Frequently asked questions
Answers to our most frequently asked questions about graduation and preparing for your ceremony.
Is my place automatically reserved?
No, places for graduation are not automatically reserved, so you will need to register your place. The booking form for Winter Graduation 2024 will be emailed to eligible graduates in October 2024.
If you were eligible to attend a previous ceremony, you can defer to the Summer Graduation in July 2025 by completing the Invitation Request form by 15 December 2024.
Please note you are only eligible to defer your Graduation invitation for up to two years on completion of award.
I'm unsure if I'm able to graduate. Am I eligible to attend a graduation ceremony?
You are eligible to attend graduation if you have:
- Completed your programme of study or are in the process of completing your studies this academic year;
- Been successfully awarded at an examination board by your graduation day; and
- Have no outstanding debts owed to the University of Salford.
Engineering students who opt to continue onto the MEng are not eligible to graduate with a BEng as students are only allowed to obtain one qualification from MEng/BEng programmes.
If you graduated in a previous academic year but have not yet attended a ceremony, please email grad-acd@salford.ac.uk or call +44 (0)161 295 2313 if you would like to attend this year's graduation.
I am unsure if I have any outstanding debts to the university. How do I check?
Please check with the Income and Treasury Management team at income-treasury@salford.ac.uk if you are unsure whether you owe debt to the university.
You must return all library books before graduating, as these are classed as debts.
How do I book to attend the ceremony?
You need to register to attend your graduation ceremony. The booking form for Winter Graduation 2024 will be emailed to eligible graduates in October 2024.
How many guests can I bring?
Complimentary guest tickets
You can bring two guests with you into the theatre where your graduation ceremony takes place using your complimentary guest tickets. You will need to select your complimentary guest tickets when you book your place at graduation. These tickets are free and you will collect them on your graduation day from the Ticket Desk. Guest tickets are not posted in advance.
If you’ve already registered to attend your graduation and you are unsure about how many complimentary tickets you requested, please contact our Graduation Team by emailing grad-acd@salford.ac.uk to check.
Additional guest tickets
You can also bring additional guests along with you to celebrate the day, who can watch the ceremony via live stream on campus (in the Peel Building at Winter Graduation and in our MediaCity building at Summer Graduation) or on YouTube. Live streaming is free and no booking is required.
Occasionally we have additional tickets available on the day however, this is not guaranteed. If tickets are available, they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, priced at £12.50 each. Please ask at the ticket desk on the day if there are any additional guest tickets available when you collect your complimentary guest tickets.
Can we bring children to the ceremony?
Children are welcome at the ceremonies, but any child under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Health and Safety regulations determine that all participants and guests at the ceremonies are to be seated, so children two years of age and older must have their own seat and their own ticket. Children who are less than two years old may sit on an adult’s lap and will require a free ‘Child Under 2’ ticket, which you can add to the access requirements notes when you register to attend graduation. You can contact us to add a Child Under 2 ticket to your access requirements if you have already registered by emailing grad-acd@salford.ac.uk.
Graduation ceremonies are approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, which can sometimes prove to be too long for younger children who may become restless. For the comfort of other guests, guardians may be asked to take any child that becomes agitated or distressed out of the theatre and into the reception area.
Alternatively, we currently have Busy Bees nursery for children aged three months to five years old on our Frederick Road Campus, next to the Mary Seacole Building. You will need to contact Busy Bees nursery regarding sessions and availability of places. There will be a charge for this service and places are limited. Allow sufficient time to drop your child off prior to the ceremony.
How do I arrange a visa letter for myself or for my overseas guests?
You can find the process for arranging visas for yourself or your guests on our dedicated Graduation visas page. This information outlines how to request a 'Proof of Study' letter for visa applications.
You can start the process once you have registered for graduation. We recommend you ensure you have enough time for the full process to ensure any relevant visas are granted in time.
How much does graduation cost?
There is no charge for graduation. The only compulsory cost that you will incur is the hire of the academic gown and this is paid directly to Graduation Attire.
Official photographs and souvenirs will also be available for purchase on the day.
My guests need overnight accommodation, what is on offer?
The university has negotiated special rates with a number of local hotels.
I, or a member of my graduation party, have access requirements, what should I do?
If you or a guest has an access requirement, please provide information about this in the box provided when you register to attend your ceremony and we will make appropriate arrangements or contact you to discuss them. If you have already registered and forgot to add this information please email grad-acd@salford.ac.uk.
Will I still receive a certificate before attending/if I don't attend a ceremony?
Yes. Graduation ceremonies are a celebration of your degree award and not the actual awarding of your degree which happens after your final results. Therefore, you will receive your certificate via post around six to eight weeks after receiving your final result.
What should I do if I have changed my name since registration?
If your name requires amendment, it must be updated before you submit your final piece of work or sit your last examination. Email askus@salford.ac.uk to request this and attach evidence of your full and correct name (e.g. passport, driving license, deed poll), with your student ID number and full name.
