Frequently Asked Questions
About your graduation day
Graduation ceremonies will take place between Monday 8 and Friday 19 July 2024.
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 December 2024. 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.
Yes, if you are unable to attend in July, you can defer your graduation to December 2024, these will take place between 2 - 6 December 2024 (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 Tuesday 25 June 2024.
If you have debts to the University, these must be reduced to under £100 by 25 June 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. Any extra tickets that are available you can purchase via webstore for £5.
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. Hire your gown from the University Robemakers, Gray & Son of Durham.
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 .
To ensure your day goes as smoothly as possible, we recommend you book your gown online.
Please contact Gray & Son of Durham who will be able to refund your gown hire.
Hired gowns will be available to collect from the Barbara Strang Teaching Centre 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 Percy Building. 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 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 Barbara Strang Teaching Centre
3. Graduates to be admitted to the Armstrong Building 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. (Ensure you have given your guests their tickets before you enter the hall). Guests will be admitted to the Armstrong Building, 20 minutes before the ceremony begins
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
Anytime during the day
5. Visit the Alumni Team who will be based in a tent on the Union Lawn (outside Northern Stage) for free giveaways and to find out more about your Alumni benefits
6. Visit the professional photography studios in the Percy Building
Before you leave, return your gown to the Barbara Strang Teaching Centre, Hadrian Building
*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.