Our Glasgow ceremonies
Key times for 11am ceremonies
- 8.30am - Gown collection from the ground floor of The Sir Alex Ferguson Library
- 9.15am - Check-in opens in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall exhibition area
- 10am - Check-in closes. You must take your seat in the auditorium by this time
- 10.30am - Guests should be seated in the auditorium by this time
- 11am - The graduation ceremony will start promptly.
Key times for 3.15pm ceremonies
- 11.45am - Gown collection from the ground floor of The Sir Alex Ferguson Library
- 1.30pm - Check-in opens in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall exhibition area
- 2.15pm - Check-in closes. You must take your seat in the auditorium by this time
- 2.30pm - Guests should be seated in the auditorium by this time
- 3.15pm - The graduation ceremony will start promptly.
Further important information
For Glasgow graduands, after you have checked in, you are free to meet up with your family and friends in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (GRCH). We ask that you do not leave the venue after you have checked in. Official graduation photography is available before and after each ceremony in the Strathclyde Suite at GRCH. Announcements will be made to let you know when to take your seats. You must be seated in the auditorium at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Late arrivals will not be permitted entry.
If you have not registered and taken your seat 30 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony, you will not be able to enter the auditorium and receive your award.
To ensure that the ceremonies commence on time for the enjoyment for all in attendance, no graduands who arrive late will be admitted to the ceremony.
Your guests must be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. If your guests arrive late, they will be allowed in at a time that will cause minimal disruption.
Order of ceremony
The MC welcomes everyone to the ceremony and informs you of some house rules after which he/she invites you to stand while members of University staff, Court, Senate, Honorary Graduand(s) and senior officers of the university enter in procession to take their seats on stage.
A senior member of University Executive (normally the Chancellor or Chair of Court) then opens the ceremony. At most ceremonies at least one Honorary Award is conferred on someone of public interest. You will be taken out of your seat by row, in order of the graduation programme and led to the stage. The graduands walk across the stage to be ‘capped’ and receive their award from a member of the Registry before returning to their seats.
The ceremony will end with a closing address followed by the Academic Recession when all present are asked to stand. You will be advised by staff when it is appropriate to leave the auditorium.
The length of each ceremony depends on the number of graduands and honorary awards being presented. They usually last a maximum of two hours and as they are formal, ceremonial events, graduands and their guests must remain in the auditorium throughout.
Graduation venue
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (GRCH) is fully accessible to those with mobility difficulties and wheelchair spaces are available.
Venue access information can be found on the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall website.
There will be sign language interpreters on stage for the duration of the ceremony. There isn’t a restaurant at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall; however, there is a cafe bar where light snacks and drinks are available.
Guest tickets
Please visit the "Guest Tickets" section on our preparing for graduation page for more information.
Guest accommodation
If your guests need somewhere to stay in Glasgow, the University Accommodation Service has a special package available for attendees and guests at Caledonian Court over the graduation period. Please email our accommodation team directly.
There are also a number of hotels and B&Bs in the area. For more information please visit our hotels and facilities page.
Overseas guests
If you are inviting family from overseas to attend your graduation, please visit the visa web page for information on what you need to do in order for them to apply for a standard visitor visa.
Please note that the University can't supply an invitation letter; a standard Confirmation of Student Status is the only letter we can supply. The Campus Life desk in Glasgow or the Student Office in London will be able to produce this for you. If you are not able to visit either location please contact student records.
To keep up with graduations at GCU, follow us on Instagram at @glasgow_caledonian_university. If you're posting, you can use the hashtag #GCUGrad24.
Your name and level of award will be recorded in the official University graduation programme as well as in The Herald and The Scotsman newspapers. As electronic versions of these papers are available, this information is accessible worldwide via the internet.
If you do not wish your name to be recorded in the newspapers please let us know in your registration form.
You can also request to opt out of press by emailing graduation@gcu.ac.uk providing your name and Student ID number.
View and download your summer 2024 graduation brochures for each ceremony.
