Graduation FAQs

Get the answers to all your frequently asked questions concerning graduations.

 
 

Applying to graduate

How do I apply to attend my graduation ceremony?

Apply through the online graduation link.

If you are exiting in 3rd year, and not continuing to Honours, remember to inform your School Office that you intend to graduate in order that they can process your award.

There is no graduation fee for the student to attend graduation.

How do I apply to graduate in absentia?

All students who do not wish to attend a graduation ceremony should apply to graduate in absentia to ensure your parchment is posted to you.

Apply through the online graduation link.

There is no fee to graduate in absentia.

Your award will be conferred at the appropriate graduation ceremony and will be sent to you by post, after the graduation ceremony. Parchments posted to UK addresses will be sent via Royal Mail. Parchments sent to addresses outwith the UK will be sent by air mail post. Please allow 4-6 weeks following graduation for delivery of your parchment.

If you are planning to change address, please remember to inform Student Administration by emailing graduations@napier.ac.uk.

How do I defer my graduation?

You may defer your graduation ceremony to another ceremony within a 12-month period starting from your proposed original ceremony, i.e. summer 2024 to either autumn 2024 or summer 2025.

In order to defer, you should inform us of your intention to defer, and to which ceremony, by emailing graduations@napier.ac.uk. The opportunity to defer is only offered once.

Please note that if you defer your graduation, you will not be able to receive your parchment until the date of the ceremony you attend, which will be the date printed on your degree parchment.

When is the closing date to apply for graduation?

The closing date for students to apply for graduation is Monday 10 June. This is the closing date for students to apply to attend the ceremony and to graduate in absentia.

 
 

Receiving your parchment (degree certificate)

When can I receive my University parchment?

Your award is legally conferred by the Chancellor at the next available graduation ceremony. It is only after this legal process that parchments can be produced. This means that you must wait for a ceremony in July or October before you can receive your parchment.

How do I receive my University parchment?

If you attend a graduation ceremony, you will receive your parchment on the day of your graduation ceremony in the Usher Hall.

If you’re intending to graduate in absentia please see the section Graduate in absentia (if you’re not attending the ceremony). Please note that you must apply to graduate in absentia to have your parchment sent to you after the next available graduation ceremony.

Can I collect my parchment?

If you would prefer to collect your parchment in person (from the Sighthill Campus only), please email Student Administration at graduations@napier.ac.uk within a week of your ceremony date, and we will advise when it is ready to collect.

 
 

Fees and debt

How much is the graduation fee?

There is no cost to the student to attend graduation or to graduate in absentia. All graduands can request up to three guest tickets free of charge for their graduation ceremony. You do not need to request a ticket for yourself.

It may be possible to purchase additional guest tickets for the ceremony. Further information will be available on Tuesday 11 June 2024. Additional guest tickets will cost £15 per person.

What if I am in debt to the University?

If you have a debt to the University which is not cleared before graduation, you will not be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony or receive your parchment.

If you think you may have a debt to the University please contact Credit Control on 0131 455 6140.


 
 

On the day

Where is the ceremony held?

The University holds its graduation ceremonies in the Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2EA.

Where do I register?

When you arrive at the Usher Hall you must register at the registration desks located in the main foyer. The registration desks run in alphabetical surname order. You should be registered at least 1 hour before the start of your ceremony.

How will I know where to sit?

When you register you will be given your seat number on a blue seating card. Staff from both the University and the Usher Hall will be available to direct you to your seat, which will be in the stalls area of the Usher Hall.

Will I receive my prize/medal at the ceremony?

Graduation prizes will be announced at the same time as your award is announced. Prizes and medals will be posted out after the ceremonies.

How do I purchase and collect guest tickets?

Information about how to apply for guest tickets is available on our Guest Tickets page.

When do my guests and I have to be seated?

The auditorium opens one hour before the start of your ceremony. Both you and your guests must be seated at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Latecomers are not permitted to enter the auditorium.

Can I bring my children to the ceremony?

Children can attend the ceremony, but you should note that it may not be suitable for very young children.

Children under two do not pay for a ticket. Children over the age of two will require a ticket due to the Usher Hall’s health and safety regulations.

Can I purchase a university scroll holder?

You can purchase a scroll holder and other university memorabilia online at onlineshop.napier.ac.uk.

Can I purchase a newspaper containing a list of the graduates' names?

After consultation with the Edinburgh Napier Students' Association, a decision was made in 2023 to discontinue the practice of providing graduate names for newspapers.

This decision was made in line with our Environmental Sustainability Strategy in efforts to further reduce our wider carbon footprint, and to contribute towards Net Zero Carbon 2030.

Graduate names can still be found in our digital graduation booklet, which is available on our Edinburgh Napier website from the day of the ceremony.

How long is the ceremony?

The ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours.

 
 

Gowns and hoods

How do I order my gown/hood?

You can order your gown and hood from the University robe makers Ede & Ravenscroft or telephone 01223 861 854. Please note there is a separate cost to hire your gown.

Do I need to wear a gown to graduate?

Yes, all students attending graduation must wear the Ede & Ravenscroft gown relevant to their award, or you will not be permitted to cross the stage. Please note that there is a separate cost to hire your gown.

Is there a dress code for graduation?

Yes, graduation is a formal occasion and students are expected to dress appropriately. Religious, national or military dress and headwear may be worn. You can wear a mortarboard hat if you wish, but other hats and fascinators are not permitted.

Where do I collect my gown?

Gowns will be available to collect from the top floor of the Usher Hall after you have registered. You can collect your gown at the times shown below for your ceremony:

 Ceremony time   Gown collection time 
 Morning 10.30am  8.30am - 10am
 Morning 11am  8.30am - 10.30am
 Afternoon 1.30pm  11.30am - 1pm
 Afternoon 3pm  12.30pm - 2.30pm
 Afternoon 4.30pm  2.30pm-4pm

Where do I return my gown?

Your gown should be returned to Ede & Ravenscroft after the ceremony at the Usher Hall.

 
 

Photography

Can I pre-order my photographs?

We recommend that you pre order your photography in advance from Ede & Ravenscroft Graduation Services page as the queues for the photography sales desk can be quite long.

Where do I get my photographs taken at graduation?

You can have your photographs taken before or after your ceremony. The photography studios will be open two hours prior to the start of your ceremony and will generally finish about an hour after the last ceremony of the day. If in doubt, please check with the Ede & Ravenscroft Sales desk on the day.

Photography services are based in the Sheraton Grand Hotel, opposite the Usher Hall.

Can guests take photographs during the ceremony?

Members of the audience may take photographs, but should remain in their seats. The use of flash apparatus or private video recording is not permitted in the auditorium of the Usher Hall.

Can I take photographs of my award/parchment?

Photographing your big day is a great way to capture some lasting memories of yourself and your guests. However, in the interest of protecting your achievement and fraud prevention we would ask that you do not post detailed photographs of your parchments online.