Booking your place
Online bookings are open for summer 2026 ceremonies and close at 4pm (GMT) on Thursday 7 May. It's free of charge to attend your own graduation.
We've emailed invitations to all eligible students for our July 2026 ceremonies. This includes your ceremony date, arrival time, and link to book online via e:Vision. If you haven't received this, please contact us(opens in new tab).
View our upcoming ceremoniesYou must book before the deadline, even if your final results are still pending. We may close bookings earlier than the deadline date if demand is high and we reach capacity. If this happens and you haven't booked yet, you'll receive an email so you can join the waiting list. If you join the waiting list, we'll confirm your ceremony date and time once bookings close. We may have to place you in an alternative ceremony outside of your cohort.
You still need to book your place even if you don't have any guests.
If you have any outstanding debts to the University, you won't be able to book a place. Please contact our Credit Control team to discuss payment.
After you've booked, you'll get confirmation and a prompt to hire your cap and gown with Ede and Ravenscroft.
Additional requirements
If you use a wheelchair of have difficulty walking, please include this on your booking form. Our team will contact you before graduation to discuss your requirements. We can make suitable arrangements to assist you during the ceremony.
We offer British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on request. This is for graduates only. If you have a hearing impairment and require this, contact us(opens in new tab) as soon as possible. Please also include this on your booking form.
Your ticket
You'll receive your e-ticket one week before your graduation ceremony. When you register at The Fire Station on the day, we'll replace this with a Graduate Attendance Ticket. Please bring your photo ID. Read more about what to expect on graduation day.
Included with your ticket is:
- The post-ceremony buffet
- A copy of the awards ceremony programme (one per graduate).
Guest tickets
You can book up to two guest tickets for your graduation. You'll receive an email from The Fire Station with instructions on how to do this. Guest tickets cost £27 each. Children over the age of two must have their own ticket and those under 14 must have an adult with them.
We have a limited amount of space for wheelchairs at the ceremonies. Please make it clear when booking if you need access. The Fire Station doesn't provide wheelchairs. Read more about accessibility.
E-tickets for your guests will be available immediately after booking. You don't need to print these as we'll scan them at the venue. If the ticket's invalid, we won't permit entry.
Extra guest tickets may be available if we don't reach capacity by the booking deadline. In this case, we'll contact you. We sell tickets on a first come, first served basis. We can't guarantee any extra seats will be next to those you first booked, so your party may be sat separately.
Visa information for overseas guests
If you're from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), your guests may need a visa or entry clearance to attend the ceremony. As a general guide, if you need a visa to come to the UK, your family will likely need one too.
If they need to, they can apply for a Standard Visitor's visa. This allows them to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months. This is only intended for short visits so can't be extended.
To help with the application, you should provide your guests with:
- A letter of invitation from you
- A student attendance letter. You can do this through e:Vision self-service.
- A photocopy of your passport pages that show your UK Student visa
- Two passport photos
- Your graduation invitation email
- Extra evidence if needed, e.g. bank statements.
Your family should take these documents with them when they apply for a Visitor's visa. This will be either from the British Embassy or High Commission in their own country.
Refunds
If you don't pass your final assessments, we'll refund you for your guest tickets. This process is automatic in the month following graduation ceremonies. You should also contact Ede and Ravenscroft (our robe suppliers) to let them know. You can choose to have your gown carried forward to the next ceremony or receive a refund. You must do this in writing seven days before your ceremony.
If you've already booked but find you can no longer attend, you must contact us(opens in new tab).
We can't give refunds for any travel or accommodation expenses. We recommend you only book these once you have your final results.
Gown hire
Ede and Ravenscroft are our official gown hire company. We support our supplier and help subsidise the gown hire cost for our students.
To take part in your ceremony, you must wear University of Sunderland robes. You won't be able to cross the stage without wearing the official academic dress. The colour of your gown will depend on your subject and level of study. You'll need to wear formal clothes underneath – jeans and trainers aren't permitted.
You can hire your gown online and will receive the link when you book your graduation ticket. Have your head circumference, chest, and height measurements ready. You'll also need your credit/debit card and student number (not your BH or BG number). Before you order your gown, you must book your place at graduation.
Ede and Ravenscroft are an external company. They manage all gown hire payments, cancellations, and refunds. Please contact them if you have any queries about your booking.
Address: Ede and Ravenscroft
Unit A, Denny Industrial Centre
Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB5 9QD
Telephone: 01223 861854(opens in new tab) (Monday-Friday, 9-5pm)
Email: customer.services@graduation-services.co.uk(opens in new tab)
Photography
Ede and Ravenscroft also manage our graduation photography. We recommend booking this before the day of your ceremony. When you hire your gown, they'll offer photography as part of your order.
Photographers can take individual portraits and photos with family and friends.
Accommodation
There are plenty of places to stay nearby. Some hotels offer a discount for customers attending graduation. Options include: