Frequently Asked Questions

Graduation ceremonies will take place between Monday 2 and Friday 6 December.

The ceremonies will be held in the Kings Hall, Armstrong Building. Ticket collection, degree certificate collection, gowning, photography, and the post-ceremony drink reception will be held on Campus.

You will have received an email if you are eligible to attend, if you have not received an email, please contact the congregations office.

If you are unable your certificate will be sent to your home address. If you have not provided an up to date address, please contact the congregations office.

You can also defer your ceremony until July 2025. To do so, please contact the congregations office.

If you have or intend to appeal, you must inform us by contacting the congregations office so we can update your record accordingly.

If you have applied to resit please inform the congregations office.

Yes, if you are unable to attend in December, you can defer your graduation to July 2025, these will take place between 7 - 18 July 2025 (provisional dates only). If you wish to defer your graduation, please contact the congregations office.

To be eligible to graduate at these ceremonies, you must complete your course and appear on a pass list by Wednesday 13 November.

If you have debts to the University, these must be reduced to under £100 by 13 November in order to attend your ceremony and must be cleared completely for you to receive your certificate.

If you still think you are eligible and have not applied to attend already, please contact the congregations office.

If you need an invitation letter to your ceremony, to support a visa application for you or your guests, complete the visa letter request form.

You will receive your degree certificate from the ticket desk on the day of your graduation. You will not need your certificate for any part of the ceremony.

You do not need to bring your certificate with you. You will not need your certificate for any part of the day.

You will have received an email if you are eligible to attend, if you have not received an email, please contact the congregations office.

Your graduate ticket and up to two guest tickets are free of charge. You can purchase extra tickets on our website.

Seating will be allocated at the ticket desk for yourself and your guests. If tickets are booked at different times, all your guest tickets will still be received together and sat together.

If you would like separate seating for your guests, please ask at the ticket desk.

Although we wish to make congregations as welcoming and inclusive as possible, the formal nature and duration of the ceremonies may make them unsuitable for babies and young children. Due to fire regulations, please be aware that all children (including babies) require a guest ticket.

For any guests who are unable to attend, the ceremonies will be available to view live on our website. A recording of the ceremony will also be available to view on demand soon after the ceremony.

The graduate will collect all the tickets from the ticket desk on the day of graduation, it is the graduate’s responsibility to share their tickets with their guests. The graduate must bring ID with them to collect their tickets.

If you have not already informed us on your booking form, please contact the congregations office with any access requirements.

Please be aware parking can only be reserved for blue badge holders.

All graduates are recommended to wear the official Newcastle University Academic Dress for the ceremony.

Gown hire is now closed. You can no longer hire a gown online, but you will be able to hire one on the day of your ceremony, from Student Union Basement. Please note that it will be cash only.

Hire is one day and charges are as follows:

Non-Degree Qualifications (Diplomas and Certificates) = £43
Undergraduate Degrees = £43
Postgraduate Masters Degrees = £48
Doctorates = £53

Most academic dress at Newcastle University does not include a mortar board, by tradition.

The story goes that when Newcastle became an independent university in 1963, students celebrated freedom by throwing their traditional hats into the River Tyne. Since then, Newcastle University academic dress has not included a mortar board.

Although the Congregation ceremonies represent a chance to celebrate your achievements, they are also traditional formal events. You are encouraged to dress accordingly. We advise candidates to wear a light coloured shirt or blouse with dark trousers or a skirt. A buttoned shirt or blouse is recommended as there is a loop on the academic hood which can be affixed over a button. Alternatively, you may wish to bring a safety pin to help hold the hood in place.

Traditional and national dress is encouraged. All attendees are also advised to dress in a manner appropriate to the weather, noting that there may be queues outside the Congregations venues.

See here for the style and colour of your Academic dress style .

Gown hire is now closed. You can no longer hire a gown online, but you will be able to hire one on the day of your ceremony, from Student Union Basement. Please note that it will be cash only.

Hire is one day and charges are as follows:

Non-Degree Qualifications (Diplomas and Certificates) = £43
Undergraduate Degrees = £43
Postgraduate Masters Degrees = £48
Doctorates = £53

Please contact Gray & Son of Durham who will be able to refund your gown hire.

Hired gowns will be available to collect from the Student Union Basement on the day of your ceremony and must be returned on the same day.

Pre-booking is not possible. The photography studios will be based in the Student Union Basement. Simply drop in for your photography proofs, and then purchase online after your graduation via Tempest Photography.

Please see the Tempest photography website, where you can view the packages available. Click 'not had your graduation yet' and enter your details.

You may be aware of recent protest activity taking place on university campuses across the UK regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Palestine and Israel. This includes an encampment at Newcastle University and a small number of our students are engaged in protests in support of Palestine.  

 
As a university, we respect this right to peaceful protest and lawful freedom of speech and we want to make you aware that on the day of your visit, it is likely that there will be some protest activity on campus.   

 
The majority of protests are peaceful, but some have been noisy with banging drums and using a loud hailer. Our priority is always to ensure that our campus remains safe for everyone and that everyone enjoys their experience.   
 
You may prefer to use the pedestrian crossing and entrance point to campus by Haymarket.  

We understand this may potentially influence your decision to attend, although we sincerely hope it does not. Please contact us if you have any questions.  

You should arrive 90 minutes before your ceremony:

1. Register and collect all tickets and your parchment from The Boiler House, King's Road*
2. Collect your gown from the Student Union Basement
3. Graduates to be admitted to the Armstrong Building 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. Guests will be admitted to the Armstrong Building, 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. Ensure you have given your guests their tickets before you enter the hall. You will enter and exit through the small arch in the Student Forum.

Your ceremony will last approximately 45 minutes, with the exception of honorary ceremonies which can last up to 75 minutes.

After your ceremony
4. Attend the reception in the Lindisfarne Room, Hadrian Building. This will last for 1 hour, straight after your ceremony.

Anytime during the day
5. Visit the professional photography studios in Student Union Basement. You do not need a booking, pop by for your proofs, then you can order online afterwards.

Before you leave

Return your gown to the Student Union Basement

*Only graduates can collect tickets. Bring your Student ID (or other photographic ID

We do not have a cloakroom or anywhere to store items of luggage. Please do not bring any large items.

Car parking is unfortunately not available on campus*, but there are many car parks within walking distance. Please see the city and campus map.

 *except for blue badge holders and must be arranged in advance with the Congregations Office

Live Screening is a lecture theatre within the same building as the ceremony venue (Armstrong Building) where guests will be able to enjoy the live streaming of the ceremony on a large screen. The theatre is on the second floor of the Armstrong Building.