Award Ceremonies
Welcome to the home page for the London Metropolitan University's Awards Ceremonies.
The dates of the ceremonies for those students awarded in 2009 will be listed here.
Invitations to 2009 Awards Ceremonies (excluding suspended students who are not eligible)
If you were awarded prior to 19th October your invitation has been posted. If you have not received it, please now email ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk.
If you were awarded on or after 19th October your invitation will be posted by 27 October. In view of postal strikes please allow till 4th November for it to arrive, then if not received email ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk.
We would be grateful if you could ensure that your "home" address is correct on the student records system. You can view and edit this via e-vision. We would also be grateful if you could ensure that your e-mail address is correct as we will be sending some important information by e-mail.
Awards Ceremonies:
The awards ceremonies are extremely popular and prestigious events at which graduates and honorary recipients are formally presented in a public ceremony attended by their friends and relatives. Many graduates find the ceremony a pleasant occasion at which their achievements are formally recognised by the University, and where they can once again meet former colleagues and members of staff. The awards ceremonies are held at the Barbican Centre in central London.
For more information regarding the awards ceremonies, please use the links to the right. The information has been split into three sections as below:
- Information relevant before the ceremonies
- Information relevant on the day of your ceremony
- Information relevant after the ceremony
We do hope to see you at the Barbican Centre on the day. If you have any questions that are not answered on this website please contact us.
For easier navigation a list of all topics is included below, please click on each link to go to the relevant section of this page.
Before the day:
- Invitation and tickets
- Obtaining Visa Letters
- Ordering Gowns and Hats
- Ordering Photography
- Ordering Graduation Videos
- Graduates / Guests with Special Requirements
- Arranging Accommodation in London
- Refunds and Cancellations
- Dates for the 2008 Awards Ceremonies
On the day:
- Getting to the Barbican Centre
- Upon Arrival
- Gowns, Hoods and Hats
- Professional Photography
- Bringing Children
- Eating and Drinking at the Barbican
- The Awards Ceremony Brochure
- ATM facilities at the Barbican Centre
- Disabled Access and Special Requirements
- Buying Additional Tickets on the Day
- Arriving Late
- Enquiries on the Day
- Inside the Hall
- Gaudeamus Igitur - A Translation
After the day:
- The Alumni Association
- Photography
- Graduation DVD
- Gowns and Hats
- Requesting a Brochure
- Your Certificate
- Continuing your Education at London Metropolitan University
Before the day
Invitation and Tickets
Graduates will be sent invitations to the awards ceremonies from September onwards, depending on when they completed their course.
Your invitation will be sent to the "home" address we have on our records. It is worth ensuring that this address is kept up to date as all correspondence from the University (including transcripts and certificates) will be sent to that address once you have graduated. You can check or update your address by logging onto e-vision in the normal manner - please note, however, that if you change your address after we have posted your invitation, you will also need to inform the Awards Ceremony Team directly. Should this be the case, please Contact Us.
The ceremony is by invitation only. If you have not received an invitation by the end of October and think you should have done, please contact us and we will investigate the matter. If we have sent an invitation, it must be completed and returned so that we can book your place and that of your guest(s). If you arrive at the Barbican Centre on the day of the ceremony without having received an invitation, or if the Awards Ceremony Team has not received a reply to your invitation, then you and your guests will not be admitted.
It is important to remember that graduates are entitled to attend the ceremony for free, regardless of whether or not you bring guests. The money you pay for each guest ticket will cover the cost of a seat in the Barbican Hall, the Awards Ceremony brochure, and light refreshments after the Awards Ceremony. When you receive your invitation, you will be asked to inform us how many guests you would like to invite so that we may book the tickets in advance. As the Awards Ceremonies are extremely popular there may be a limit to the number of guests you can invite. You can check your invitation for more details. Any tickets that remain unsold will be available on the day on a first come first served basis and can be paid for by cash or cheque.
Once we have received your reply we will book your tickets. You will not hear from the Awards Ceremony Team again until approximately one week before the ceremony when we will write with further information about what to expect on the day. If you wish to check that we have received your reply to the invitation then please Contact Us.
If you owe the University money (for example outstanding library fines, tuition fees or accommodation fees) then you will not be posted an invitation. Please contact us for more information regarding this.
Obtaining Visa Letters
We appreciate that if you or your guests are coming from outside the EU to attend the awards ceremony then you may require a visa to enter the UK. We can provide a standard letter from the University confirming the reason why you or your guests wish to enter the country and requesting that a visa is issued promptly.
