Your graduation ceremony day marks the end of your academic journey. It’s a day to celebrate your hard work and the end of an important chapter in your life.
Graduation preparation isn’t just about your graduation ceremony, it’s all the things you need to do before and after you officially graduate.
Here is everything you need to know about your graduation ceremony day:
1. You will need to register for your Graduation day
With most universities you’ll need to register for your ceremony in advance. Check with your University for registration details and deadlines.
2. You’ll need to book your tickets
If you have family members or other guests who want to attend your graduation day, you’ll need to make sure that you book their tickets in advance. Your university will normally have a policy on how many guests can attend. If you're unsure, check with your graduation organiser.
3. You must hire your cap and gown for your graduation ceremony in advance
As part of your graduation preparation, you will need to hire or buy a graduation gown and cap. Your university will advise you on what sort of gown is needed and what colour stole or hood you should wear. Normally, caps are plain black with a black tassel, but sometimes you can personalise your cap with your university's signature colours. Make sure you do this in advance, to avoid stress running up to the graduation celebration.
At Evess, we make hiring or purchasing your cap and gown for your graduation ceremony as hassle-free as possible. If you need help finding the correct gown, get in touch with our friendly team today.
4. You need to make sure you organise accommodation
If you no longer live in the area of your University, ensure that you and any family members attending book their accommodation in advance. It’s advised to book your accommodation as soon as you know your graduation date as many local hotels will get booked up quickly.
Note: A lot of hotels use dynamic pricing, where with demand, prices go up. It’s always worth provisionally booking early with free cancellation, so you cancel and rebook nearer the time if prices have gone down.
5. Plan your travel in advance
Again, if you no longer live in your University town, you’ll need to plan how you’re going to get to your graduation day ceremony. Taxi companies will be busy so be sure to book taxis in advance. If driving, ensure you know where you can park and allow yourself plenty of time to get there.
6. There will be an academic procession and speeches
As your graduation day begins, there will normally be a formal academic procession where key members of the faculty and university officials wearing traditional academic attire will enter the venue. Then, usually the university chancellor will give a brief speech followed by one or more guest speakers.
7. You’ll walk across the stage to collect your award
Normally, each graduate will walk across the stage one by one when their name and degree classification are called. You will usually shake the chancellor’s hand or doff your cap and be given your degree scroll. Your actual degree certificate will be given out after or before your graduation day.
You’ll know what your degree classification is before your graduation ceremony day.If you want to appeal your classification you’ll normally have 10-21 working days to do so after your official results have been published by the board of examiners.
8. Professional graduation photos are booked in advance
Your graduation ceremony day is a big life milestone, one that you’ll likely look back on in years to come. What better way to treasure the memory than to have a graduation photoshoot?
You’ll need to book your graduation photoshoot in advance, and after it, you’ll choose which photo package you would like.
At Evess, we offer professional studio photography for your graduation day with a range of packages available from digital galleries to full print packages.
9. You’ll want to get the infamous cap throw shot
Your graduation celebration wouldn’t be complete without grabbing your year group and getting a shot of you all throwing your caps in the air. It’s such a lovely way to signify the end of an era, and you’ll have a great photo to look back on!
10. You can benefit from Gradtag
Gradtag technology not only speeds up the process of collecting and returning your gown, but it also means you can get photos sent of you collecting your award.
When you collect your gown, register your details, and your Gradtag will be issued to you. You’ll be sent your onstage photos before you’ve even sat down!
11. There may be live stream options available
If some of your family members are unable to attend, some universities may offer a live stream of the graduation ceremony so they can watch as if they are there. You’ll need to ask your graduation ceremony day organisers for details of this in advance.
12. You’ll need to prepare an appropriate outfit
As part of your graduation preparation, make sure you pick a suitable outfit to wear underneath your gown for your graduation ceremony. It’s advised to wear something smart and formal. You might also want to consider what shoes you’ll wear as you will be walking across a stage to collect your award, so something comfortable that fits well is advised. Try to organise these in advance to avoid stressful last minute shopping trips.
13. Continue your celebrations!
Continue your graduation celebrations by booking a table at a nice restaurant or celebrating with your classmates at a local pub. Be mindful that local restaurants may get booked up, so make sure you make your reservation in advance.
Your graduation is a special day worth celebrating, so be sure you write yourself a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Post Graduation preparations
14. Ending tenancies and sorting deposits and final bills
After or just before you graduate you may be ending tenancies or giving notice to end one.
Ensure you plan and organise removal of your belongings in advance and ensure any bill accounts are closed and balances settled. Once you move out, your landlord or the agency running the property will notify you of any deposit deductions which you usually have 10 working days to agree to. If you don’t agree to proposed deductions, you’ll need to appeal with your landlord, agent or go through the deposit protection scheme.
15. Prepare a CV for job applications
Your graduation day marks a new beginning in your adult life. You’ll be thinking about your future and your career. Part of your graduation preparation is applying for graduate jobs. Applying for jobs can be a lengthy process, so get ahead by working on your CV before your graduation.
When you graduate it might be helpful to get a Linkedin profile so you can network. It’s also recommended to maintain connections with your university’s career services.
16. Prepare new accommodation
At University you might have been in student halls or a house share. As you transition from student to graduate, you’ll need to think about ongoing accommodation. Can you feasibly stay with family whilst you search for a graduate job or do you need to find accommodation for a new job you're starting?It can be helpful when applying for jobs to look at the prices of rent in that area, if you get a few job offers this could help make your decision on which job to take.
17. Prepare keepsakes
After your graduation ceremony day, you might want to have some keepsakes of the day.
You should pick out which graduation photo you would like and frame your degree certificate. You might also want to get a book where professors or fellow students can write messages for you to look back on in years to come. You might also want to purchase University branded graduation memorabilia.
18. Be excited for the future!
Your graduation marks years of study and hard work, although you might be apprehensive about the future, it’s an exciting time where you can make new connections and continue to develop. Here, adult life really begins!
At Evess, we take the stress out of your graduation day. You can hire all you need for your graduation ceremony day with ease!
