Graduation terms and conditions

a. Students are eligible to attend a graduation ceremony once the relevant Programme Assessment Board has confirmed that they have received an award of the University. Awards of the University are outlined in Section A4 of the University General Regulations.

b. If a student has applied to attend a graduation ceremony but has not received an award of the University, then the invitation to attend will be withdrawn or deferred to the next available set of ceremonies where appropriate. Email communication will be sent to ineligible students advising of the change in eligibility.

c. Any students who have an outstanding debt with the University will not be permitted to attend a graduation ceremony and will be denied entrance to the ceremony venue. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all debts owed to the University are cleared in advance of the graduation ceremonies. Students should clear any debts by contacting the Credit Control team at creditcontrol@napier.ac.uk.

d. Students with non-academic debt to the University will be eligible to graduate without attendance (in absentia) but may not attend a graduation ceremony.

e. The University reserves the right to amend or withdraw the eligibility to attend a ceremony for reasons aligned with our academic regulations and university policies.

a. Graduating students and their guests are seated in separate, designated parts of the auditorium at the ceremony venue. Students and guests are therefore not permitted to sit together during the ceremony.

b. Children and infants are considered guests and under no circumstances are they permitted to sit with the students.

c. Students are seated in order by their programme and award and cannot choose where they sit, for example sitting with friends. The seats are predesignated and are noted on the student seating tickets.

d. Additional guest tickets which have been reserved and purchased may not be located in the same part of the venue as the free guest tickets provided to students so all guests may not be able to sit together. This should be considered by guests bringing young children and infants.

e. In order to ensure the best support and experience on the day of the ceremony, graduating students must inform the Student Administration team of any additional requirements relating to either themselves or any guests. This includes but is not limited to wheelchair access, accessible seating, sight/sound impairments or any impairments. This can be done as part of the graduation application by emailing graduations@napier.ac.uk in advance of the ceremonies.

f. Every effort will be made to ensure that additional, individual requirements are accommodated where possible.

g. Failure to inform the Student Administration team of additional requirements in advance may result in these requirements not being accommodated on the day of the ceremony.

a. Graduations are formal ceremonial occasions and the University requires all graduating students to wear appropriate and correct academic dress for the graduation ceremony. This includes the correct academic gown and hood as outlined on the Academic dress page.

b. It is the student's responsibility to hire the correct academic gown and hood for the graduation ceremony.

c. It is the student's responsibility to return any hired items to the designated gown return areas on the same day as the ceremony and any failure to do so may incur additional costs by the gown supplier.

d. It is the student's responsibility to cancel or defer any gown hire orders directly with the gown supplier should they no longer be able or eligible to attend the graduation ceremony.

e. The University reserves the right to deny entry to students who are not wearing the appropriate and correct academic dress for their graduation ceremony.

f. The University does not accept any liability for the cost of gown hire by students who are subsequently deemed ineligible to graduate.

a. In addition to the requirement to wear appropriate academic dress (gown and hood) graduating students are reminded that the ceremonies are formal occasions, and they should consider dressing appropriately – normally this would be similar to formal United Kingdom business attire.

b. Edinburgh Napier is an international university and graduating students are also encouraged to wear their national dress under their academic gown and hood.

a. Graduating students and their guests are advised to arrive at least 60 minutes before the start time of the ceremony to allow time to register, obtain tickets and collect academic dress. Once these steps are complete, graduating students should be in their seats in the auditorium 20 minutes before the ceremony begins.

b. The graduation registration desk will close 15 minutes after the ceremony has begun. Students and guests may be denied entry once the registration desk has closed.

c. If a graduating student arrives late, then efforts will be made to seat the student in their original seat however this can be dependent on the student’s time of arrival. If the late arriving student’s programme has already been awarded, then the student will be seated at the end of the student procession.

d. Graduating students who miss their ceremony due to arriving late are not automatically permitted to attend other ceremonies which are scheduled to run later in the day or week, so it is important to arrive early.

e. The University accepts no responsibility for any distress or disappointment caused by the late arrival of graduands or guests. Nor does the university accept any liability for costs incurred by graduating students or their guests in the event that they are not permitted to attend the ceremony.

a. Edinburgh Napier graduation ceremonies are celebratory, milestone events that should be enjoyed by all present, and we strongly encourage guests to support all of the students as they cross the stage with appropriate cheering and applause.

b. Graduating students and their guests must not engage in behaviour that disrupts the ceremony.

c. Graduating students must not engage in any activity that would cause significant disruption when crossing the stage, including but not limited to making personal announcements, approaching any of the stage party or using disruptive devices such as confetti cannons.

d. Graduating students and their guests must not behave in a manner considered inappropriate, abusive, threatening or offensive. The University reserves the right to ask students and their guests to leave the venue in such circumstances and no refunds will be issued.

e. Graduating students must return to and remain in their seat after they have collected their award certificate and should not leave the auditorium until after the University Chancellor's procession has left.

f. The University reserves the right to cancel or withdraw graduation invitations of any graduating student or their guests who behave in a manner which is inappropriate, abusive, threatening or offensive in advance of the ceremonies.

g. Edinburgh Napier University graduation ceremonies are not political events. Graduating students who attempt to bring any flag or symbols of protest onto stage with them will have the flag removed and returned to them after the ceremony has concluded.

a. Award certificates are provided to students once they have crossed the stage as part of the student procession. University Class Award certificates will also be provided to eligible attending students.

b. Academic transcripts and prizes are not provided at the ceremonies.

c. Students who have applied to graduate in absentia will receive their award certificate within 6-8 weeks of the graduation date at which the award was conferred. Class Award certificates will also be sent to eligible in absentia students.

d. It is the graduating student’s responsibility to ensure that all home postal addresses are kept up to date on the student eVision portal.

a. If a scheduled graduation ceremony can no longer take place or is postponed for reasons beyond the University’s control, including but not limited to extreme weather conditions, fire, terrorist acts, disease, pandemic or epidemic, war, acts of God, industrial action or national mourning, the University will not be liable for any losses or costs (direct or indirect) incurred by graduating students and/or their guests.

b. If the University does have to cancel, reschedule or postpone a graduation ceremony or ceremonies, every effort will be made to contact all impacted graduating students to advise them and updated information will be posted on the Graduation page alongside other relevant locations.

c. The University will take all reasonable measures to ensure that the details of students awards and names, both presented at the graduation ceremony and displayed in the online graduation programme, are correct at the time of completion. The University is not liable for any errors displayed in the online graduation programme. It should be advised that the online graduation programme, and the names read out at the ceremonies, do not represent official confirmation of any award of the University. This confirmation is only provided by the official Edinburgh Napier University award certificate.

a. Any graduating student with questions regarding these terms and conditions should contact graduations@napier.ac.uk