10.30am Ceremony

All graduands must arrive between 8.00am and 9.30am.

On arrival, please go to Lincoln Castle to collect your tickets and gown. There will also be an opportunity for photographs to be taken before the ceremony begins.

The doors to the Cathedral will open at 9.30am and the ceremony will begin at 10.30am.

All guests and graduands MUST be seated by 10.00am.

Gowning and Photography

Gowns are to be collected from the Castle between 8.00am and 9.30am. Ushers will direct you upon arrival. All gowns must be returned by 1.00pm.

The official photographers will be taking photographs in the Castle from 8.00am to 9.30am before the ceremony and also after the ceremony. There is no need to pre-book any photography.

2.30pm Ceremony

All graduands must arrive between 11.30am and 1.30pm.

On arrival, please go to Lincoln Castle to collect your tickets and gown. There will also be an opportunity for photographs to be taken before the ceremony begins.

The doors to the Cathedral will open at 1.30pm and the ceremony will begin at 2.30pm.

All guests and graduands MUST be seated by 2.00pm.

Gowning and Photography

Gowns are to be collected from the Castle between 12.00pm and 1.30pm. Ushers will direct you upon arrival. All gowns must be returned by 5.00pm.

The official photographers will be taking photographs in the Castle from 12.00pm to 1.30pm before the ceremony and also after the ceremony until 5.00pm. There is no need to pre-book any photography.

7.30pm Ceremony

All graduands must arrive between 5.00pm and 6.30pm.

On arrival, please go to Lincoln Castle to collect your tickets and gown. There will also be an opportunity for photographs to be taken before the ceremony begins.

The doors to the Cathedral will open at 6.30pm and the ceremony will begin at 7.30pm.

All guests and graduands MUST be seated by 7.00pm.

Gowning and Photography

Gowns are to be collected from the  Castle between 5.00pm and 6.30pm. Ushers will direct you upon arrival. All gowns must be returned by 10.00pm.

The official photographers will be taking photographs in the Castle from 5.00 pm to 6.30pm before the ceremony and also after the ceremony until 9.30pm.

The ceremony will take place at Lincoln Cathedral, please ensure you have your tickets available for entry. Graduands must sit in the seat allocated to you as it determines the order you will cross the stage during the ceremony. Guest seats are unallocated. 

Graduands, when it is your turn to cross the stage, you will be led by a member of staff and shown where to stand. Your name will be read out, you will cross the stage and be congratulated by the chancellor. Once you have left the stage you will return to your seat to watch the rest of the ceremony. Please note you must remain seated throughout the ceremony.

Length of ceremonies can vary depending on cohort, but they are normally around 90 minutes long.

Graduation is a formal occasion and we recommend that you wear smart, formal dress. Graduands are very welcome to wear national dress and military attire.

All our ceremonies are live streamed, you will be able to watch them Live on our website or via our YouTube Channel. They will also be shown on screens across campus.

Graduation is a public celebration, by registering to take part in the graduation ceremony, graduands are confirming that they and their guests have given permission for their image to be recorded.

To celebrate your incredible accomplishments and welcome you to our Alumni community we host a Graduation Festival within Lincoln Castle grounds across the three days of Graduation. Here you will be able to share a drink with your lecturers and guests as well as buy mementos of the day and take those all important photographs to remember in years to come.

Please read our University of Lincoln April 2025 Terms and Conditions.

Useful information

Parking

The University does not provide parking for the graduation ceremonies. There are pay and display car parks near to the Cathedral and Castle that also have disabled parking bays. Please allow plenty of time to arrive in Lincoln and find a parking space before the ceremony begins, as these car parks can get busy and local roads may be busier than normal during graduation week.

You can find a map of car parks in Lincoln on the City of Lincoln Council's website (please note that the Castle Hill car park will be closed.

Registration

All students who wish to attend their graduation will be required to complete an online registration form. By completing the registration form you are consenting that the information collected can be used for graduation purposes and shared with appropriate departments within the University such as the Finance and Alumni teams. The information will not be disclosed to any third parties outside the University of Lincoln.

Children

Children are welcome at Graduation Ceremonies, however, the University of Lincoln advises that the Graduation Ceremonies are not wholly suitable for babies or young children as they are long, formal occasions.

Any children in attendance that are under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 at all times. This means that any accompanying adults will need to have guest tickets. It is the responsibility of the graduand to ensure any children under the age of 16 are always accompanied by a suitable adult.

Guest tickets will be required for any child aged four and above. Children aged three or under can attend the ceremony free of charge, providing that they sit on a guest's lap or in a pushchair. If the child will be coming in a pram or pushchair, please indicate this on the registration form. 

Behaviour

Graduation is a shared, happy occasion and we expect all students and guests to conduct themselves appropriately. Abusive, disruptive and threatening behaviour towards graduands, guests, staff from the University, the venue, or our suppliers prior to or on the day of Graduation will not be tolerated. 

The University of Lincoln reserve the right to refuse entry to Graduation or to ask anyone to leave Graduation if they act in a manner which we deem to be offensive or disruptive to proceedings or to other attendees. No guest ticket refunds will be available in such circumstances.