We can only provide visa letters for graduates who have replied to their invitation and confirmed their attendance, and in the case guests, paid for the guest seats.
When returning the completed reply slip, in the comments section, you must write the full names of each guest as printed in their passport(s) plus the relation of each guest to your i.e. Mother, Father.
If we have already supplied you with a visa letter for your guest(s) and the name of that guest subsequently changes we can only provide another visa letter upon receipt of the original. The University reserves the right to refuse to issue visa letters at its discretion.
The above regulations have been finalised after consultation with The Home Office UK Border Agency and there will be no exceptions.
If you have already received and returned your completed reply slip and you did not mention your visa letter request in the comments section, please email us at ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk to submit your request.
Ordering Gowns, Hood and Hats
Academic dress is supplied by a private company called Ede & Ravenscroft.
A leaflet from Ede & Ravenscroft explaining how to order your gown and hat will be enclosed with your invitation. Hiring and wearing the gown and hat is not a requirement but the vast majority of graduates choose to do so.
If you decide to wear the gown and hat then you will have to wear the correct coloured gown for London Metropolitan University. From August 1st 2002, London Guildhall University and the University of North London merged to form London Metropolitan University. Since the merger, many aspects of the two Universities have been unified so that students can take full advantage of the opportunities available. The old UNL and LGU academic gowns have been decommissioned and graduates will only be able to wear the new attire. We understand that some graduates may wish to wear the decommissioned gowns but this is not possible.
Any queries relating to the hiring of the academic dress should be put to Ede & Ravenscroft themselves. The University cannot answer any questions relating to the hiring of gowns. Though you can order your gown online it is strongly recommended that you do not do so until you have received and responded to an invitation to the ceremony.
Ede and Ravenscroft can be contacted at:
Ede & Ravenscroft
Unit A
Denny Industrial Centre
Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB5 9QD
Tel: 01223 861854
Textphone: 1800101223861854
You can also visit their website at www.gownhire.co.uk
Please Click Here to view images of the different Hoods available depending on your award.
Ordering Photographs
All photography for the occasion is organised by a private company called Ede & Ravenscroft.
A leaflet from Ede & Ravenscroft containing an order form for photographs and frames will be enclosed with your invitation. Any queries relating to the professional photography service should be put to Ede & Ravenscroft themselves. The University cannot answer any questions relating to this service.
Please do not return your photography order form to the University as we cannot process these orders. The order form must be posted to Ede & Ravenscroft at the address below.
Ede and Ravenscroft Photography can be contacted at:
Ede & Ravenscroft Photography
Second Drove
Fengate
Peterborough
PE1 5XA
Tel: 0870 2421170
E-Mail: photography@edeandravenscroft.co.uk
Ordering Graduation Videos
A professional video production company films the Awards Ceremonies, using a multi-camera set-up.
You will receive a DVD order form, along with other ceremony details, approximately one week before the graduation ceremony.
All queries relating to the purchase of DVDs should be directed towards Little Jake Media on 0845 604 1975 or via their website at www.ljm-graduations.com* The Awards Ceremony Team is not responsible for the production of the Awards Ceremony Videos.
*n.b the University cannot be held responsible for the content of external internet sites
Graduates / Guests with Special Requirements
If you or your guests have any special requirements, you should inform the Awards Ceremony Team as soon as possible. You can notify us on the invitation reply slip or by emailing us at ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk
Please note that graduates normally ascend and descend the stage via a short set of steps. If this is problematic, please contact us immediately and we can make alternative arrangements.
The Barbican has produced a very detailed PDF document giving information about access for those with disabilities or mobility problems. This can be accessed by clicking here*.
*n.b you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader to view this document. You can download this programme for free by clicking here. The University cannot be held responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Arranging Accommodation in London
Though London Metropolitan University does not affiliate itself with any particular hotel chain, we have compiled a list of websites below that may be helpful in finding accommodation*.
www.activehotels.com
www.londontown.com
www.all-hotels.com
www.linklondon.co.uk
www.hotels-london.co.uk
www.travelodge.co.uk
www.direct-hotels.co.uk
* The above links are provided in good faith and are in no particular order. This list is in no way meant to be exhaustive. The University cannot be held responsible for the content of external internet sites or any bookings made through any of the above sites. The University does not affiliate itself with the above sites nor does the University gain financially or otherwise from the above websites or the hotels listed therein.
Refunds and Cancellations
We appreciate that for reasons outside your control, you or your guest(s) may be unable to attend the ceremony.
