Preparation for Graduation

Eligibility

Graduands owing money to University Centre Colchester will not be able to attend their Graduation ceremony. Please make sure that you clear all debts with UCC by 27th September 2019, at the very latest, in order to be eligible to attend.

Booking your place

Graduands wishing to attend their Graduation ceremony must register for their complimentary ticket. Registration opens on Tuesday 6^th August and will run until Tuesday 10^th September. If you have not registered to attend by Tuesday 10^th September we will assume that you will not be attending your Graduation ceremony and offer your place to guests of other graduands.

Gowning

Once you have confirmed your eligibility to Graduate, please reserve your gowning with Ede and Ravenscroft. This booking process will open at the same time as graduand registration.

Booking places for your guests

Graduands will be able to purchase up to three guest tickets in phase one of the guest ticket sales. Tickets will cost £20 each. The sale of these tickets will run from Tuesday 6^th August to Tuesday 10^th September. During this period no further tickets may be requested or sold.

Once all graduands have had the opportunity to complete a booking and order their tickets, any guest tickets that remain unsold will be offered for purchase in phase two of the guest ticket sale.

Therefore, graduands wishing to purchase their allocation of three guest tickets must do so before Tuesday 10^th September.

Tickets sold in the second phase will be sold on a first-come first-served basis via the College website (colchester.ac.uk/graduation). Availability of the phase two ticket sale will be published on the College website on Monday 16^th September, in preparation for the sale that will open on Tuesday 17^th September at 10am. Please note that some ceremonies may sell out in phase one.

Tickets will be available for collection on the day of Graduation from Lion Walk United Reformed Church (CO1 1LX) and will not be issued in advance. Once tickets have been issued, they should be treated as cash, it will not be possible to replace a lost, damaged or stolen ticket.

Access and disability needs

Guests If any of your guests have additional dietary or mobility needs please let us know when you purchase your tickets.

Graduands If you have any additional dietary, mobility and/or require assistance getting onto stage please let us know by using the ticket registration form.

Parking If you or your guests require a disabled parking space please indicate this at the time of guest ticket booking.

Accommodation

For a list of local accommodation options – please see the Visit Colchester website.

Your Day on USB Video

Re-live the excitement and celebration of your special day by purchasing a copy of your ceremony on USB video.

Each USB video is priced at £9.99. Click here to order your copy. 

Graduation Day

Locations

Ticket collection, registration, photography and gowning will take place in Lion Walk United Reformed Church (1 on the map below).

The Graduation ceremony will be held in the Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall (2 on the map below).

The post-graduation reception will be held at The Minories art gallery (3 on the map below).

Map

Parking

Click here for a list of local car parks. The NCP operated Colchester Nunns Road car park is the closest parking option to the Graduation ceremonies. To book a disabled parking space (at the rear of the Town Hall) please email graduation@colchester.ac.uk

Alternatively, parking can be booked via www.yourparkingspace.co.uk – Graduands are entitled to a 10% discount by using the code COLCHESTER10.

Arrival

Ticket collection, registration, photography and gowning will open two hours prior to your ceremony. We recommend that you arrive two hours before the start of your ceremony to allow time for gowning and photography.

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 Moot Hall.

The ceremony

Graduands will sit in a reserved seat in the Moot Hall, the seat location will be shown on your ticket.

Guests sit separately and are free to choose from the remaining seats.

The ceremony is expected to last for 60 minutes.

After the ceremony

After the ceremony graduates and their guests are invited to attend a reception at The Minories art gallery where complimentary refreshments and a light afternoon tea are served. Please ensure that you keep hold of your tickets and drink tokens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tickets

When will guest tickets be offered for sale?
Phase one of the guest ticket sale will open on Tuesday 6^th August at 10am.

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, each ticket will cost £20.

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 UCC 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, each graduand is allowed to buy three guest tickets (in addition to their complimentary graduand ticket).

Can I purchase more guests tickets?
Once phase one of guest ticket sales has closed we will release the remaining tickets for sale in phase two. Availability of tickets in the second phase will be published online on Monday 16th September and the sale of remaining tickets will open the following day on the Tuesday.

Please note that some ceremonies may not have any additional guest tickets for sale.

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.

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 Lion Walk United Reformed Church (CO1 1LX) on the day of your ceremony.

Ceremony and Dress

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, Ede and Ravenscroft.

Where is the ceremony held?
The ceremony will be held at the Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall. Click here for a map.

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 two hours before your ceremony in Lion Walk United Reformed Church (a short walk from Colchester Town Hall). Click here for a map.

Where and when do I return my gown?
Gowns can either be returned to Lion Walk United Reformed Church (CO1 1LX) or The Minories art gallery by 5pm on the day of your ceremony. Click here for a map.

Where do I go to have photographs taken?
Once gowned, Ede and Ravenscroft offer a photography service in Lion Walk United Reformed Church (CO1 1LX) both before and after your ceremony takes place. Please note that the photography studios are much quieter after the ceremony. Family members, who do not have tickets for the ceremony, may join you in Lion Walk United Reformed Church only for the photographs. Click here for a map.

How long does the ceremony last?
Please allow 60 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 ceremonies have finished.

What happens after the ceremony?
After the ceremony all graduands and their ticketed guests are invited to The Minories art gallery for a reception and a complimentary drink (and cash bar). Click here for a map.

Location

Where will the ceremony be held?
The ceremony will be held in the Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall. Click here for a map.

Where can my guests park?
Click here for a list of local car parks.

Are there disabled parking facilities?
Yes, if  required, please reserve a disabled parking space during the guest ticket purchase. This is only available at Colchester Town Hall.