Graduation

Please read these terms carefully as your booking and purchase of guest tickets for your Graduation Ceremony constitutes your acceptance of these terms.

Dates and times

Graduates can request to change the date and time of their ceremony however this is under the discretion of the university and cannot be guaranteed.

If the number of graduating students booking for a ceremony exceeds the number of places available for that ceremony then the University has the right to change the ceremony that the student was originally invited to. If the ceremony is full on the date the student attempts to book they will not be able to book into the ceremony and will be offered an alternative date.

Access/Disability Requirements

It is your responsibility to inform us if either you or one of your guests has an access requirement. If you fail to do so before the booking deadline we cannot guarantee that the appropriate arrangements can be put in place in time for your graduation ceremony.  When students book to attend their ceremony there will be a section of the registration form which asks if you have any special requirements. Please answer yes to this question and we will then contact you to discuss the arrangements.

Ticket Cancellations and Refunds

It is possible for you to cancel your booking and guest tickets before the extra ticket deadline of 11 June at 6pm. Refunds are made by logging back into your ticket booking and cancelling the tickets. After the extra ticket deadline we are unable to refund you for your guest tickets. Tickets do not carry over to future ceremonies.

Photography and Gown hire refunds

For photography and gown hire please refer to Ede and Ravenscroft’s terms and conditions. They can be contacted on 01223 861854.

Children

Children from newborn to age 5 are not permitted into the ceremony marquee but will be able to watch via the video link in the lecture theatre. Children aged 6 and over must have their own ticket to enter the marquee priced at £30. If your guest arrives with a child under the age of 6 and is unable to use their ticket we will not provide a refund.

All children below the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult at all times before, during and after the ceremony.  We reserve the right to ask you to leave if children are not being supervised.

Data Protection

All eligible students will have their full names and awards (not classifications) published in the online programme. This will be carried out under the legal basis of legitimate interest. If you do not want your name to be published, you must notify us at graduation@mdx.ac.uk and we will remove your details.

All eligible students will have their surname, student number and level of study (not classification) sent to Ede & Ravenscroft via encrypted mail. This is to enable online booking, ticket sales, robe hire and photography and to ensure the Ede & Ravenscroft have the correct ceremony date and robes for graduates. This is carried out under the legal basis of legitimate interest.

The Graduation Office will not discuss your student record or any details relating to you graduation with a third party, including parents. If you would like us to discuss your details with a third party you will need to email us with your consent.

Debt

The University Regulations 2024-25 state the following:

Students who have a tuition fee debt to the University will not have a qualification conferred, will not be notified of their final results, nor receive a Certificate or Diploma Supplement, nor be entitled to attend their Graduation Ceremony until the outstanding debt to the University has been paid.

Given the University Regulation if you have an outstanding tuition fee that is not cleared before the booking deadline the University will not allow you to take part in the graduation ceremony.  You will not be able to book to attend your ceremony until the debt clears.

Deferrals

If you are unable to attend your Ceremony, you can request to defer your graduation once to the next appropriate ceremony. Please confirm in writing to graduation@mdx.ac.uk that you wish to defer by the registration deadline of the current Graduation Ceremony you have been invited to and we will confirm whether we are able to accept your deferral.

If you purchase guest tickets then request to defer you must refund your guest tickets by the published refund deadline.

It is not possible for you to carry over your registration or guests tickets to a future ceremony that you are deferring to. Instead, you will need to register and purchase guest tickets for your new ceremony, conforming with the new ceremony deadlines.

Emails from us

The graduation invitation will be sent via email to the personal and MDX email addresses of eligible students. Reminders emails will be sent to students.

Students who have booked to attend their ceremony by the published deadline date will be sent an email to confirm the availability of additional guest tickets as soon as booking closes. Extra tickets will not be available to those students that did not book by the deadline.

If a student has not received the invite email it is the responsibility of the student to follow this up with the Graduation Office by contacting graduation@mdx.ac.uk

Force Majeure

If the Graduation ceremony cannot take place or is delayed or the ceremony time needs to change due to circumstances beyond the control of Middlesex University, including (without limitation):

• Fire, flood, explosion, storm, tempest
• Loss of power, breakdown of plant or machinery
• Terrorist act (actual, suspected or threat of terrorist act)
• Riot, protests, civil commotion
• Acts of God
• Pandemic, quarantine or widespread illness (whether affecting our staff and/or student body or otherwise)
• National mourning (any member of the Royal Family)
• War or threat of war
• National emergencies, governmental requisitioning, emergency planning or provision
• Strikes, lockouts or other industrial action or dispute involving Middlesex University or any other party
• Actions or defaults of placement providers or default of suppliers or sub-contractors
• Student registration exceeds our capacities, industrial action or dispute involving Middlesex University, or the venue at which the Graduation Ceremony is due to be held

Middlesex University will not be liable for any losses direct or otherwise incurred by the graduands or their guests with regards to travel or hotel bookings. The cost of any guest tickets purchased will be refunded.

