ceremony and the post-ceremony refreshments. An adult guest ticket costs £27.50 and a child ticket (5 - 17years) costs £22.50. Tickets include a souvenir programme and complimentary refreshments at the post-ceremony reception. Children under the age of five years old are not permitted.

  Guest tickets are available to purchase at the beginning of March until 31 August 2026.

• I would like to purchase more than two guest tickets

  Sale of tickets closes on Monday,  31 August 2026 at 5pm, when we will review the capacity for graduation. Any additional tickets will then be offered to all graduands by email, with a link to enable you to purchase additional guest tickets on a first come, first served basis.

• Can I defer my graduation ceremony?

  Yes, all students can request to defer their graduation ceremony once, to the following year's ceremony, if they have exceptional circumstances that prevent them from attending their allocated ceremony. If you would like to request to defer your ceremony, you must confirm this in writing to us via email, including your student ID number within the initial booking period, stating your reason for deferral.

• When will I receive my guest tickets?

  There are no physical tickets. Your guests will need to give their names at the check-in desk in King's Lynn Minster on the day of your ceremony. Please note, guest tickets are not transferable between graduands. You must state the full name of your guests when booking your guest tickets.

• Seating

  Graduands will be seated separately from your guests and will be seated in the order in which your names are called to cross the stage. Each row will be directed to the stage at the correct time by a member of the marketing team.

  Guest tickets do not have allocated seat numbers and your guests will be directed to the best available seats on the day. If your guests arrive late or separately, it may not be possible to seat them together.

  If you, or any of your guests, have any special seating/accessibility requirements, please indicate these when confirming your attendance/purchasing tickets. Special seating requirements will be based on your requirements and will not necessarily be at the front. We will endeavour to accommodate all requirements.

• Children at the ceremony

  We know that it is not always possible to make alternative childcare arrangements, but we do advise against bringing any young children to your graduation ceremony, as it is a long and formal occasion where children can become bored and restless.

  Children aged five years and over who do attend must have their own seat. Child tickets are available at the discounted price of £22.50. Children under the age of five years old are not permitted. 

  All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guest and are your responsibility. It is not possible for children, no matter their age, to be seated with graduates, so please ensure they have a chaperone with them at all times. If they are not accompanied by a suitable adult guest, you will be asked to leave so that you can care for them and you will miss your Graduation ceremony.

  Buggies and seat carriers are not permitted in the venue.

Once you have booked a place at your graduation ceremony, you can arrange robe hire for your graduation ceremony.

Your entire robe package can be booked through Ede & Ravenscroft the beginning of March 2026. Robe package hire consists of gown, hood and mortar board.

We recommend you wear smart, traditional or national dress under your robes. The gowns are quite heavy and will need to be secured to your normal clothes in order to stay in place with velcro fastenings. Wearing a shirt or blouse is helpful so that the hood can be fastened onto a button. You may also find it helpful to bring some hair clips with you to keep your mortar board secure.

• How do I order my robe package?

  You will be able to order your robe package online from the beginning of March 2026. If you wish to hire a robe after this date, a late fee may be applied.

  To book your robe package, please enter your Student ID (person code on student portal) and follow the instructions. Please check your ceremony and degree details are correct before purchasing the hire. You will need your size measurements ready to enter when booking.

  • Head circumference to pre-order your mortarboard. For your head circumference, measure around your head, one inch (2.5cm) above the eyebrow at the same level all the way around in cm or inches. 
  • Height: Measure your height in feet and inches.
  • Chest measurements: Measure your chest in cm or inches. 
  • Your credit or debit card details

  
  Information on how to take your measurements can be found on the Ede and Ravenscroft website during completion of the ordering process. 

  PLEASE FOLLOW THIS STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ORDER YOUR ACADEMIC DRESS

  • Visit: ucwa.ac.uk/graduation-gowns
  • Enter institution name: University Centre West Anglia
  • Enter your student ID, surname and preferred email address and click continue
  • Please select your graduation ceremony time and date
  • Select your award details and click submit. Please note that the correct award will already be pre-allocated and you only need to select the one option available to you. 
  • Select 'Academic Dress' and submit your gown, hood and head measurements and 'add to bag' 
  • Select 'Photography' if you'd like to arrange photography on the day at the University Centre West Anglia and 'add to bag' 
  • Click proceed to checkout, check all of your details are correct and checkout to pay for your academic dress, and photography if required.

  
  Please note that booking academic dress or photography via Ede and Ravenscroft does not mean that you have booked your tickets to the graduation ceremony. 

• How much will my robe package cost (gown, hood and mortar board)?

  ARU Bachelors - £47.00

  BTEC HND/HNC - £39.00

  Huddersfield CertEd - £43.00

  Cert Ed - £43.00

  ARU Cert HE - £47.00

  CTLLS - £43.00

  C&G L5 – 43.00

  TQUK - £34.00

  All Foundation Degrees - £47.00

  ARU HND/HNC - £43.00

  Huddersfield PGCE - £47.00

• Where will I collect my robe package?

  All graduands must collect their pre-ordered gowns on the morning of the ceremony. 

  Gowning will take place from 8am onwards in the University Centre

  University Centre West Anglia 
  Tennyson Avenue
  King's Lynn
  Norfolk
  PE30 2QW

  To collect your gown, you must have a copy of your gown hire reference number. You should have received this via an email confirming your order at the time of placing it, and a text message from Ede and Ravenscroft in the three days prior to your ceremony. 

  Your academic dress must be returned to Ede and Ravenscroft at the University Centre no later than 4pm on the same day.