Graduation 2025

Event Overview

This year’s ceremony will take place on Friday 17th October at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1QJ.

Below, you can find information about the ceremony and tickets, as well as being able to order your gown and photography.  If you have any questions or problems relating to the Graduation Ceremony, please contact the UCO Graduation Team on 0161 344 8800.

Please note:

As UCO is a collaborative partner with other universities, some of you will also be invited to a Graduation Ceremony at those universities. You may, if you wish, attend either graduation ceremony or both, it is entirely your decision. This means you may be contacted by these universities with details of their Graduation Ceremonies, or you can get further details using the links below:

University of Huddersfield

University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)

Sheffield Hallam University

General Information

Please be aware that:

• Invitations to the ceremonies are issued to all final year students in anticipation of the successful completion of their course in time for the ceremony.
• To be eligible to attend a graduation ceremony, graduands must have i) passed an award ii) paid all outstanding academic tuition fees iii) paid any outstanding library fees/fines. If you register to graduate and find you are unable to attend due to one of the above reasons, any costs incurred will be fully refunded to you.
• Invitations will be posted out to your home address.
• Gowning, photography and tickets should be booked directly with WM Northams Gowning
• Students may apply for TWO guest tickets in the first instance.
• Closing dates for registration of attendance and payment for guest tickets must be adhered to in order to guarantee seats in the venue. The dates will be advertised as part of the invitation process.  Due to the limited capacity of the Hall, requests to attend after these dates cannot be guaranteed.
• Certificates are not issued at the ceremonies; these are posted to your home address within four months of your Course Assessment Board.

 

Booking Your Tickets

If you are eligible to graduate this year you will be sent an invitation shortly. Tickets MUST be booked by Friday 3rd October if you wish to attend.

You can book your tickets via the William Northam website along with your official robes and photographs. Payments must be made at the time of booking.

Graduand’s Ticket

There is no charge for the graduand to attend the ceremony.  As the graduand you will receive the following:

• Your invitation to the Ceremony
• A souvenir programme
• Use of the UCO Careers Service for three years

Guest Tickets

Due to limited capacity, you can apply for up to 2 guest tickets within the hall at a cost of £10 each.

Guest seating is unallocated. Guests may choose their own seats and these are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Children aged 2 years and over must have their own seat in the hall and therefore must be included in your guest numbers. This is due to Health and Safety regulations that require all participants and guests at the ceremonies to be seated.

Additional Guest Tickets

After the registration closing date of Friday 3rd October has passed, the number of spare tickets for the ceremony is calculated.  Availability of these tickets is dependent on ceremony capacity, the number of students invited, the number of students who have applied to attend and the number of tickets which have been sold when registration is complete.

Any spare tickets for the ceremony will be available from 10am on Monday 6th October until midnight on Sunday 12th October 2025 via William Northam.  An email confirming the date and time of release will be issued nearer the time.  They are available strictly on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to two per student.

Ticket Delivery

All tickets are e-tickets and will be emailed to you after the final ticket sales close on Sunday 12th October 2025. Admission to the ceremony is by ticket only and entry will be refused to non-ticket holders.

 

Procession

Registration, gowning and photography will all take place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The doors will be open from 8.30am.

There will be a procession through the town centre prior to the ceremony (weather and any route restrictions permitting). All graduands are expected to take part in the procession except for special circumstances. Graduands will leave the Queen Elizabeth Hall and make their way to the town centre (location to be confirmed).  Guests are asked to make their way directly to the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Please note that the road surface of some parts of the route are cobbles, so it is advised that you don’t wear high heels/stilettos.

