What is graduation?

Your University of Leicester graduation ceremony is a special occasion to celebrate your achievements. It acts as a bridge between the end of your studies and the beginning of the next stage of your life.

When and where

Our graduation ceremonies are held in January and July and most undergraduate students will graduate in July.

Our next graduation ceremonies for the class of 2025 is scheduled to take place on Thursday 16 January 2025 and Friday 17 January 2025.

We hold our ceremonies in De Montfort Hall, Leicester's largest music and performance venue, right next to campus.

What you do

Graduation is the one time when you are required to wear the traditional 'academic dress' of a gown, hood and hat. You'll hire a gown, hood and hat for the ceremony, collecting them from the Sports Hall, Charles Wilson Building on the day, although we ask that you don’t wear your hat during the ceremony.

When your name is read out during the ceremony, you walk across the stage and shake hands with the ceremony's Presiding Officer. Congratulations, you are now a Leicester graduate!

Who is there

You can bring along guests, although tickets are limited because a lot of other students will be graduating at the same time. Our ceremonies are also livestreamed online. So, anyone who can't attend can still watch you graduate from home, or at one of our livescreening locations on campus.

The ceremony begins with a procession of senior University staff who all sit on the stage throughout the ceremony.

There may also be someone receiving an Honorary Degree, who will give a speech. This is a person with a local connection (maybe they were born in Leicester or studied here) who has achieved great distinction in their field.

Afterwards (or before)

You and your guests can celebrate with fellow graduands and staff from your School/Department at a reception. There will also be a professional photography service on campus who can take your official graduation photos.