On the day Graduation ceremony arrangements

Arrival at the Barbican

Please aim to arrive at the Barbican 2 hours before your ceremony begins. This will give you time to collect your tickets, obtain your robes and have any photographs taken before taking your seats in the auditorium. There are various outlets within the Barbican centre where you can purchase refreshments prior to your ceremony should you wish. Please ensure you allow sufficient travel time.

Key timings

Collecting your tickets

These will be available for collection at the registration desk, located on Level –1 (basement), two hours prior to your ceremony start.

Please bring a form of ID with you to the ticket collection point in order to collect your tickets. Please note that you will have to collect your tickets in person, and your guests are unable to collect them on your behalf. If you are arriving separately from your guests, you should arrange to meet them before the ceremony so that you can give them their tickets.

You will be picking up your graduate ticket and guest tickets, plus, importantly, your name calling card. It is essential that you keep this card safe and with you at all times – you will be giving this to the name reader as you go up on to the stage, so that we can ensure that the correct names are called out at the right time as you cross the stage!

Academic Dress

Ede & Ravenscroft gowning company will be based in the Choir rooms on Level –1 (basement). As soon as you have picked up your tickets, please head directly to the Choir rooms to pick up your robes. Please bring your hire confirmation email / gown hire reference number with you in order to speed up the process. If you have not booked in advance, you may be able to hire on the day, but we cannot guarantee the size you require will be available.

Photography Services

Tempest Photography will be managing the official photography studios, located in the fountain rooms on Level 0 of the Barbican. There is no need to pre-book photography slots – if you would like to have official photographs taken, please make your way to the photography studios as soon as you are gowned, in order to minimise queues on the day.

The photographer will also take a picture of you crossing the stage, which will be available to purchase on the day or online after the event.

For more information about photography please visit the Tempest photography website.

Graduates and guests should note that ceremonies will be live streamed and an official video clip and photograph of each graduate crossing the stage is produced. University staff, official photographers and videographers may be roaming around during your graduation day taking photographs and video clips for the University's social media channels, website and printed materials. If you do not want to be featured please contact us.

What happens during the ceremony?

The graduation programme given to you on the day will tell you the exact order of proceedings and details of speakers. There are a few introductory speeches before you are presented on to the stage.

Your name card that you are given also acts as your ticket. You must sit in the seat you are allocated, as you are called to cross the stage in alphabetical order by programme. We advise you to leave your belongings either in the cloakroom or with your guests just in case you don’t return to the same seat you were sat in after you cross the stage.

• When it is time for you to be presented on stage a member of staff will tell you which way to go – it is essential to take your name card with you.
• When you are told to go on stage, you must give your name card to the person standing at the lectern. Wait until your name is read out and then continue to cross the stage to shake the Vice-Chancellor’s hand.
• The Vice-Chancellor will shake hands with everybody; if you prefer not to shake hands, please take your programme with you onto the stage and tap your hat instead. 
• Continue to walk across the stage and down the steps on stage right; you will be directed back around the outside of the auditorium by staff back to a seat in the hall (this may not be the seat you were originally sat in).
• The moment you cross the stage will be photographed and filmed. 

Alumni Association

When you graduate, you become part of our Alumni community. Don’t forget to visit the Alumni stand on level 0 to find out about all of the benefits of being a St George’s Alumnus.

We are really looking forward to seeing you at your ceremony and hope you and your guests have a wonderful time celebrating.

StageClip – A video clip of you crossing the stage

As a gift from our Alumni Association, we are pleased to give to you a video clip of that special moment when you cross the stage. After your graduation, you will be sent a link for you to be able to download your clip and share it if you wish across your social networks. Don’t forget to include the hashtag #GeorgesForLife.

Live streaming

The ceremony will be live streamed here.

After the ceremony, the video will also be available for people to watch on our graduation website pages.

Gifts and souvenirs

The Students’ Union merchandise stall will be located on level 0, offering a range of gifts and souvenirs to mark your graduation and to remember your time at University.  

Location & access details

Please visit the Barbican location page for further details relating to location and access. 

Please note that where you have already advised us about specific accessible seating requirements, these have all been accommodated. Please do contact us on graduation@sgul.ac.uk should you wish to discuss further.

We hope you are looking forward to your graduation ceremony. If there’s anything you’re not sure about or if you have any questions that are not answered on our website, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on graduation@sgul.ac.uk.