Follow our step-by-step guide to preparing for your graduation day.
How to know if you’re eligible to graduate, and what to do if you have concerns.
To attend your ceremony in July, your degree must be fully awarded by 3 July 2026.
The University is not responsible for any expenses incurred (for example, travel and accommodation costs) in circumstances where you are ineligible to graduate or where you, or your guests, are unable to attend for any other reason.
You won’t be able to graduate until you’ve settled all your debts and paid any outstanding fees. If you’re unsure what you owe to the University, email self.funding@manchester.ac.uk.
If you can't attend the ceremony you've been invited to, you can choose to defer and attend a future ceremony in up to 12 months.
You'll need to record this choice through the Student System, or you won’t be allowed to attend a future ceremony.
If deferring, see the key dates page to find out when you will receive your certificate. If you still haven’t received it after this date, contact your Student Support Hub.
Students currently Active in the Programme can still register for the ceremony. Visit the key dates page to see when your degree needs to be fully awarded to be able to attend. You need an official award/completion letter from the Doctoral Academy by this date. If you have any questions, check your Doctoral Academy website’s ‘thesis submission’ section.
Check we’ve got the correct contact details for you in the Student System.
Your full legal name will be used on your certificate – you can view this when you log in to your student record. Names are only printed on documents in the order of first name/s, middle name/s, surname/s – the order of names can’t be changed, unless it has been recorded on the system in error.
Make sure we have your correct address, especially if you won’t be attending your ceremony as we’ll post your certificate to this address.
If your name has one or two letters that have been mixed up or are missing on your student record, please submit an enquiry form explaining the error and provide the correct spelling of your full name to get it updated.
You might also need to contact your Student Support Hub or Doctoral Academy about updating your name or other details.
If part of your name is missing, or an incorrect family name is listed (for example, due to marriage), send the official documents (Wedding certificate/Passport/Change of Name Deeds) to ssc@manchester.ac.uk in order to get your name updated.
If you'd like to request that your preferred name be read out during the ceremony, instead of the legal name, you can submit your preferred name in the section provided on the registration page. Please note that your Degree Certificate will have the legal name printed.
If you think your name could be mispronounced at your ceremony, you have the option to enter your name phonetically in the section provided on the registration page. This will be given to the presenters ahead of the ceremony to assist in calling your name to the stage.
Confirm whether you’re attending your ceremony and book your guest tickets.
Click on the key dates page to find out when registration opens and closes.
If you have lost IT access following completion of your course, go to the account recovery service page.
You are guaranteed two guest tickets free of charge. If there’s a specific reason you need additional tickets, please add the number you require and your reason in the ‘accessibility requirement’ section of the Student System when you complete your registration.
The requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If your request for additional tickets is approved, we’ll let you know the number of tickets in your confirmation email.
Please fill in the 'accessibility requirements' section of the graduation registration if you have any specific requirements (for example wheelchair access, have a guide or assistance dog, temporary physical disability (such as a broken leg) or other individual needs or access requirements we can help with on the day.
To find out more information visit our accessibility requirements FAQs page.
How to hire or buy your academic dress, as well as photography on the day.
You'll need to wear official academic dress consisting of a gown, hood and cap. You can book these online through the University's preferred supplier, Ede and Ravenscroft, or call them on +44 (0)1223 861854.
The cost of online gown hire from Ede and Ravenscroft is £43 for a Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor or Master's gown and £57 for a Doctoral gown. When making your booking, you’ll need to enter your height and head circumference measurements, so make sure you’ve got these ready beforehand.
If you forget to pre-order your gown, the hire cost on the day will be higher than the prices shown above.
Tempest is the official graduation photographers for the University. They offer a variety of photo opportunities for your graduation day. You can choose between the Classic or Signature Studio options. They also capture the important moment you cross the stage during your ceremony.
To find out more information visit our gown hire and photography FAQs.
Book a stay using our discounted rates at the Hyatt Hotel right here on campus.
The Hyatt Hotel right here on campus has preferential rates especially for graduates and their guests. Find out more and book using promo code 277067.
If you’re unable to attend your ceremony, you can choose to either graduate in absentia or defer your ceremony for up to one year. You’ll still need to register your choice in the Student System when you receive your 'invitation email’ so we can post the certificate to the correct address.
Please make sure that your home address, email address and name are all correct in the Student System.
If you don’t complete the graduation registration process, your certificate will not be sent to you automatically. You’ll have 12 months from the date registration closes to request a physical copy of your certificate.
This event has been organised to allow students who have been invited to the summer 2026 Graduation Ceremonies, but cannot attend, to have professional photographs taken in official University of Manchester academic robes. For those who indicate, when completing registration, that they cannot attend the July ceremonies, the University will send an invite to this pre-departure photography event.
(University Switchboard)
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
