Everything you need to know about graduation

Graduation is the culmination of all your hard work during your time at University. It’s a chance to celebrate your achievements and look back at the years you have spent in Liverpool.

We’re keen to make your day a special one, so read our dedicated checklist below to ensure your day runs smoothly.

#LivUniGrad #Classof2019

Important information about the Guild

Typically, gowning, ticketing, photography and other activities take place in the Liverpool Guild of Students. However, due to an unexpected issue with the water supply, the Guild will be closed until at least Tuesday, 23 July.

Therefore, gowning, ticketing, photography and those activities that would usually take place in the Guild, will now take place in the Sports and Fitness Centre.

The Sports and Fitness Centre can be found on the University Campus Map at grid reference D4 (Building No. 511).

Before the day:

  • Check your graduation itinerary email – you will receive this in the week leading up to your ceremony.
  • Print your gown order confirmation so that you can bring the confirmation with you on the day of your ceremony. This will mean that your order can be processed quickly.
  • If you are planning to drive, check out parking options. Parking on campus will be extremely limited on the day of your ceremony. The public multi-storey car park on Mount Pleasant is the largest nearby parking facility. Visit the Liverpool City Council Parking website for a list of city centre car parks and how much they charge.
  • If you are planning to travel by train, make sure you check your travel plans in detail and leave plenty of time.

On the day:

  • Arrive at the Sports and Fitness Centre (University Campus Map, Grid Ref: D4) to collect your gown and tickets at least one hour and 15 minutes before the start of your ceremony. For the exact collection times, please refer to your graduation itinerary email.
  • Some suggestions for an appropriate outfit you can wear beneath your academic robes include a lounge suit, shirt and tie, or a skirt/trousers and shirt/blouse.  Footwear should be formal – although you should be aware that, if you are able to, you will be required to use stairs when being admitted to your degree. Please choose your footwear carefully.  You are also reminded that all graduands are required to wear their mortar boards throughout the proceedings and not just when you are admitted to your degree
  • Official graduation day photos and University merchandise will all be available in the Sports and Fitness Centre on the day of your graduation. The official University class rings, cufflinks and charms will be available in the Sports and Fitness Centre and online.
  • Visit the Alumni team in the Sport and Fitness Centre to pick up your free alumni pin badge. Tag your pictures with #LivUniGrad on Instagram or Twitter during the week and we will print your photographs for you. Just visit us in the Sports and Fitness Centre to collect them.
  • Hopefully it will be beautiful sunshine on the day so make sure you come along to University Square to collect your free tub of ice cream from Careers and Employability ice cream bike (we’ll still be there in the rain, so don’t worry if the weather isn’t cooperating)!
  • Use our official hashtags to share and view everyone’s graduation content on social media: #LivUniGrad #Classof2019.
  • You need to make sure you get to the Philharmonic Hall and are in your own seat (which will be clearly marked on your ticket) 45 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin. It’s important to check you are in the correct seat as, if not, you could be recorded as ‘absent’ and may not be admitted to your degree correctly.
  • If you have friends and family members with you who don’t have a ticket for the Philharmonic Hall, they will be able to watch the ceremonies live in the Leggate Theatre in the Victoria Gallery & Museum, as well as in the Graduation Marquee, which is located in Abercromby Square. The Graduation Marquee will also be playing host to a mini Baltic Market with a number of food traders to choose from: Picnic, Chip’d, You’ve Pulled, Guerilla, Lovage and Rosemary, and Cheshire Farm Ice Cream. For more information, please see our ‘Ceremony broadcasts’ webpage.
  • When it is your turn to go on stage you will be directed by staff to the right-hand side of the stage in a continuous procession. Give your name to the officer at the foot of the steps and then follow their instructions to proceed onto the stage to collect your degree.
  • After being admitted, you should continue to walk across the stage, collect your certificate, and then return to your seat as directed by the ushers.
  • You have graduated! Congratulations!

After your graduation:

  • If you are graduating on Monday 15th, Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th or Friday 19th July you will need to return your gown and hood to the Sports and Fitness Centre by 7.30pm. If you are graduating on Thursday 18th July you need to return your gown and hood to the Sports and Fitness Centre by 6.30pm.
  • You can watch all ceremonies live via the University website. You can also order a professional recording of your ceremony from Achievement TV.
  • Photos of the moment you graduated can be picked up after your ceremony from the Sports and Fitness Centre. Just go along to the Ede and Ravenscroft stand.
  • All undergraduate and postgraduate taught degree students graduating will receive a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). Your HEAR is an electronic document which replaces the more traditional paper academic transcript or Diploma Supplement. At the graduation ceremony you will receive your award certificate and you will be issued with your HEAR electronically following your graduation ceremony. Please visit our HEAR webpages for more information.
  • If you haven’t already you need to sign up to the Graduation Portal. The portal will let you access and share your electronic degree certificate and, if you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student, you’ll also be able to access and share your Higher Education Achievement Report.
  • Start making the most of our 228,000 strong alumni network by following the Alumni team on Facebook, InstagramTwitter and LinkedIn group.
  • Don’t forget to update your contact details so that we can continue to support you with tailored careers guidance and networking opportunities. Once you graduate, your University email account will expire, which means you won’t be able to access some of our online services. If you update your contact details we will still be able to offer you:
  1. Careers advice and support
  2. Free online journals and library access
  3. Discounts on hotels and holiday accommodation
  4. Access to Liverpool Connect – our online networking platform that lets you connect with thousands of alumni worldwide
  5. Invitations to social, careers and networking events
  6. Access to our jobs website

To find out more about the Graduation Package, please visit our Class of 2019 website.