Graduation 2026
The University will be hosting its graduation ceremony for 2026 at the historic Richmond theatre in Richmond upon Thames, London on Sunday, 28 June 2026. The ceremony will include both undergraduate and postgraduate awards. Eligible participants will be contacted in late January/early February to join the ceremony.
We hope to accommodate all guests, but there is a building capacity to the theatre, so the number of tickets available to each graduate will depend on the number of participants taking part in the ceremony. Initially, we will guarantee 2 guest tickets for every graduate participating in the ceremony. Additional tickets may be available depending on capacity.
Please have a look through the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you don’t see the answer you are looking for, contact us at [email protected]
FAQs
When will I know if I am eligible to participate in the ceremony?
After the exam board confers your degree, you will receive an email from [email protected] confirming your award and degree classification. If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student who completed in September 2025, December 2025 or plan to complete in May 2026, you are eligible to join. Please note that May participants are only considered ‘potential graduates’ until their degrees have passed through the exam board. If you have questions about academic qualifications, please contact [email protected]
What is the deadline for signing up to take part in the ceremony on 28 Jun 2026? What happens if I miss the deadline?
The deadline for signing up to take part in the ceremony is 1 May 2026. Due to contracts with suppliers and the requirements of our external venue, we are unable to accept late requests to join the event.
Is there a cost to participating in the ceremony? What is it for? How can I pay it? What is the deadline?
Each participant must pay a £115 graduation fee in order to take part. The fee must be paid no later than 1 May 2026 at midnight. You can make payment through the University’s store at https://store.richmond.ac.uk/
The fee covers the cap and gown rental and 2 guest tickets to the event.
When and how can I order my cap and gown? Can I keep the cap and gown or do I have to give them back?
In March/April you will be sent a link to book your cap and gown through our partners at Marston Events. After booking, you will receive your cap and gown on the day at the venue. Your graduation fee entitles you to cap and gown rental for the ceremony and afterward until we close the hall. You will need to return your cap and gown before you leave the venue. If you wish to extend your rental or purchase your academic dress, please make arrangements with our partners at Marston Events.
Please note: we have caps, gowns and hoods in the student hub. You can borrow them free of charge to take photos before the event or after, but we ask that you return them within 24 hours.
Can I get professional photography on the day?
Yes! Our academic dress providers are also our professional photographers for the day. You can book your photography at the same time you book your cap and gown rental. Photography costs additionally and but it is not required. You will receive informal photos taken on the day by our staff on site through email a week or so after the event.
I will be graduating with honours. Will this be announced at the ceremony?
Yes, honours will be announced at the ceremony and awardees will be given a stole that they can keep after the ceremony. For undergraduates, honours are for US awards (summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude). For postgraduate students the honours are merit and distinction.
I understand there is a student speaker at the ceremony. How is this person selected?
The graduation speaker is chosen by the University’s academic board who consider the student’s academic standing and their contributions to the University community. Speakers will be contacted by the academic registrar in early June.
When will additional tickets be released to ceremony participants if they are available? Will there be a cost?
Additional tickets may be available on 15 May 2026 dependent on the number of participants who have signed up to join the ceremony by the 1 May deadline. Additional guest tickets can be purchased at https://store.richmond.ac.uk/ for £35 each.
I’d like to invite some family members from my home country, but they will need visas to come to the UK. Can you help?
Yes! You can request a visiting family letter using our letter request form at University Letter Request – Fill in form
Please include full names, nationalities, passport numbers and dates of travel. Please allow 48 hours for us to process your letter request.