Frequently asked questions
About graduation
- What happens if I don't complete my course?
- Am I eligible to attend the ceremony?
- How do I clear any outstanding debts to the University?
- How do I get my certificate if I'm not attending my ceremony?
About the tickets
- How do I get tickets to attend my ceremony?
- What is my student ID number?
- I've missed the deadline for booking tickets. What should I do?
- I can't use the online booking system – is there another way I can buy tickets?
- I'm having difficulty viewing the online booking system. What should I do?
- Do I have to pay for my ticket?
- Why do my guests have to pay?
- Who should I inform if my guests or I have special requirements?
- I applied for my graduate ticket but can't attend. What should I do?
- All or some of my guests can't attend. Can I get a refund?
- I didn't receive a confirmation email when I ordered tickets. What does this mean?
- How and when will I receive my tickets?
- How many guest tickets can I buy?
- My tickets haven't turned up – what should I do?
- I need a visa support letter – how do I apply for one?
About the ceremony
- My friend is attending a different ceremony – can I go to that one instead?
- Can children attend the ceremony?
- When should I arrive?
- What happens if I get there late?
- How long does the ceremony last?
- Where will I and my guests be seated?
- What happens during the ceremony?
- Will my classification be read out?
- What should my name card say?
- What happens after the ceremony?
- Will I be sent any more information about my ceremony?
About gowns and the dress code
- What should my guests and I wear?
- Where and when can I get my gown?
- If I can't go to the ceremony, can I get a refund on my gown?
About graduation photos
- Where and when can I get official graduation photographs taken?
- Do I need to book or pay for my photography session in advance?
- Can my guests take pictures during the ceremony?
About graduation…
What happens if I don't complete my course?
You'll be sent a letter containing information on any next steps you should take.
Am I eligible to attend the ceremony?
If you have received confirmation from your faculty that you have achieved your degree then, providing you have no outstanding debts to the University (including library fines), you are eligible to graduate.
How do I clear any outstanding debts to the University?
You cannot graduate while you have any unpaid fees or charges to the University (this includes library fines). Please make sure that you clear any outstanding debts at least a week before the ticket booking deadline – this is so that our systems are updated in the necessary time to allow you to purchase your tickets. You can clear your debt (including library fines) by contacting Credit Control on +44 (0)20 8417 3827 or by paying online at www.kingston.ac.uk/epay. They will be happy to assist you with any queries relating to your outstanding debts or payments you wish to make.
How do I get my certificate if I'm not attending my ceremony?
Simply ask for your certificate and transcript to be sent to you. Find out how.
About the tickets…
How do I get tickets to attend my ceremony?
You must apply for tickets online in advance of your ceremony. Even though there's no charge for graduate tickets, you still must book your ticket by the deadlines given below. If you miss the deadline you cannot attend your ceremony. Book your ticket online.
Graduating in March 2012?
The deadline to book your graduation tickets is Tuesday 21 February 2012.
What is my student ID number?
It's the seven digit number found on your Kingston University ID card.
Important: When logging in please do not use the letter K when asked to enter your ID number, just use the first seven numbers.
I've missed the deadline for booking tickets. What should I do?
Sorry, but once the deadline has passed we cannot guarantee that there will be available tickets. Please try and book tickets online before contacting us. Please also check the homepage for further information. If there are no tickets available you'll have to ask for your certificate and transcript to be sent to you.
I can't use the online booking system – is there another way I can buy tickets?
No. But we'll do our best to help. Please complete the online query form here.
I'm having difficulty viewing the online booking system. What should I do?
The website is best viewed using Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 7 and above. You may experience difficulties if you are using a different browser such as Firefox or Opera.
Do I have to pay for my ticket?
No. Graduate tickets are free of charge, but you've still got to book your ticket by the deadline in order to attend your ceremony. Book now.
Why do my guests have to pay?
The charge of £23 (including VAT) for each guest ticket helps to pay for the cost of the ceremony. However, we do our best to keep costs – and therefore ticket prices – as low as possible.
Who should I inform if my guests or I have special requirements?
When you're booking online please provide details of any special requirements – such as mobility difficulties. Guests who are wheelchair users should order that specific guest ticket when booking. If we don't know your requirements well in advance, we cannot guarantee that we'll be able to accommodate them on the day. View access information for each venue.
I applied for my graduate ticket but can't attend. What should I do?
Please let us know as soon as possible by completing the online query form.
All or some of my guests can't attend. Can I get a refund?
Unfortunately not. We work on a no refund policy. However, those graduates who have already booked tickets, but have then been informed that they have not achieved their award and are therefore not eligible to graduate, will be entitled to a refund.
If you have already ordered your gown but can no longer attend the ceremony, see how to get a refund.
I didn't receive a confirmation email when I ordered tickets. What does this mean?
It could mean the order hasn't been processed properly. Please tell us immediately by completing the online query form.
How and when will I receive my tickets?
If you gave a UK delivery address, tickets will be posted to you a week before graduation. However, if you gave a non-UK address, then you need to pick up your tickets on the day at the information desk on the ground floor of the Rose Theatre.
How many guest tickets can I buy?
You can buy at least two guest tickets. But, as seating varies from ceremony to ceremony, we can only tell you if you can buy more when you book online.
My tickets haven't turned up – what should I do?
If you've supplied a UK address, then your tickets should arrive a week before the ceremony. If they don't turn up then please bring a print-out of your confirmation email to the information desk on the ground floor of the Rose Theatre on the day of your ceremony and your tickets will be re-issued.
