On the day
Find out everything you need to know about what happens on the day of your graduation ceremony.Ceremony
The auditorium will open one hour before the start of the ceremony. All guests and graduands (graduating students) must be seated at least 20 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony. A short graduations briefing will take place 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.
Processions
The Academic Procession and the Chancellor’s Procession enter the auditorium. The assembly stands for the processions and should remain standing until the Chancellor gives the signal to sit.
The Ceremony opens
The Chancellor of the University will declare the ceremony open and deliver his opening address. This will be followed by a Vote of Thanks from the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association President.
Any Honorary awards will then be presented to the Chancellor.
The conferment of Student Awards
Act of Conferment - The Chancellor confers the awards on graduates who are in the Usher Hall and in absentia for those graduates who are unable to attend.
Vice-Chancellor’s speech from Professor Andrea Nolan.
The ceremony ends
The Chancellor’s speech and the Chancellor declares the ceremony closed. The assembly stands as the processions exit the auditorium.
Breakdown by Ceremony
| Activity | 11am Ceremony | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Doors open to graduands at 8.30am | Usher Hall, Main Foyer |
| Graduand Registration | Registration opens at 8.30am and you must be registered by 10.30am at the latest | Usher Hall, Main Foyer |
| Graduands collect their academic gown | Opens at 8.30am and you must collect your gown by 10.30am | Usher Hall, Upper Circle |
| Graduation Photography* | Photography studios will open at 8.30am and close at 6pm | Sheraton Grand Hotel (opposite the Usher Hall) |
| All guests and students should be seated | Graduands and guests must be seated by 10.40am | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| The graduation ceremony commences | 11am | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| The graduation ceremony ends | 12.30pm | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| Graduates return their academic gown | Until 6pm | Usher Hall, Box Office |
| Activity | 3pm Ceremony | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Doors open to graduands at 12.30pm | Usher Hall, Main Foyer |
| Graduand Registration | Registration opens at 12.30pm and you must be registered by 2.30pm at the latest | Usher Hall, Main Foyer |
| Graduands collect their academic gown | Opens at 12.30pm and you must collect your gown by 2.30pm | Usher Hall, Upper Circle |
| Graduation Photography* | Photography studios will open at 12.30pm and close at 6pm | Sheraton Grand Hotel (opposite the Usher Hall) |
| All guests and students should be seated | Graduands and guests must be seated by 2.40pm | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| The graduation ceremony commences | 3pm | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| The graduation ceremony ends | 4.30pm | Usher Hall, Auditorium |
| Graduates return their academic gown | Until 6pm | Usher Hall, Box Office |
*Thursday 31 October Ceremonies:
Please note that the Ede & Ravenscroft photography studios at the Sheraton Grand Hotel will close at 1.15pm on Thursday 31 October.
For students who have booked professional photography, please ensure you make suitable arrangements so that you have adequate time around your ceremony for photography. A small number of gowns will be made available for photography at the studios.
Students who are attending the afternoon (3pm) ceremony should arrange to visit the photography studios in the morning, before the afternoon ceremony begins.