After your results have been ratified at the awards board and a results letter issued by your School Office, your name cannot be amended, except in line with the university’s Name Change Policy, which in most cases incurs a fee (currently £50.00).
What do I do if my ceremony is full?
Graduation is a large-scale, complex event. The number of ceremonies is carefully planned based on eligible graduates and those who have formally requested to defer a previous invitation as well as past attendance and pass rates. We’re sorry if you’ve been unable to book onto your ceremony. You can request to join a future graduation event by completing the Invitation Request form by 15 December 2024.
Please note you are only eligible to defer your graduation invitation for up to two years on completion of award.
I am in my final year and due to graduate. Can I still appeal?
If you submit an appeal, you may still attend the graduation celebration ceremony if the board of examiners has confirmed an award. The current award/classification will appear in the graduation brochure. If your degree classification changes as a result of a successful appeal, you will be asked to return any degree certificate which has been issued before you can collect a revised certificate. You can find more information on our appeals process.
What happens on the day of my ceremony?
- More information on the on the day page
Where will I be sat?
Graduates are seated in order of award e.g., PhD, MA, UG and then alphabetically within each programme. You must be sat in the right place to ensure your name is called correctly when you walk across the graduation stage. You will also be required to remove your cap for this part of the ceremony.
Will there be gowns and photos at the ceremonies?
Yes, all ceremonies will be traditional and will include gowning and photography. Visit our topic pages for full details:
What should I wear for the ceremony?
The ceremony is a formal occasion, so graduates and guests are asked to dress appropriately. You are advised to wear a buttoned shirt or blouse to secure the hood. Graduates must also be wearing the appropriate academic gowns and hoods (If your clothes do not have any buttons to secure the hood, please bring pins with you as they will not be provided). You will not wear your graduation cap until the end of your ceremony.
Can I collect my certificate from the University on the day of my ceremony?
For information about collecting your certificate, visit the certificates and transcripts page.
Will the ceremonies be live streamed?
A live stream of all ceremonies will be shown on campus. At winter graduation live streams are held in Peel Building on Peel Park campus. At summer graduation live streams are held in the MediaCity building. This is free of charge; no booking is required.
- Ceremonies will also be streamed on YouTube
Can I purchase University of Salford merchandise on the day of Graduation?
A range of graduation merchandise is available from campus clothing. The site features a range of Fairtrade University of Salford branded items from clothing to crystal flutes to serve as mementoes of your time at Salford.
Save time and postage by ordering online to take advantage of our Click-And-Collect service so your items will be ready to collect from our stand at graduation. Extra personalisation is also available.
There will also be the opportunity on the day to purchase the following graduation merchandise from Salfood outlets:
- University of Salford branded Graduation Prosecco
- University of Salford branded Graduation Tony’s Chocolonely (vegan option available)
- Graduation teddy bears
- Re-useable University of Salford branded coffee cups
Will I receive anything after graduation?
StageClip, our special gift to you – Welcome to your Alumni Community
The moment of your graduation is one you will treasure forever, and we catch the whole thing on film for you to keep. We will send your FREE graduation clip to you by email after your ceremony, so you can download and share instantly on social media for your friends and family to see. Look out for an email from noreply@mail.stageclip.com as this will give you the information you need to access your clip.
This gift is given in celebration of all of your achievements and to welcome you to the alumni community of over 200,000 graduates worldwide. Don’t forget to tag @SalfordAlumni and use the official graduation hashtag #salfordgrad.
The Alumni Engagement Team will be based in the Maxwell Main Building on your graduation day, so please come and see us to find out how your university can continue to support you as a graduate. We offer exclusive access to a range of benefits and services, including careers support for life and our alumni networking and mentoring platform (From Salford). Find out about all the benefits and services for graduates.
How do I defer?
If you would like to defer your attendance to the 2025 Summer Graduation you can do this through the invitation sent to register for Winter. Alternatively, you can defer your attendance to the 2025 Summer Graduation by completing the Invitation Request form by 15 December 2024
Please note you are only eligible to defer your Graduation invitation for up to two years on completion of your awarded degree.
I can no longer attend my ceremony, what do I do?
- If you would like to attend an upcoming Graduation Ceremony, please contact the graduation team on grad-acd@salford.ac.uk
- If you do not want to attend your Graduation Ceremony, please let us know you can no longer attend your ceremony by contacting us on grad-acd@salford.ac.uk so we can manually amend your record.
- If you have hired your gown, you will need to contact Graduation Attire to request a refund.
Can I still get support from the University, even after I've graduated?
Yes! As a Salford graduate, you are automatically a member of a global alumni community of over 200,000 graduates. Find out more about alumni support on our after your graduation page.
My question isn't in the FAQs, what should I do?
You should contact the Graduation Team if you have any queries about the graduation ceremony itself.
- grad-acd@salford.ac.uk
- +44 (0)161 295 2313 (opening hours 09:00-16:00)
Unfortunately, we cannot help graduates arrange gown hire, photography or other souvenir services, contact the companies concerned.