I need a visa support letter – how do I apply for one?
If your student visa has expired, please complete the online visa support form now.
About the ceremony…
My friend is attending a different ceremony – can I go to that one instead?
Sorry but no.
Can children attend the ceremony?
Yes, but it'll last up to 1.5 hours, so it's not advisable to bring very young children. Children cannot sit with graduates, they must sit with the guests. We ask that they're taken out of the auditorium if they disrupt the ceremony.
You can order a complimentary ticket for any child aged two or under, please choose the child ticket (aged under three) option when you are ordering your guest ticket(s). Everyone that enters the auditorium MUST have a ticket. Children aged three years and over must have their own seat – costing £23 (including VAT).
Please note that if you need a ticket for a child aged two years and under, this ticket will be inclusive of your ticket allowance, eg if you have a limit of four guest tickets and need a complimentary ticket for a child aged two years and under, you will only be able to purchase three guest tickets and one complimentary child ticket.
We also request that buggies and pushchairs are either left at home or checked into the Rose Theatre cloakroom free of charge.
When should I arrive?
To allow enough time to collect your gown, have your official graduation picture taken, and get to the Rose Theatre, we suggest you arrive by 9.00am for a morning ceremony, and by 1.00pm for an afternoon ceremony.
Ceremonies on 28 March 2012: Details of times and locations will be published on this website soon. Nearer the date of the ceremonies, you will also be able to download a graduation day information booklet which will contain details of relevant venues and timings.
What happens if I get there late?
If you arrive late, we cannot guarantee that you will be admitted into the auditorium or that you can process on the stage with the other graduates from your course. If the 'presentation awards' part of your ceremony has finished, you will not be able to cross the stage.
How long does the ceremony last?
Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, but times do vary.
Where will I and my guests be seated?
Graduates and their guests will not be seated together. Graduates will be seated in the auditorium on the ground floor. Your ticket will have a seat number which is your allocated seat. And your guests will be seated on any one of the theatre's three floors. Ushers will show them to their seats.
What happens during the ceremony?
Seating is arranged so that groups of graduates can be presented to the Vice-Chancellor in alphabetical order. So please sit in the seat you have been allocated.
Ushers will direct you from your seat out of the auditorium and onto the stage. You will each have a name card which you must hand to the member of staff on the rostrum.
When your name is announced you walk to the centre of the stage to shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor. You then cross to the exit at the far side of the stage, and collect your certificate off-stage.
You'll be ushered back to a seat in the auditorium which might not be the same one you had before. For this reason it's best to check in your belongings at the theatre cloakroom or leave them with your guests.
Will my classification be read out?
No. If you've won a prize, it'll be announced when you hand your name card to the member of staff at the rostrum.
What should my name card say?
Your name card should have your first name and surname printed on it and only if you have won a prize, will the name card have this printed on it as well.
What happens after the ceremony?
Drink receptions will be held on campus as follows:
| Ceremony time | Location of drinks reception |
|---|---|
| 10.30am | Knights Park campus |
| 2.00pm | Knights Park campus |
| 5.30pm | C-Scaipe, Penrhyn Road campus |
Will I be sent any more information about my ceremony?
If you provided a UK delivery address when applying for tickets, then you'll be sent a leaflet about the ceremony with your tickets.
If you gave a non-UK delivery address then you'll be picking up your tickets at the Rose Theatre information desk on the day and you won't receive anything in the post. So you'll need to download the information leaflet relevant for your ceremony.
You should also print out the email confirming your ticket order and take it with you when you go to pick up your tickets.
About gowns and the dress code…
What should guests and I wear?
Graduations are friendly rather than formal but, as it's a special occasion, most people – including guests – go smartly dressed.
We encourage graduates to wear 'academic dress' (gown, hood and hat) at the ceremony. It's not compulsory, but that's what most graduates wear on the day.
Northams is the company that supplies all Kingston University's academic dress. To order yours and for more information, visit our gowns section.
From a practical point of view, it's best if graduates wear a shirt or blouse so that the hood can be fastened on a button. Alternatively, bring a safety pin.
Where and when can I get my gown?
Ceremonies on 28 March 2012: Details of the location for gowns and photography services will be published on this website soon. Nearer the date of the ceremonies, you will also be able to download a graduation day information booklet which will contain details of relevant venues and timings.
If I can't go to the ceremony, can I get a refund on my gown?
Northams will refund the hire cost as long as they receive your refund claim at least seven days before the ceremony. You can cancel your order at www.wmnorthams.co.uk using the 'Amend/Review/Cancel' option in the 'My Account' section. For full terms and conditions, go to the Northams website.
About graduation photos…
Ceremonies on 28 March 2012: Details of timings and locations for photography services will be published on this website soon. Nearer the date of the ceremonies, you will also be able to download a graduation day information booklet which will contain details of relevant venues and timings.
Do I need to book or pay for my photography session in advance?
No. You'll find everything you need to know in the photography section.
Can my guests take pictures during the ceremony?
Yes, cameras and camcorders are allowed in the Rose Theatre foyers and the auditorium.
Can't make it?
If you can't make it to your ceremony, you should ask for your certificate and transcript to be sent to you.
Ready to graduate?
Have you…
- Checked your ceremony date and time?
- Applied for your graduate and guest tickets?
- Received an email confirming your tickets have been purchased?
- Hired your gown?
- Downloaded and printed your ceremony information leaflet (coming soon)?
- Informed the Graduations Team of any special requirements you or your guests have?
- Cleared any outstanding debt with the University?