If you, as the graduating student, have replied to the invitation and told us that you will be attending and, subsequently, find that this is no longer possible, we would appreciate it if you could inform us as soon as possible so that we may allocate your seat to another graduate.
If you find that one or more of your guests are unable to attend, a refund will only be possible if we have not yet posted the ticket(s). We generally post the tickets to graduates one week prior to the ceremony. The full cost of the ticket(s) can be refunded to a valid debit or credit card (excluding Visa Electron and American Express).
If you would like to inform us of a cancellation or would like a refund on the cost of tickets then please get in touch with us by emailing us at ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk.
On the day
Getting to the Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is in central London and is easily accessible by rail, underground and road. A map of the immediate area, clear directions and parking information are helpfully provided by the Barbican Centre on their website by clicking here.
We will also post a map and directions with your final information pack about a week before your graduation day.
It is always worth checking the travel conditions in London before starting your journey and Transport for London maintains a very good webpage with all the latest travel information. You can view their homepage by clicking here.
Remember that if you are driving into central London you may have to pay the congestion charge. This cannot be refunded by the University. You can get more information about the London congestion charge by clicking here.
It is highly recommended that you arrive at the Barbican Centre at least two hours before your ceremony is due to commence. This will give you time to collect your gown and hat, to have your photograph taken and also to purchase additional tickets if available.
There are very limited cash withdrawal services at the Barbican centre and the ATM machines often run out of money very quickly on the day of the ceremony. You are strongly advised to bring cash with you if you intend to make any purchases.
Upon Arrival
When you arrive at the Barbican Centre you will need to register your arrival and collect your ticket and presentation card. The registration desk will be clearly signposted.
There will be a number of queues and you should join the correct queue according to your surname. State your name and you will be handed your ticket and a presentation card. The presentation card will show your full name and the title of your course. If the presentation card is incorrect, do not adjust the card yourself — take it back to the registration desk and explain the problem to a member of London Metropolitan staff who will be happy to amend it.
In most cases, you will have received any purchased guest tickets through the post. If you have requested that your tickets be held at the registration desk, please notify a member of staff when you register.
Remember that you will not be admitted into the auditorium if you have not registered at the desk. The registration desk will close before the ceremony commences so you MUST arrive in good time — around two hours before the commencement of your ceremony.
If you lose your ticket or your presentation card, please return to the registration desk immediately and you will be issued with a replacement.
Gowns and Hats
After you have registered, you should go to the Robing Area to collect your robe and hat (if ordered). Experienced staff from Ede & Ravenscroft will be on hand to give assistance.
If you did not order a robe in advance from Ede & Ravenscroft, you may still be able to hire one on the day - please ask staff in the robing area for the availability of robes.
Once your ceremony has finished you should return your robe and hat to Ede & Ravenscroft (unless, of course, you have chosen to purchase the academic dress rather than hire it). Ede & Ravenscroft will charge graduates for robes and hats that are not returned.
For more information about academic dress, please visit Ede & Ravenscroft's website by clicking here.
Professional Photography
Ede & Ravenscroft's professional photographers will be at the Barbican Centre two hours before the ceremony commences. They will be well sign-posted and will be situated on Level 0 of the Barbican Centre. If you have hired academic dress from Ede & Ravenscroft then please ensure you make collection before you queue for the photography. Remember that you will need to be seated in the hall at least fifteen minutes before the ceremony commences.
The photographers do tend to be extremely busy on the day so, to avoid the rush, you would be advised to arrive especially early to catch the queues at their shortest.
If you have not pre-ordered the professional portrait service then Ede & Ravenscroft may still be able to assist you on the day. You should make enquiries directly to Ede and Ravenscroft.
Bringing Children
The Awards Ceremony is a formal celebratory and social occasion and we understand that graduates wish to enjoy the day with friends and family. However, the duration of the ceremony is normally between one and a half to two hours, the auditorium can get quite warm and guests are asked to remain seated at all times. For these reasons, it has been our experience that young chidren do not enjoy the occasion and can become restless and, on occasion, quite vocal. At times, therefore, we have had to request that parents and their children leave the auditorium for a short time so that the ceremony can continue without interruption. We do advise graduates that such an occasion is generally unsuitable for children.
There is a large foyer outside the auditorium where the ceremony is televised. Children and their carers are more than welcome to use this area and watch the ceremony on TV.
If you do bring a child into the auditorium then they must have a ticket. There are no concession prices for children or infants.
