On The Day

Getting to the venue

For information on how to get to Southbank Centre: Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX, please visit their website for the closest train and overground stations, bus routes and more. More detailed bus info is also available here.

Arrival time

Graduates:

Please arrive at the Royal Festival Hall up to two hours before your ceremony starts:

Graduates: this will give you enough time to sign-in and collect your allocated seat ticket, get your gown and cap, and take your booked professional photographs before the ceremony.

Guests: Please arrive at the Royal Festival Hall no later than 45 minutes before the ceremony begins and up to 2 hours for family portrait photography.

Information on guest ticket purchases will be provided later this year.

When you arrive

When you arrive, please check-in at the graduate registration desks.

All graduates must check-in and collect a graduate ticket in order to access the ceremony and process across the stage. All graduates are seated together in the front stalls of the auditorium and you must keep your graduate ticket with you at all times.

Graduation gowns

You can book a gown from Ede & Ravenscroft when registration opens later this year. Without pre-booking there is no guarantee a gown will be available on graduation day.

Wearing a cap and gown across the stage is optional.

Professional photography

Located on the Ballroom Floor of the Royal Festival Hall, photography services are available before each ceremony. You can pre-book a photography package from Ede & Ravenscroft when registration opens later this year. Please note, photography gets very busy, so please aim to arrive 2 hours prior to your ceremony time in order to take your photos.

Booking a photography session is optional.

Commencement of Ceremony

Please listen for the announcement requesting all guests and graduates to take their seats in the auditorium 30 minutes prior to your ceremony start time. The duration of the ceremony is approximately 90 minutes.

Graduate and guest tickets will indicate if you are seated on the Green or Blue side of the auditorium – please check the Royal Festival Hall signs above the stairs to find the correct side. Members of staff will also be on hand to help guide you.

Return of Academic gowns

Located on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall. Please return academic robes before departure.

Graduation mementos

Located on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall. Graduation DVDs and merchandise are available throughout the day.

Have more questions?

Please visit our FAQs page to find out more.