The Academic Procession
On the day of the ceremony, please report to the stage entrance of the venue at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony where you will be signed in and directed to the academic robing area. Staff in the robing room will be happy to locate your gown and help you put this on. If you have indicated that you have your own academic dress and intend to wear this on stage, please remember to bring this with you.
The robing room is locked during the ceremony, therefore, it is acceptable to leave coats and bags should you so wish.
All processing guests are asked to wear smart attire. Ladies should wear a dark dress/skirt and white blouse and gentlemen should wear a shirt and tie.
Procession leaders will begin to line the processions up (stage left and stage right) 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony in the corridor outside the robing room. Please pay attention to the procession leaders as they put the processions in order and please remain in position when asked to. The majority of those in the academic procession will be seated in the fixed seating in the choir area. The Chancellor's procession will be seated on stage.
You will be advised by the procession leader if you are at the start or end of a row and you’ll be given any special instructions should these apply.
The procession will be led through the theatre 10 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and will line up in the ground floor area of the Usher Hall. Any former Honorary Graduates and Court members who are processing will join the academic procession at this stage.
Please await the prompt of the procession leader to enter the auditorium. One half of the procession will enter stage left and the other half will enter stage right. Once on stage, please remain standing in front of your seat as the Chancellor’s procession enters. The mace bearer will place the mace onto the table and the Chancellor will move to the lectern to give the prompt for everyone to be seated.
The order of proceedings is as follows:
• The Chancellor opens the ceremony
• The Vice-Chancellor’s address
• Conferment of any honorary degrees
• Conferment of awards
• The Act of Conferment
• The Chancellor closes the ceremony
Please be aware that whilst on stage you are visible from the auditorium at all times and the ceremony may also be filmed. Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off during the ceremony.
When the Chancellor closes the ceremony, he will ask the assembly to stand. The mace bearer will collect the mace and will lead the Chancellor’s procession from the stage. Thereafter, the procession leaders will prompt the academic procession when to leave the stage, beginning with the first row, then the second row etc. Please leave the auditorium and return to the robing area to return your gown and collect any personal possessions you may have left.
Tickets for the graduation receptions are required and will be available from the robing room on the day of the ceremony.
Please be aware that the seating for the processions is worked out in advance and any last minute changes do have an effect. If you are aware that you can no longer attend, please give as much notice as possible by contacting Jacqui Neilson on x2612.