Please see below for further information about your graduation day.
Your Graduation Day
Registration opens on Thursday 31st July at 10am and will run until Tuesday 2nd September at 11:59pm. If you have not registered to attend by 2nd September, we will assume that you will not be attending your Graduation ceremony and will offer your place to guests of other graduands.
Once you have confirmed your eligibility to Graduate, you’ll be able to reserve your gowning with our gowning supplier. You will receive communication from us containing further details on how to hire or purchase gowning and photography.
Please note that we reserve the right to adjust the ticket allocation at any given time, due to health and safety regulations.
Therefore, we encourage you to purchase guest tickets as soon as registration opens to avoid disappointment. If there are any spare tickets available after 2nd September, we will notify you.
St Mary’s car park is the closest parking option to the Graduation ceremony.
Purchase pre-paid all day car parking at St Mary’s car park at a discounted rate of £3.30 through the Mercury Theatre website
Make sure to select the correct date, 26th September 2025, otherwise your voucher will not be valid for the day of Graduation.
St Mary’s car park has 11 disabled parking bays. Blue Badge holders have free parking for up to 3 hours in any bay (except LoveurCar bays), when displaying a Blue Badge with the clock set to the time of arrival.
Once you have registered and collected your gown you are invited to enjoy the celebratory pre-ceremony refreshments which will be hosted in the Mercury Theatre Café Bar. All ticketed graduands and guests can show their tickets to receive a complimentary serving of food and a drink. Further drinks can be purchased (at cost) at the Mercury Theatre Café Bar.
The Graduation ceremony will be held in the Main Theatre at the Mercury Theatre.
We recommend that you arrive between 10am – 11:15am to allow time for gowning, photography and the pre-ceremony reception.
If you arrive after 11:15am there is a possibility that you will miss the pre-ceremony reception, due to the time needed for gowning and photography.
Please note graduands and their guests who arrive less than thirty minutes before the start of their ceremony may not be permitted into the ceremony.
Once the ceremony has started, graduands and guests will not be permitted into the Mercury Theatre.
Guests sit separately and are free to choose from the remaining seats.
Seating for the ceremony will begin at 12:30pm, ready for a 1pm ceremony start and is expected to last between 60 – 90 minutes.
Guest tickets will be on sale from 10am on Thursday 31st July 2025.
Do students graduating have to pay for their own ticket?
All graduands are entitled to a complimentary ticket to attend their Graduation ceremony. This ticket must be booked – booking will open at the same time as the sale of guest tickets. This free ticket is not transferable.
Do I have to pay for guests’ tickets?
Yes, guest tickets cost £25 per ticket.
Will I get a refund if I do not pass my resits?
Yes, if you do not pass we will refund all guest ticket purchases to the card used to purchase the tickets. Please do not order gowning and photography until you have passed.
Can I graduate if I am in debt with UCC?
Graduands owing money to University Centre Colchester will not be permitted to attend Graduation. The booking system will not allow you to make a booking if you have outstanding debt.
How many guest tickets am I allowed?
In the first phase of ticket sales, graduands are allocated ten guest tickets costing £25 each (in addition to their complimentary graduand ticket).
Can I bring my children, or younger brother(s) or sister(s)?
Unfortunately, children under five years old will not be admitted to the ceremony or reception. For information on bringing newborns into the ceremony please email graduation@colchester.ac.uk
All guests, aged five and above, will need to purchase a ticket to attend.
Where and when do I collect my tickets?
We will not post out tickets. Please collect your tickets from the Mercury Theatre on the day of your ceremony.
Do I have to wear a gown, hood and mortar board?
Yes, these are required for you to be able to attend your Graduation ceremony. These must be hired from our gowning supplier.
Where is the ceremony held?
The ceremony will be held at the Mercury Theatre.
Is there a dress code for guests?
There is no specific dress code for guests; however, we ask that guests dress smartly for the special occasion.
Where and when do I collect my gown?
Gowns will be available for collection from three hours before your ceremony at the Mercury Theatre.
Where and when do I return my gown?
Gowns must be returned to the Large Rehearsal room (where they are issued) at the Mercury Theatre by 5pm on the day of Graduation.
Where do I go to have photographs taken?
Once gowned, our gowning supplier offers a photography service, at the Mercury Theatre both before and after your ceremony takes place. Your guests and those who do not have tickets for the ceremony may join you.
How long does the ceremony last?
Please allow 60-90 minutes for the ceremony.
Do I receive my certificate in the ceremony?
Yes, for those graduands who do not attend their ceremony, their certificate will be posted to them after the ceremony has taken place.
What happens after the ceremony?
After the ceremony all graduates are welcome to keep their gowns until 5pm that day.
Where can my guests park?
Click these links for a list of local car parks.
St Mary’s car park is the closest to the Mercury Theatre. You can purchase discounted parking for this car park via the theatre’s website.
Are there disabled parking facilities?
Yes, limited disabled parking is available outside the Mercury Theatre. This is available on a first-come-first-served basis.
If you have any questions about your Graduation please contact us – graduation@colchester.ac.uk