There are no creche or child-minding facilities available at the Barbican Centre.
Eating and Drinking at the Barbican
Post-ceremony refreshments are provided by the University and the cost is included in the ticket price. However you may prefer a sit-down meal with your family and friends.
The Barbican Centre has a number of restaurants and cafés providing a good range of food and beverages.
For more information regarding these facilities, please visit the Barbican Centre's website by clicking here.
The Awards Ceremony Brochure
The Awards Ceremony Brochure celebrates and records the achievements of London Metropolitan University graduates.
The Brochure is available without charge to all graduates and their guests. If you neglected to pick up a brochure on the day and would like us to post one, please contact us.
Graduates are grouped according to department, course title and award classification.
For a variety of reasons, some graduates are awarded very late in the academic year. As a result, we do not send the brochure to print until the very last minute and we make every effort to include the name of every graduate. On occasions, due to a late award, it is not possible to include a graduate's name in the brochure. In such cases, the graduate's name will be added to the following year's brochure. This will be available on request to those graduates affected.
ATM facilities at the Barbican Centre
There are very limited cash withdrawal facilities at the Barbican Centre and we strongly recommend that you withdraw money before you arrive.
There is one ATM machine at the Barbican Centre that often runs out of money very quickly.
If you intend to purchase additional tickets on the day then we can accept cash and cheque (with a valid guarantee card) only. We cannot accept any form of credit or debit card at the Barbican Centre and can only accept payment in pounds sterling.
Disabled Access and Special Requirements
If you or your guests have any special requirements, you should inform the Awards Ceremony Team as soon as possible. You can notify us on the invitation reply slip or by contacting us using the details on the right, or by emailing us at ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk.
Please note that graduates normally ascend and descend the stage via a short set of steps. If this is problematic, please contact us immediately and we can make alternative arrangements.
The Barbican has produced a very detailed PDF document giving information about access for those with disabilities or mobility problems. This can be accessed by clicking here*.
*n.b you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader to view this document. You can download this programme for free by clicking here. The University cannot be held responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Buying Additional Tickets on the Day
Any tickets that remain unsold will be available on the day on a first-come first-served basis and a special counter will be set up to deal with these requests. Please note that additional tickets are not available from the registration desk. However staff will be only too happy to point you in the right direction.
While we cannot predict the availability of additional guest tickets, we do advise that those requiring additional tickets arrive early.
If you intend to purchase additional tickets on the day, we can accept cash and cheque (with a valid guarantee card) only. We cannot accept any form of credit or debit card at the Barbican Centre and will only accept payment in pounds sterling.
Do remember that there are VERY limited cash withdrawal facilities at the Barbican Centre. If you intend to purchase tickets on the day then we strongly advise that you withdraw cash before you arrive at the Barbican Centre.
Arriving Late
We do advise that graduates arrive at the Barbican Centre at least two hours prior to the commencement of the ceremony. However we also appreciate that, for a variety of reasons, graduates can be delayed.
If you do arrive late then staff will make every effort to accommodate you. However we stress that graduates cannot be taken into the hall once the ceremony has commenced.
Enquiries on the Day
If you have any enquiries on the day, University staff will be available to answer any questions.
If you have any enquiries while at the Barbican Centre then please use the help-points close to the registration desk. Staff here will be happy to assist you with any questions or problems.
Inside the Hall
Once all the graduates and guests are seated inside the auditorium, the assembly is asked to stand as the academic procession enters the hall. The Academic Registrar will lead in members of academic staff, honorary degree recipients, guest speakers and senior officers of the university.
The Presiding Officer will open proceedings and welcome distinguished visitors, graduates and their guests, and various speeches will be made. Once these speeches have concluded the graduates will be awarded.
Graduates will be asked to stand row-by-row and will line up stage-left. Each graduate will ascend a short flight of stairs and give their presentation card to the speaker (usually the Head of Department). The graduate's name will be read out and the graduate will walk across the stage where he or she will be congratulated by the Presiding Officer.
After graduates have walked across the stage and returned to their seats, the Presiding Officer will say a few words and then declare the proceedings closed.
The assembly is asked to stand as the academic procession leaves the hall to the students' anthem, Gaudeamus Igitur. (Latin for "Therefore, let us rejoice").
Graduates and their guests are invited to join University staff for refreshments on the ground floor terrace.
