Certificates
Your certificate will be sent out to you by recorded delivery in the weeks following the online ceremony, to your confirmed address (you will need to confirm your address when replying to your invite online). If you move house shortly before the online ceremony, please get in touch with your new details.
Graduates who have an outstanding debt will not receive their certificate until such time as their debt has been cleared.
Please note that the university will only hold uncollected certificates for five years, after which the original will be destroyed and you will have to pay for a replacement.
What happens on the day
We are holding four online graduation ceremonies each day from Monday 8 February until Friday 12 February 2021, the events are at 10.30, 12.30, 14.30 and 16.30. We have already allocated you to a date and time and we are afraid that it will not be possible for you to join a different event.
You will be sent joining Instructions towards the end of January, please be ready to join the online ceremony 15 minutes before they are due to commence.
Recipients will be called in blocks to appear on screen as their names are called so please be prepared to enter the correct waiting area when you are called by one of our online stewards. We are currently finalising the details of these arrangements, so more precise Instructions will be sent to you at the end of January.
What happens if I sign in late?
We ask that join the event in good time, as we cannot delay the start. Those joining late may not be able to have their names called or participate in the event.
Conduct
We hope these events will be a wonderful celebration to be enjoyed by recipients and their guests. Aggressive or abusive behaviour is unacceptable and anyone behaving in this way will be asked to leave.
What If I have registered but cannot attend?
If you cannot attend, please let the team In Academic Services know as soon as you are able by emailing ceremonyadmin@brighton.ac.uk. This will enable us to correctly order the event so names are called in the correct order, although it may not be possible to stop your name being called.
Guests
Guests will be able to view the events live on YouTube and Facebook, the events will then be accessible on the same channels for a period of three months after the live dates.
What will it look like
It can be hard to imagine what an online graduation ceremony will be like. We hope that this mock-up of an online ceremony gives you an idea of what it will look like for guests viewing via YouTube and Facebook Live.
Details of your online award ceremony will be sent to you prior to the event.
Photography
We are aware that many graduates and their families often treasure the formal portrait photographs taken at their ceremonies.
We are looking at ways that we can fulfil this experience under any future restrictions. We are currently planning to hold a photography event in Brighton sometime closer to Easter. We are also talking to other universities elsewhere in the country to see if we may be able to offer a similar experience at other university locations elsewhere in the UK.
The timing and location of these arrangements (including the number of guests that could be photographed with you) will be highly dependent on government guidance and restrictions at that time and location. We will update this website with arrangements as soon as we are able, but final provisions may not be able to be announced until shortly before they are implemented.
You will need to pre-booking a slot in order that we can follow the government guidelines of that time. You are under no obligation to purchase the photographs that are taken. You will be supplied with an instant proof of your images, from which you can make your selection and place your order. Orders can be placed at the sales desk by credit or debit card on the day or at a later date by telephone or online.
Although you cannot pre-order photographic packages prior to the online graduation ceremonies themselves, you can view the Tempest Graduations website for examples of prices and packages, along with terms and conditions.
Accessibility
What should I do if I (or my guests) have a disability or other special requirements?
We are working to make our online graduation ceremonies as accessible as possible for those with both hearing and sight impairments and hope the viewing options will make the events accessible to those whose care or employment commitments make it difficult to attend at the times of the live celebrations.
If you and/or your guests have additional needs which may require special access arrangements for the photography events, please let us know by emailing the Ceremony Admin team so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Gifts and mementoes
Our official university suppliers of memorabilia are operating online offering a range of items from teddies to mugs, and even facemasks. Nearer to the online graduation ceremonies you will also be able to purchase “Class of 2020” t-shirts and hoodies listing the names of you and all your fellow graduates from this academic year.
Social media
You can follow graduation across social media and take part by tagging your photographs with #brightonforever and @uniofbrighton to share your best moments with us.
Student support package
Are you eligible to attend a virtual celebration in February but are concerned about the cost of the photography event?
We are able to offer support to 40 graduands for the spring graduation photography events with free gown and cap hire mentioned above plus a free basic photography package.
Priority will be given to those who have one or more of these characteristics:
- care leavers
- estranged students
- students in receipt of a Student Support Fund in their final academic year 2019–20
- students in receipt of DWP benefits.
Please email Helen Abrahams, Student Advice Manager on h.l.abrahams@brighton.ac.uk if you wish to be considered for this. Please explain your circumstances when applying and supply your student number and full contact details.
Applications close on 20 January 2021.
Thank you to tempest-graduations.co.uk for this generous offer.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties or you have questions about student finance or bank accounts after graduation, please contact Student Advice.
Final year Home students can also apply to the Student Support Fund whilst they continue to be enrolled on a course.
Terms and conditions
By confirming your attendance and purchasing guest tickets you also agree to our terms and conditions (pdf file).