Registration for all eligible graduates will open on 7th April 2026. If you are eligible, the Graduation Team will send you an email with an invitation and a link to the booking site. Through this site, you will be able to hire your academic dress, purchase guest tickets, and book professional photography.
As an Arden graduate, you will receive a complimentary ticket to attend your graduation ceremony. When you register, you may also purchase up to two additional guest tickets at £20 each.
There may be an opportunity to purchase additional guest tickets after registration closes through the booking site. If you would like more than two guest tickets, you can request additional tickets when you initially register. After registration closes, you will receive an email to confirm whether any extra tickets are available. Please note, you may not receive the full number of additional tickets requested.
For this reason, we kindly recommend that you do not make any arrangements for extra guests until your additional ticket request has been confirmed.
Children are welcome to attend the graduation ceremony. However, due to the length of the ceremony (approx. 1 hour 30 minutes), it may not be suitable for children under 10 years of age. All children must have their own ticket. Children under 12 years are free of charge, however they will be included in your ticket allocation.
All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guest, as their care and supervision remain your responsibility throughout the event. Please note that children cannot be seated with graduates, as graduate and guest seating is on different levels.
It is important to ensure that children are with a responsible adult at all times during the ceremony.
If a child is not accompanied by an appropriate adult, you may be asked to step out of the ceremony to look after them, which could mean missing your graduation.
Pushchairs are not permitted within the seating areas. All pushchairs must be left outside the Ceremony Room.
When you arrive at the graduation venue, please head to registration to confirm your attendance. Here, you will receive your graduation brochure, alumni drinks tokens, and wristbands for both you and your guests.
You must ensure that both yourself and your guest wear your allocated wristbands as these wristbands show that you have registered and will provide you with access to seating areas.
Graduates and guest will be seated separately within the Great Hall at Central Hall Westminster.
Graduates- Level 3 (Great Hall)
Graduates will be seated by School and programme of study, in alphabetical order based on when names are called to cross the stage. It is important that you sit in your allocated seat to ensure the correct name is called out by the orator. On arrival, at registration you will be provided with a wristband which will state your allocated seat number on it.
On the day, the Graduation Team will guide you to your seat before the ceremony begins. When it is your turn to cross the stage, a member of the team will direct you on where to go.
Guests – Level 4 (Great Hall Balcony)
Guest do not have allocated seat numbers. Guests will be able to sit where they feel comfortable. They will need to show their wristbands to gain entry into the seating area.
To avoid disruption during the ceremony, graduates and guests are asked to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony (Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes).
If you are unable to attend your ceremony, you may cancel your gown, tickets, and photography orders up to 7 days before the event to receive a full refund. Cancellations made 6 days before the ceremony will be eligible for a 50% refund. From first day of ceremony period no refunds will be issued.
To cancel your order, please email: graduation@arden.ac.uk.
Additional requirements
We ask that at the time of registration, any requirements for you or your guests with additional needs, e.g. wheelchair access, sight or sound facilities, are requested on the registration form. We will make every effort to meet your requirements, however, it may not always be possible for us to accommodate particular needs, especially without advanced notice.
We will seat your guests based on the requirements specified - this does not necessarily mean they will be seated on the front row. By completing registration, you and your guests are giving consent to the University passing relevant details of an individual’s special requirements to the venue to enable any appropriate adjustments to be made.