Guest tickets

Once booking opens, you will be able to purchase a maximum of two guest tickets before the published registration deadline. Tickets cost £30 each and must be purchased via Graduation Services | Ede & Ravenscroft (edeandravenscroft.com).

Once the booking deadline has passed, your two initial guest tickets will not be available as you have not confirmed that you are attending. These tickets will be released for any student who has booked by the deadline to purchase. We cannot guarantee that there will be additional tickets available for your ceremony. If there are any additional guest tickets, they will be sold for £30 each on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students who did not book their ceremony by the published deadline will not be eligible to book guest tickets. Only students who booked to attend the ceremony before the deadline are eligible to book extra tickets. After the booking deadline we will contact eligible students to confirm availability of additional tickets.

If you purchase additional tickets, and the guests do not attend, the tickets are not refundable.  We retain the discretion to set the maximum amount of additional tickets you will be able to purchase.  The refund deadline for guest tickets is 6pm on 11th June.

It is not possible for you to use your guest tickets at any graduation ceremony other than the one you have been invited to.

Tickets are not transferable. We try and make the process of allocating tickets and additional tickets as fair as possible. We do not permit the transfer of tickets between students or permit any request to the graduation office to transfer tickets. All guest tickets are required to be collected with photo ID.

It is not possible for you to use your guest tickets at any graduation ceremony other than the one you have been invited to.

Tickets are not transferable. We try and make the process of allocating tickets and additional tickets as fair as possible. We do not permit the transfer of tickets between students or permit any request to the graduation office to transfer tickets. All guest tickets are required to be collected with photo id.

Refunds cannot be made if your guests do not turn up or cannot make the ceremony. If you or your guest requires a visa and the visa is refused you must cancel your tickets online by 6pm on 11th June.

If you’re ill on the day of your ceremony and can provide medical evidence a refund may be made in exceptional circumstances. Please contact the graduation office for further instructions by 11th July. We do not offer refunds after this date.

On the Day

You must bring your student card or another form of photo id to your ceremony, allowing sufficient time at the venue to register and collect guest tickets and your academic robe.  We require proof of purchase from all graduates so they can collect their tickets and an academic robe – only the graduand can collect tickets and robes.

All guests need to be seated 15 minutes before the ceremony starts and doors close 5 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

We reserve the right to refuse entry or remove any graduand or guest where it appears to us in our sole discretion to be necessary for the good conduct of proceedings and/or the safety, health and wellbeing of graduands, guests or staff.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to the ceremony if either the graduate or guest if you arrive after the ceremony starts. After this time you we will move you to the next available ceremony which may be the same or the next day. Refunds will not be offered for latecomers.

Student Tickets

Students must book to attend their ceremony before the published deadline to guarantee their place at the ceremony. If they fail to book by the deadline date the university will offer them a place at a ceremony where there are places available however this will be on the day first come first served booking. The university is under no obligation to provide these students with guest tickets if they fail to book by the published deadline. The university is under no obligation to let you attend a ceremony if you turn up on the day without having pre-booked.

Robes and dress

Robes can be hired through the University’s official robe suppliers, Ede and Ravenscroft. It is compulsory to wear robes to attend your ceremony.  If you arrive at the ceremony wearing incorrect robes then you will not be admitted into the ceremony. Please contact Ede and Ravenscroft directly for their refund policy.

Use of Images

All footage filmed at the ceremony may be used by Middlesex University for media publications and advertising. Ceremony films will be archived for future reference.

All graduands and guests should be aware that they may feature in this footage. By registering to take party in your graduation ceremony and by purchasing guest tickets, you are giving permission for your image to be recorded.

Accessibility and Special Requests

If you have an accessibility request either for yourself or a guest please check the tick box when you book your ceremony ticket and we will contact you for further details.

Gowns and Photographs

Ede and Ravenscroft are the official suppliers of our gowns and graduation photography and these can be booked when ordering your ceremony tickets.