Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where will my Graduation and Awards Ceremony be held?

A. All ceremonies will be held in Chester Cathedral

Accessibility facilities available at Chester Cathedral

Q. The ceremony date is inconvenient. Is it possible to attend another ceremony?

A. No. You will need to request that your award be presented in absentia.

Q. What if I want to bring more than two guests?

A. Two guest tickets are allocated to each Graduand/Diplomate.  You can request extra tickets when you register your attendance, but we cannot guarantee you will receive them.  Admittance is by ticket only.  If it is not possible to provide you with extra tickets, the Ceremonies can be watched live via the internet by going to http://graduation.chester.ac.uk/streaming.php.  It is also possible for additional guests to watch your Ceremony from the Students' Union Bar (CH1) on the Chester Campus and then join you afterwards.  

Q. When will I receive my tickets?

A. You will receive your tickets and any extra tickets you may have been allocated in the week beginning Monday 27th February 2012.  The Graduation Office will not be able to advise you of your ticket allocation before this date.

Q. What should I do if I can no longer attend the Ceremony?

A. You should contact the Graduation Office immediately on 01244 512911 or email graduation@chester.ac.uk.  Your award will be sent by recorded delivery to your home address within a month of the ceremony.

Q. How much does the ceremony cost?

A. The University of Chester is one of the few institutions that does not charge for Awards Ceremonies. However, the Dean and Chapter of Chester Cathedral, who kindly allow the University to use the beautiful surrounding of the Cathedral, do lose a considerable income from visitor donations on these occasions. They would be extremely grateful for a donation of £1 per guest, which would go towards the ever increasing cost of the preservation of this historic building.

N.B. Due to the design of the Cathedral, it is possible that you may have a restricted view of the Ceremony.  We do not allocate seating for guests, they are offered on a first come first served basis on the day of the Ceremony.

Q. What if I'm an international student?

A.  Please note, it is your responsibility to check you have the correct visa in time to attend the Graduation.  If you intend to invite family and friends to watch your Ceremony, please go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk for more information on visa requirements.

Q. Where do I collect and return my gown?

A. You should collect your gown from the Main Sports Hall in the Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, Chester, CH2 2AU.  Gowns should be returned by 6.00 pm on the day of the Ceremony.

 


Accessibility facilities available at Northgate Arena Sports Hall.

Q. Where do I have my photograph taken?

A. You have your photograph taken in the Main Sports Hall at the Northgate Arena, Victoria Road, Chester, CH2 2AU.

 


Accessibility facilities available at Northgate Arena Sports Hall.

Q. What time do I need to arrive at the Cathedral?

A. You and your guests should arrive at the Cathedral, having collected your gown from the Northgate  Arena, and be in your seat at the latest 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to start.  The Cathedral doors will open 1 hour before the Ceremony is due to start.

Q. How long will the ceremony take?

A. Each ceremony will last approximately 1 to 1½ hours.

Q. Where can I park?

A. There is parking in the Northgate Arena, but we would encourage you to use the excellent Park and Ride facilities around the City.   Please note Park and Ride car parks are locked when not in use so please observe the closing times.  Please note if you enter the Northgate Arena car park you will be asked to pay even if you do not wish to stay.  For more information on parking go to www.chester.ac.uk/graduation/parking.

Q. Is there disabled parking near the Cathedral?

A. There is limited disabled parking on the surrounding streets, but it does get extremely busy during the day.  For more information on parking go to www.chester.ac.uk/graduation/parking.

Q. What happens when I arrive at the Cathedral?

A. On arrival at the Cathedral, please enter through the door indicated on the back of your ticket.  Please make yourself known to an usher at the door who will advise you of your seat number and direct you to your seating.  You will then be seated by a Nave Usher who will check to make sure you are sat in your designated seat. At the appropriate time during the Ceremony you will be directed to the platform and your name will be checked to make sure that you are in the correct order. As you line up to receive your award, staff from Ede & Ravenscroft will ensure that your mortar board is straight and that your gown and hood is positioned correctly. When your name is called you will be presented with your award with a handshake from the Presiding Officer. On leaving the platform via the steps (unless you are a wheelchair user in which case there is a ramp) you will receive your certificate and return to your seat. At the end of the Ceremony you will process out of the Cathedral behind the staff procession.

Q. What if I am late for the ceremony?

A. It is extremely important that you arrive in good time for your Ceremony. If, however, you are late for whatever reason, every effort will be made to include you, but if your award has already been presented it will be awarded in absentia.

N.B. The Graduation and Awards Ceremonies are regarded as public events and as a result audio and visual images of the ceremony are publicly available via the sale of personalised DVDs and photography. In addition to this, the names of all Graduands/Diplomates receiving their awards are listed in the programmes produced for each Ceremony and also sent to the local newspapers to be published on the day of the Ceremonies. Chester Students’ Union also produces t-shirts with the names of all those graduating on the back. If you have completed your online booking form to indicate that you do not wish to attend your Ceremony and also object to personal data (name and award) being displayed you should inform the Graduation Office immediately on 01244 512911.

Q. Can I purchase a DVD of my ceremony?

A. DVDs are available to purchase and can be ordered in a number of ways.  Please go to www.chester.ac.uk/graduation/dvd-purchase for more information.

Q. Can I purchase University gifts?

A. Gifts are available for purchase by visiting http://shopfront.chester.ac.uk and www.chestersu.com and a selection will be available at the Northgate Arena on the day of the Ceremony.

Q. When do I receive my certificate if I advised that I wished to receive my degree/award ‘In Absentia’?

A. Certificates will be sent, recorded delivery, to the address given on your online booking form within four weeks of the Ceremonies taking place.

Q. What happens if I indicate that I will be attending my Ceremony but do not attend on the day and didn’t advise the Graduation Office beforehand?

A. The Graduation Office will have noted your absence on the day and as such, your certificate will be sent to you, recorded delivery, to the address given on your booking form within four weeks of the Ceremonies taking place.

Q. Can I bring children to the Ceremony?

A. Bringing young children to the ceremony is not recommended. However, if you choose to do so, you will be asked to remove them immediately if they become agitated or distressed. Please remember this is an official ceremony that is being filmed and streamed live over the internet and we would not want to disturb the enjoyment of others.