Key information about graduating and attending your ceremony

For more information on ceremony eligibility, please read our article When is my graduation ceremony?

For more information on ceremony eligibility, please read our article When is my graduation ceremony?

All students will have the opportunity to defer to a ceremony in the following session. This can be done through the booking task once you have received your invite.

Important to know: you are only permitted to defer once, after which point it will not be possible to include you in a ceremony.

From October 2023, students whose graduation was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are no longer eligible to attend a graduation ceremony. This is to ensure there is sufficient space for current graduating students.

If you don't want to attend your graduation ceremony, you can choose to graduate ‘in absentia’.

Selecting to graduate in absentia means that you will not attend your ceremony, your name will not be read out at the ceremony and it will not be included in the graduation ceremony programme.

Important to know: if you select this option, you will not be able to attend a future ceremony.

You can choose to graduate in absentia via the booking system on Student Records, or by accessing the booking system through your one-time access link. Instructions on how to access the booking system can be found in your invitation email.

Important to know: your degree certificate will still be available to you if you choose to graduate in absentia, as you don’t need to attend a ceremony to receive it. For more information, please see our article Your Degree Certificate.

Graduation is a milestone event in every student’s journey, and we’re committed to making it as accessible and inclusive as possible for our community.

We know a large ceremony doesn’t suit everyone’s needs, whether due to physical or mental health reasons, or other accessibility requirements. A range of options are available to ensure all of our graduates can celebrate their amazing achievements with their loved ones in a way that accommodates their individual needs.

We can accommodate many accessibility requests at our graduation venues. During the booking process you will be given the opportunity to advise us of any particular arrangements that might affect your ceremony experience and we would be happy to discuss individual requirements with any student who has concerns. For more information, please contact the Graduation Team.

All students will have the opportunity to defer to a ceremony in the following session. This can be done through the booking task once you have received your invite.

Important to know: You are only permitted to defer once after which point it will not be possible to include you in a ceremony. 

From October 2023, students whose graduation was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are no longer eligible to attend a graduation ceremony. This is to ensure there is sufficient space for current graduating students.

Please see our article Visa assistance for your graduation ceremony for more information.

If you don't want to attend your graduation ceremony, you can choose to graduate ‘in absentia’.

Selecting to graduate in absentia means that you will not attend your ceremony, your name will not be read out at the ceremony and it will not be included in the graduation ceremony programme.

Important to know: if you select this option then you will not be able to attend a future ceremony.

You can choose to graduate in absentia via the booking system on Student Records or by accessing the booking system through your one-time access link. Instructions on how to access the booking system can be found in your invitation email. 

Important to know: Your degree certificate will still be available to you as you don’t need to attend a ceremony to receive it. For more information, please see our article Your Degree Certificate. 

The university is unable to help with the reimbursement of flights, accommodation, or any costs associated with attending your graduation ceremony.

Please speak to your travel and accommodation provider in the first instance. We would advise all attendees to ensure cancellation is available on any bookings.

Please see our article Visa assistance for your graduation ceremony for more information.

For anything related to King's graduation ceremonies, you’ll be contacted at the personal email address listed on your Student Record, so please ensure this is up to date.

If you experience any difficulties accessing Student Records, please refer to the troubleshooting guidance in our article I need help accessing my student record.

The email address listed on Student Records will be the one at which we contact you going forward, so please ensure this is up to date if you wish to continue receiving communications regarding your ceremony.

We know that graduation ceremonies can be just as important to parents and supporters as they are to our students themselves.

We’ll keep information up to date in this article, so please do check back regularly.

For anything related to King's graduation ceremonies, you'll be contacted at the personal email address listed on your Student Record, so please ensure this is up to date. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing Student Records, please refer to our troubleshooting guidance in I need help accessing my student record.

The email address listed on Student Records will be the one at which we contact you going forward, so please ensure this is up to date if you wish to continue receiving communications regarding your re-arranged ceremony.

All graduates will receive their certificates by post within 3 months of the date of your award. Please ensure your home address is updated on your student record, as this is where the certificate will be sent.

We hope that your certificate will reach you sooner, but please be aware that this window allows for postal delays, international shipping and other unforeseen issues.

For updates and more specific information about degree certificates, please see Your Degree Certificate.

For details on how to access your transcript, please see our article I need a transcript.

To prove your degree award, module marks and other details about your course, we recommend using your HEAR.

The quickest and simplest way for you to access documents proving your results is to do so electronically.

To find out more about the options available, see our article I need to prove I’ve graduated.

Attending a graduation ceremony is not a requirement; you’ll still graduate and be awarded your degree once all your results have been ratified.

Once this process is complete, you have officially graduated. Attending a ceremony is a celebration event to mark your achievement.

If you’re still looking for more information, please check our related articles to the right, or take a look through our Graduation category for further articles about graduating and broader information about finishing university.

If you’re still not sure or can’t quite find what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to log an enquiry with us and we will support you.

If you’re studying on a King's Digital programme, please do reach out to your dedicated Student Success Advisor directly if you have any queries.