Gaudeamus Igitur - A Translation
Gaudeamus Igitur is regarded as the oldest student song, based on a latin manuscript of 1287. The oldest known version of the Latin words is in a handwritten student song book dated between 1723 and 1750, but the modern version of the words seems to date from 1781 and the music from 1794. The music is best known, however, from its use by Johannes Brahms in his Academic Festival Overture (Opus 80) composed in 1880. The overture is a medley of student songs whose climax is a majestic rendition of Gaudeamus Igitur. It is used in countless graduation ceremonies throughout the world and particularly in Europe. It is sung in keeping with an academic tradition of at least 900 years which began with the foundation of the University of Bologna, the Alma Mater of European universities.
Some verses of Gaudeamus Igitur with an English translation are as follows:
| Gaudeamus igitur Juvenes dum sumus Post jucundum juventutem Post molestam senectutem Nos habebit humus. |
While we are young, let us rejoice |
||
| Vita nostra brevis est, Brevi finietur, Venit mors velociter Rapit nos atrociter, Nemini parcetur |
Life is short and all too soon We emit our final gasp; Death ere long is on our back; Terrible is his attack; None escapes his dread grasp |
||
| Vivat academia Vivant professores Vivat membrum quodlibet Vivat membra quaelibet Semper sint in flore! |
Long live our academy, Teachers whom we cherish; Long live all the graduates; And the undergraduates; Ever may they flourish. |
||
| Vivat nostra societas, Vivant studiosi Cescat una veritas, Floreat fraternitas Patriae prosperitas |
Long Live our society, Scholars wise and learned; May truth and sincerity Nourish our fraternity And our land's prosperity |
After the day
The Alumni Association
Membership of the Alumni Association is open to all graduates and former staff of London Metropolitan University (including graduates and former staff from the University of North London, London Guildhall University, City of London Polytechnic, Polytechnic of North London, and all other predecessor institutions).
There are nearly 140,000 graduates of London Metropolitan University in the UK and around the world. The Alumni Association gives graduates the opportunity to keep in touch with former classmates and teachers and regularly informs graduates of developments at the University. It can also be of assistance in graduates' personal and professional development.
To visit the Alumni Association's website, please click here.
Photography
The professional photography for the London Metropolitan Awards Ceremonies is organised by a private company called Ede & Ravenscroft.
Any queries relating to the professional photography service should be directed towards Ede & Ravenscroft. The London Metropolitan University cannot answer queries relating to the photography service.
If you have not received your photography order, you can contact Ede & Ravenscroft at:
Ede & Ravenscroft Photography
Second Drove
Fengate
Peterborough
PE1 5XA
Tel: 0870 2421170
E-Mail: photography@edeandravenscroft.co.uk
Graduation DVD
University Awards Ceremonies are filmed by a professional video production company using a multi-camera set-up.
You will receive a DVD order form, along with further ceremony information, approximately one week before the graduation ceremony.
All queries relating to the purchase of DVDs should be directed towards Little Jake Media on 0845 604 1975 or via their website at www.ljm-graduations.com* The Awards Ceremony Team is not responsible for the production of the Awards Ceremony Videos.
*n.b the University cannot be held responsible for the content of external internet sites
Gowns and Hats
Any queries relating to the hiring of academic dress should be put to Ede & Ravenscroft themselves.
The University cannot answer any questions relating to the hiring of gowns. If you failed to return your hired gown and/or hat at the end of the ceremony please contact Ede and Ravenscroft as soon as possible.
Ede and Ravenscroft can be contacted at:
Ede & Ravenscroft
Unit A
Denny Industrial Centre
Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB5 9QD
Tel: 01223 861854
Textphone: 1800101223861854
Or visit their website at www.gownhire.co.uk
Requesting a Brochure
The Awards Ceremony Brochure celebrates and records the achievements of graduates of London Metropolitan University.
The Brochure is free to all graduates and their guests as the cost is covered by the ticket-price.
If you did not pick up a copy of the awards ceremony brochure on the day, we would be very happy to post one please contact us to order one..
Your Certificate
Certificates are usually posted within 6 weeks of the conferral of your award, this is not the date of your ceremony but the date the University Awards Board signs of your award.
They are posted by recorded delivery to your registred home address, therefore some graduates may receive their certificates prior to the ceremony and some may receive them after.
For more information regarding certificates please click here.
Continuing your Education at London Metropolitan University
As a graduate of London Metropolitan University, you may find that you wish to continue your education with us.
To view our full range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses, as well as our short courses and pre-degree programmes, please click here.
| Contact Us | |
| Phone | 0207 133 2790 |
| ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk | |
