Awards Ceremonies
University Awards Ceremonies:
The University's awards ceremonies are popular events, held at the prestigious Barbican Centre in central London, at which graduates and honorary recipients are recognised and presented. While formal and traditional, to give due weight to the achievements of the graduates, the ceremonies are - for the same reason – also occasions for enthusiastic celebration. Graduates may invite relatives or friends to share the occasion and can once again meet former colleagues and members of staff in a sociable environment before and after the formal ceremony. Most will ensure they take advantage of the opportunity to keep a photographic record of their graduation, proudly wearing their graduation robes.
Dates of 2013 awards ceremonies
The University’s awards ceremonies in 2013 will be held
- in the summer, on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 July 2013,
- and in the winter, on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 December 2013.
Which period applies?
London Met students whose award date is 9 July or earlier will be eligible to attend the summer ceremonies, while students awarded later will be invited to the winter ceremonies. (The award date is the date a student’s award is agreed by the University Awards Board and is published to students via Evision normally on the following day.)
Summer ceremonies
The award date cut-off for the summer ceremonies applies to all London Met students - undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research. Please Click Here for more information on the Summer ceremonies.
Winter ceremonies
The award date cut-off for the winter ceremonies will be approximately 1 November. The winter ceremonies will be for:
- Most taught postgraduate students, who will be completing their dissertation during the summer study period
- Other students whose course continues into the summer study period
- Students who have reassessments to take after the publication of module results on 27 June
- Students studying with the University’s collaborative partner institutions, who will generally be invited to the winter rather than the summer ceremonies, regardless of award date.
Details of individual ceremonies and booking arrangement
Please Click Here for more information on the Summer ceremonies.
General information
General information about the ceremonies (which may be updated closer to the ceremonies) has been split into three sections below:
- Information relevant before the ceremonies
- Information relevant on the day of your ceremony
- Information relevant after the ceremony
For easy navigation a list of all topics is included below. Simply click on each link to go to the relevant section. If you have any questions that are not answered on this website please Contact Us.
Please ensure that your "home" postal address and your email address are correct on the University’s Student Records System, as we will be posting important information to your recorded home postal address and emailing you as well. You can view and edit your contact details via your Evision account or if you no longer have access your Undergraduate/Postgraduate Office.
Before the day:
- Visa Applications (Inviting Guests from Abroad)
- Ordering Gowns and Hats
- Ordering Photography
- Ordering Graduation DVD's
- Graduates / Guests with Special Requirements
- Arranging Accommodation in London
- Cancellations
On the day:
- Getting to the Barbican Centre
- Upon Arrival
- Gowns, Hoods and Hats
- Professional Photography
- Graduation DVD
- Bringing Children
- Eating and Drinking at the Barbican
- The Awards Ceremonies Brochure
- ATM (Cash Machine) facilities at the Barbican Centre
- Disabled Access and Special Requirement
- 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 Award Certificate
- Continuing your Education at London Metropolitan University
Before the day
Visa Applications (if coming from abroad)
We appreciate that if you and/or your guests are coming from outside the EU to attend the awards ceremony then you may require a visa to enter the UK. For information about Visitor's Visas please see www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting
The University does not issue any special documentation in connection with visa applications to attend the Awards Ceremonies. You are advised to use a copy of your invitation letter (keeping a copy for yourself) to support your own visa application (if you will have left the UK and need to return for your ceremony). Note that the University has no information as to who your guests may be and is not responsible for any visa applications you submit in respect of your guests, but you may use your invitation letter as evidence of why you want them to come to the UK.
Ordering Gowns, Hood and Hats
Academic dress, also known as robes, is supplied by a private company Ede & Ravenscroft.
A leaflet from Ede & Ravenscroft explaining how to order and pay for your gown, hood and hat will be enclosed with your invitation. Wearing these is not a requirement but the vast majority of graduates choose to do so. Most students hire the outfit for the day but it is possible to buy it.
If you decide to wear the gown, hood and hat then you will have to wear the correct versions for London Metropolitan University.
Any queries relating to the hiring of the academic dress should be put directly to Ede & Ravenscroft The University cannot answer any questions on this matter. You can order your gown online but it is strongly recommended that you do not do so until you have received your invitation to the ceremony and completed your booking to attend.
The Ede and Ravenscroft website www.gownhire.co.uk provides all the information you are likely to need and is the means by which you book your academic dress. Ede and Ravenscroft's Gowning customer serivce number is 01223 861854.
Please note that the University is not responsible for the content of the website or other information provided by external companies, nor for the service supplied by them.
Please Click Here to view images of the different Hoods available depending on your award.
Ordering Photographs
All photography for the occasion is organised and carried out in studios in the Barbican Centre (not within the main hall) by a private company, Ede & Ravenscroft.
A leaflet from Ede & Ravenscroft explaining how to pre-book photographs and frames will be enclosed with your invitation. Any queries relating to the professional photography service should be addressedt to Ede & Ravenscroft directly, not the University.
The Ede and Ravenscroft website www.edeandravenscroft.com provides all the information you are likely to need and is the normal means by which you pre-book your photographs. You may also order by calling 01223 861854.
Ede & Ravenscroft's Photography customer service number is 0870 2421170 and E-Mail is photography@edeandravenscroft.co.uk
Ordering Graduation DVD's
Many graduates and their families will wish to purchase a souvenir Graduation DVD. DVDs will be produced, separately for each ceremony, showing your complete graduation ceremony, graduates celebrating at the Barbican, and additional material as a reminder of time spent at the University. These will be provided by a company called mygraduationfilm.com which is responsible for filming, production, enquiries and sales.
You may order online or by post before or after the ceremony, or you may order at the ceremony. We recommend that you order on the day of your ceremony by visiting the DVD sales desk at the Barbican, as for orders submitted at the desk the UK postage and packing charge will be waived, and an equivalent reduction will be applied to the worldwide postage and packing charge. These discounts do not apply to orders submitted in other ways. Twin packs (family packs) are available at a substantially reduced rate.
The company’s website is www.mygraduationfilm.com and email enquiries should be directed to enquiries@mygraduationfilm.com
The University is not responsible for the content of the website or other information provided by external companies nor for the service supplied by them.
Graduates / Guests with Special Requirements
If you or your guests have any special requirements, you should inform the Awards Ceremony Team of these during the booking process. You may wish to additionally confirm this or advise further detail, in which case please Contact Us.
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 is not 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.lastminutelondon.co.uk
www.activehotels.com
www.londontown.com
www.all-hotels.com
www.linklondon.co.uk
www.hotels-london.co.uk
www.travelodge.co.uk
www.premierinn.com
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 is not responsible for the content of external websites 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.
Cancellations
If you, have booked tickets and, subsequently, find that you/your guests will not be able to attend, please inform us as soon as you can so that we may try and reallocate the seats.
We generally post the guest tickets to graduates 10 days prior to the ceremony and finalise seating plans a day or two before posting. From that point refunds will not be possible because we will not normally be able to reallocate the tickets. Refunds are therefore quite exceptional. However to inform us of a cancellation for either yourself or a guest please Contact Us.
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 include a map and directions with your final information pack about 10 days before your graduation day.
It is always worth checking the travel conditions in London before starting your journey and Transport for London (TfL) maintains a very good website 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. You can get more information about the London congestion charge by Clicking Here.
It is highly recommended that you arrive at the Barbican Centre about one hour and 45 minutes before your ceremony is due to commence. This will give you time to collect your gown and hat, to have your photograph taken – there will be queues for both - and to ensure you and your guests know where you each need to go and to get there in time.
Upon Arrival
You should aim to arrive about one hour and 45 minutes before the start of your ceremony.
When you first arrive at the Barbican Centre’s Silk Street entrance, the three essential things you need to do immediately are all located on the Stalls Floor (Level -1).
- Go down the slope, turn left and down two sets of stairs, to the Stalls floor
- Then straight ahead is the Registration Desk, with electronic screens above
- Go past the Registration Desk, and behind it to the Cloakroom
- Before you separate from your guests and visitors agree a meeting place
Cloakroom – We recommend you check in your coats and bags as soon as you can.
The next two essentials steps are registration and gowning. Which you do first will depend upon the respective queue lengths, and on whether the Registration Desk is open for registrations for your particular ceremony. The Registration Desk will open 1 hour and 45 minutes before the start of your ceremony.
Registration Desk - Join the queue appropriate to your last name to register, collect your graduate seat ticket and presentation card (without these you will not be able to enter the hall) and your ceremonies brochure.
Gowning - From the Registration Desk turn to face where you entered the Stalls floor. In the far left corner is the gowning area. Go there to collect your robes – you will be assisted to put on your academic dress correctly. (For details of the service and how to book in advance, see Gowns and Hats below.)
After this, if you have time, you need to go the floor above (Level G, the Ground Floor) to have your photographs taken. (If you have not previously ordered, you may complete a form and pay.) There will also be overflow studios on the Stalls floor, but you need to first speak to Ede and Ravenscroft staff on the Ground floor. Queues will be long. It’s better to have your photograph taken before your ceremony if you have arrived in time to do – but you must get to your seat in the hall in good time before your ceremony is due to start. (For details of the service and how to book in advance, see Professional Photography below.)
Both you and your guests should be in your correct seats (you will each need your own ticket to be allowed to enter the hall) 15 minutes before your ceremony is due to start.
- All graduates’ seats are in the Stalls (Level -1), with entry via one of doors 1 to 4 – check your ticket.
- Seats for your guests (with paid tickets) will be in the Circle (Ground floor) or the Balcony (Upper floor) or the Stalls – check tickets.
- If anyone has accompanied you as a visitor (without a paid ticket) they may not enter the Hall but may watch the ceremony from the foyer areas on the Stalls floor (4 screens) or on the Ground floor (1 screen).
Before you separate from your guests, your visitors and fellow graduates, agree an exact meeting point. Otherwise it will be difficult to find them, as foyer areas will be very crowded between and after ceremonies.
After the ceremony, light refreshments are laid out on both the Ground and Stalls floors for graduates and their guests who have paid-for tickets.
There will be also desks on both the Ground and Stalls floors where you may order your DVD – the essential souvenir of your graduation ceremony, at a discounted price. (For details of the service see Graduation DVD below.)
On the Ground floor you will also be able to visit the Alumni stall - to find out about all the benefits available to alumni and arrangements to keep in touch with the University and with fellow graduates, and to obtain discounts on University events – and the University shop’s stall, selling a wide range of London Met merchandise.
Gowns and Hats
Before the ceremony, you will need to 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 will probably still be able to hire one on the day - please ask staff in the robing area for availability. However you will need to allow extra time while staff see if spare stock in your size is available, and then to complete the hiring documentation and make your payment.
Once your ceremony has finished and your photographs have been taken you should return your robe and hat to the Ede & Ravenscroft returns desk (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 start of the first ceremony of the day. They will be well sign-posted and will be situated on Level 0 of the Barbican Centre, with additional overflow studios on Level -1. 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 fifteen minutes before the ceremony commences.
The photographers do tend to be extremely busy on the day so, to avoid the rush, you are advised to arrive early to catch the queues at their shortest.
If you have not pre-ordered the professional portrait service then Ede & Ravenscroft will still be able to assist you on the day. You should make enquiries directly to Ede and Ravenscroft on the Ground floor (Level 0).
Graduation DVD
Many graduates and their families will wish to purchase a souvenir Graduation DVD. DVDs will be produced, separately for each ceremony, showing your complete graduation ceremony, graduates celebrating at the Barbican, and additional material as a reminder of time spent at the University. These will be provided by a company called mygraduationfilm.com which is responsible for filming, production, enquiries and sales.
We recommend that you order on the day of your ceremony by visiting one of the DVD sales desks at the Barbican, as for orders submitted at the desk the UK postage and packing charge will be waived, and an equivalent reduction will be applied to the worldwide postage and packing charge. These discounts do not apply to orders submitted online or by post before or after the ceremony. Twin packs (family packs) are available at a substantially reduced rate.
The company’s website is www.mygraduationfilm.com and email enquiries should be directed to enquiries@mygraduationfilm.com
The University is not responsible for the production or sale of the Awards Ceremony DVDs, and the University cannot be held responsible for the content of the website or other information provided by external companies nor for the service supplied by them.
Bringing Children
The Awards Ceremony is a formal celebratory and social occasion and we understand that graduates may wish to enjoy the day with their family. However, the duration of the ceremony is normally one and a half hours, the auditorium can get quite warm and guests need to remain seated at all times and cannot leave before the end of the ceremony. For these reasons, it has been our experience that young children do not enjoy the occasion and may become restless and even cause some disruption to those seated nearby, in which case both the child and the responsible adult are required to leave the hall. We therefore advise graduates that ceremonies are unsuitable for young children and you should not request tickets for them.
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 screens.
If you do book to bring an older child into the auditorium then they must have a ticket and occupy a seaqt, and there are no concession prices for children of any age. There are no creche or child-minding facilities available at the Barbican Centre.
Eating and Drinking at the Barbican
Post-ceremony light refreshments are provided by the University and the cost is included in the ticket price. However you may also wish to have more substantial snacks or a sit-down meal with your family or friends; this would be at your expense.
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 Ceremonies Brochure
The Awards Ceremonies Brochure celebrates and records the achievements of London Metropolitan University graduates.
The Brochure is available without charge to all graduates and will be available to you when you register.
Graduates are grouped according to faculty, course title and award classification.
For a variety of reasons, some graduates are awarded late in the academic cycle. 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 may be added, on request, to the following year's brochure.
ATM (cash machine) facilities at the Barbican Centre
There is just one ATM machice in the Barbican Centre and this often runs out of money very quickly, so we strongly recommend that you withdraw money you may need during the day before you arrive.
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 need to notify us via the booking process but may provide further details by Contacting Us.
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 a very detailed section on their website with information about access for those with disabilities or mobility problems. This can be accessed by Clicking Here.
Arriving Late
We do advise that graduates arrive at the Barbican Centre one hour and 45 minutes prior to the start 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.
Barbican Centre staff will also be available to assist you with any queries concerning directions or facilities.
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 Deputy 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. The speaker (usually the Dean or Associate Dean of faculty/school) will read out the graduate's name and the graduate will walk across the stage where he or she will be congratulated by the Presiding Officer.
After all 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").
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 some 170,000 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
Any queries relating to the professional photography service provided by Ede & Ravenscroft should be directed to Ede & Ravenscroft, not the University.
The Ede & Ravenscroft customer service number is 0870 2421170 or you can E-Mail them at photography@edeandravenscroft.co.uk
Graduation DVD
If you did not order your graduation DVD at the ceremony you may order it afterwards. Please visit www.mygraduationfilm.com where you will be able to order online or by post. Any queries should also be directed to the email address.
Gowns and Hats
Any queries relating to the hiring of academic dress should be put to Ede & Ravenscroft directly, not to the University.
If you failed to return your hired gown and/or hat at the end of the ceremony please contact Ede & Ravenscroft as soon as possible.
The Ede & Ravenscroft customer service number is 01223 861854 Or you can 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. Copies will be available at the ceremony.
The Brochure is free to all graduates.
If you did not pick up a copy of the awards ceremony brochure on the day, we would be happy to post one while stocks last. Please Contact Us to order one..
Your Award Certificate
Certificates are usually posted together with your transcript within 6 weeks of the conferral of your award, which is not the date of your ceremony but the date the University Awards Board confirms your award.
They are posted by recorded delivery to your home address as recorded in the University’s Student Records System. 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 wish to continue your education with us.
To view our full range of undergraduate, postgraduate, pre-degree and Professional and Short Courses, as well as our English and Foreign Languages.
| Contact Us | |
| Phone | 0207 133 2790 |
| ceremony@londonmet.ac.uk | |