Graduation Ceremonies as a Public Event

The University of Lincoln’s graduation ceremonies are considered to be public events. This means that the names and award titles, but no classifications, of all graduands (including those graduating in absentia) are published in the official graduation brochure. In addition, the names of graduands will be provided to our external supplier for use on graduation products such as graduation t-shirts and hoodies. This does not include award titles or any other information.

Photography

The University’s official photographers are Tempest Graduation Photography. They will be available in the Castle grounds before or after your ceremony.

Visit Tempest Graduation Photography to view packages and prices. Unfortunately, it is not possible to pre-order a photography package, but these can be ordered during and after your ceremony.

Filming

There will be a professional video recording taken of each graduation ceremony. This will be streamed on the University of Lincoln’s website. Graduates and guests seated in the Cathedral should be aware that they may appear on this recording.

I haven’t received my graduation invite email what should I do?

The invitation email has been sent to all eligible individuals to both your personal and student email addresses.  Please remember to check your junk or spam folders.

Please note the email address is UL.Learning.Resources.Limited.TA.University.of.Lincoln@r1.dotdigital-email.com

If you believe you should have received the email but haven’t, please contact us at graduation@lincoln.ac.uk.

I can’t attend my graduation ceremony; can I defer to a different ceremony?

Graduands unable to attend the graduation ceremony they have been invited to may defer their attendance to a future ceremony. Graduands will need to email the Graduation Team graduation@lincoln.ac.uk.

Graduands who wish to defer their attendance and inform the Graduation Team of their intention to attend a future ceremony, will be added to the invitation list for the following ceremony period.

Am I eligible to graduate?

To be eligible to attend a graduation ceremony graduands must have:

• Had their award conferred by a University Board of Examiners or End Point Assessor on or before 3rd March 2025
• Paid all outstanding academic tuition fees before 26th March 2025
• Not already attended a University of Lincoln graduation ceremony for the same award

I need a graduation invite letter for visa requirements, how do I get one of these?

To request a Graduation invitation Letter please submit a Student Support Letter Request through the ‘support’ tab of your OneUni account. These letters are then processed by our team and will be sent to your ‘Preferred’ email address. Please allow 10 or more working days for a Graduation Invitation letter to be processed and sent to you. If you no longer have access to your student account you can email letterrequests@lincoln.ac.uk.

Where can I collect my tickets, gown and have professional photo taken?

Our graduation festival takes place in Lincoln Castle, here you can collect your tickets, gown and have professional photos taken.

How do I get official Photography?

The University’s official photographers are Tempest Graduation Photography. They will be available in the Castle grounds before or after your ceremony.

Visit Tempest Graduation Photography to view packages and prices. It is not possible to pre-order a photography package, but these can be ordered during and after your ceremony.

What do I do if I am late to my ceremony?

Graduands who arrive late must report immediately to the Registration Marquee in the Lincoln Castle Grounds. We will try and get you into the Cathedral to graduate but this may not be with your cohort if they have already been called up to graduate. If the presentation of awards has been completed by the time you arrive, it will not be possible for you to receive your award on stage.

What should I do if I or one of my guests have access requirements?

If any graduand or guest has a specific health requirement regarding seating arrangements in the Cathedral, please provide details through the William Northam booking system. The Graduation Team will accommodate where possible and confirm arrangements by email a week before the ceremony.

If you have any further questions regarding access requirements, please contact graduation@lincoln.ac.uk.

Can I watch the ceremonies online?

There will be a professional video recording taken of each graduation ceremony. This will be streamed on the University of Lincoln’s website. Graduates and guests seated in the Cathedral should be aware that they may appear on this recording.

Can I bring Children?

Children are welcome at Graduation Ceremonies, however, the University of Lincoln advises that the Graduation Ceremonies are not wholly suitable for babies or young children as they are long, formal occasions.

Any children in attendance that are under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 at all times. This means that any accompanying adults will need to have guest tickets. It is the responsibility of the graduand to ensure any children under the age of 16 are always accompanied by a suitable adult.

Guest tickets will be required for any child aged four and above. Children aged three or under can attend the ceremony free of charge, providing that they sit on a guest's lap or in a pushchair. If the child will be coming in a pram or pushchair, please indicate this when purchasing your tickets.

Where can I park?

The University does not provide parking for the graduation ceremonies. There are pay and display car parks near to the Cathedral and Castle that also have disabled parking bays. Please allow plenty of time to arrive in Lincoln and find a parking space before the ceremony begins, as these car parks can get busy and local roads may be busier than normal during graduation week.

You can find a map of car parks in Lincoln on the City of Lincoln Council's website (please note that the Castle Hill car park may be closed over the graduation period due to its location next to Lincoln Castle).

Can I leave during the ceremony?

Graduation is a shared, happy occasion and we expect all students and guests to stay for the duration of the ceremony.

How long does the ceremony last?

Length of the ceremonies can vary depending on cohort, but they are normally around 90 minutes long.

Can I bring large items of Luggage into the ceremony?

Large items such as suitcases are not permitted into the ceremonies.

Is Memorabilia available?

There will be a selection of memorabilia available at the Graduation Festival in the Castle grounds. These include, graduation hoodies, graduation bears and University branded items.