 

What Happens at the Ceremony

The following will outline the procedures to be followed once you are inside the Hall:

• Once the procession arrives at the Hall, you will be put into seat order and process into your seats
• Your guests will not be seated with you
• If you have not already advised us that you do not wish to shake hands with the Chair of Ceremony, please inform an usher before you take your seat
• Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched to silent or switched off
• Fifteen minutes before the ceremony begins members of staff will ensure that students are sitting in the correct seats
• At the start of the ceremony, you will be asked to stand as the academics process through the auditorium to the stage
• When the academics have taken their seats, you should sit down
• During the opening address, an usher will guide the first row of students from their seats to the stage. During the ceremony, the usher will return to the end of each row in order to indicate when it is that row’s turn to move. Please wait for the usher to appear before leaving your seat
• If you are receiving an undergraduate or postgraduate award you will stand at the edge of the stage until your name is called. You will then cross the stage to shake hands with a member of staff from the Awarding Body institution. This is the conferment of your award, and no certificate will be presented
• On leaving the stage, you should follow the ushers’ directions to your seat. It is possible that you may not return to your original seat
• The conferment of awards is followed by the official speeches. At the end of the ceremony, you will be asked to stand whilst the academics process from the stage to form the guard of honour, through which students will be directed row by row
• Once all graduates have left the ceremony venue, your guests will be directed to join you.

 

Reception and Refreshments

We will be holding a Graduate Reception at the Queen Elizabeth Hall after the ceremony. We look forward to welcoming all graduates and their guests.

The refreshments will include:

• Selection of canapés*
• Glass of fruit juice

*Vegetarian options available, please advise of any requirements when booking.

Tea and coffee will be available for graduands and guests to purchase before the ceremony.

 

Official Robes and Photography

Wearing academic dress at an award ceremony is compulsory and you cannot participate or cross the stage without it. It comprises of gown, hood and mortarboard and denotes your university and the title of the award you have obtained. On the day of your ceremony, you should wear smart dress and it is recommended that you wear a shirt or blouse with buttons.

Gowns can be collected from the Queen Elizabeth Hall from 8.30am on the day of the ceremony and returned by 2.30pm the same day.

This year William Northam is offering a special gowning and photography package deal for UCO students. This comprises:

• Standard robe hire
• (One) 10” x 8” portrait
• (Two) 5” x 4” portraits (of the same image)

Alternatively, you can hire just your robes on their own. Prices are available on their website.

Please be aware that UCO photographers will be taking photographs on the day of the ceremony, which may be used in UCO publicity. Wherever possible your consent will be obtained but this may not be practical in all circumstances (for instance crowd shots).

 

Booking your Gown and Photography Package

Gown hire will open on Monday 30th June and orders must be placed by Friday 3rd October 2025.

You should place your order online at www.williamnortham.com or by telephone on 0870 240 1852 (national call rates will apply. The call centre opening hours are 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday).

Before you order, you need to have the following information available:

• The name of the award which you will be receiving
• The time and date of your ceremony (Friday 17th October 2025)
• Your chest size and your height – should you require any special requirements i.e., an extra-large or small gown, please make this clear when ordering. William Northam will endeavour to meet your requirements.
• Your hat size – measure the circumference of your head approximately 2.5cms above your eyebrows and state the measurement in centimetres or inches.
• Your credit/debit card details.
• You should wear the academic dress of the degree which you are being awarded, NOT the dress of a degree which you may already hold.

If you are unsuccessful in passing your course this time, you will need to cancel your robe. To receive a refund this must be done directly with Northam’s no less than 7 days prior to the date of your ceremony. You should ensure that you read the Terms and Conditions on the William Northam website.

 

Cancellation Policy

In the event that the Graduation Ceremony cannot take place, is delayed, or times for the Graduation Ceremony are changed as a result of any events, omissions, or non-events that are beyond the reasonable control of UCO, including (without limitation) acts of God, riots, war, acts of terrorism, epidemic or pandemic, UK Government imposed restrictions and/or health and safety guidance related to Covid-19, period of national mourning, fire, floor, storm, earthquake or industrial action, UCO shall not be liable for any losses, direct or otherwise, incurred by Graduates and their guests.