Graduation day

For graduands from the following undergraduate subject areas:

• Veterinary Nursing
• Veterinary Physiotherapy
• Veterinary Technician
• Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (HKVets)

and for graduands from the following postgraduate subject areas:

• Veterinary Nursing

For graduands from the following undergraduate subject areas:

• Agriculture
• Engineering
• Zoology

and for graduands from the following postgraduate subject areas:

• Agriculture
• PgC Learning & Teaching
• Postgraduate Researchers (Agriculture)

For graduands from the following undergraduate subject areas:

• Programmes run with Beijing University of Agriculture (BUA)
• Animal Sciences
• Business and Agri-Food
• Environment, Sustainability and Wildlife
• Food
• Land and Property Management

and for graduands from the following postgraduate subject areas:

• Land and Property Management
• Postgraduate Researchers (Animals Sciences, Business, ESW, LPM)

Graduation is a formal event. You should wear smart clothing beneath your gown. Most people tend to wear smart dresses, suits, smart shirts with chinos and a tie, or similar.  

Smart, comfortable shoes are important. Please consider the stability of your shoes, you will be walking up and down a ramp to enter and exit the stage; no jeans or trainers.  

Please leave personal items, such as handbags and mobile phones, with your guests. You will not be able to carry them with you in the procession at your graduation ceremony.  

You are required to wear your academic gown (cap, hood, gown), which you should have hired from Ede & Ravenscroft (see Deadlines for final order date).

Please be aware that we reserve the right to prevent you from joining the procession and attending your ceremony on the day if you are not dressed appropriately in smart clothes

We make best efforts to accommodate the late arrival of graduands, although, regrettably, once the proceedings have reached a certain point, latecomers will not be admitted. If you are running late, please call the main University reception on 01952 820 280 to let us know. 

Last entry for the graduation ceremony marquee:  

• Ceremony One: 09:15
• Ceremony Two: 12:45
• Ceremony Three: 16:00

All graduands are assigned a specific seat within the ceremony marquee, firstly in course order, then alphabetically.

Approximately 45 minutes before the ceremony, you will meet with your fellow graduands and course tutor at the Graduation Marquee. Here you will be given a seat number and instructions on how to proceed.  

Guests take their seats separately from graduands and are advised to do so in good time. Guest seating is not pre-assigned and fills very quickly.

We will reserve seating for guests with disabilities where special requirements have been indicated via online registration. If you have requested accessible seating, please advise your guests to enter the marquee via the accessible entrance where they will be greeted by a steward and shown to their seats. 

Yes, additional guests without tickets can attend campus and will have access to watch the Ceremony from the live stream in the Graduation Village.

Graduands are entitled to purchase a maximum of two guest tickets to the Graduation Ceremony Marquee. Guest tickets will grant entry to your Graduation Ceremony, and all-day access to the Graduation Village. Guest ticket will also include a glass of fizz and a Harper Brownie.

Depending on the number of graduands attending the ceremonies, we may be able to accommodate additional guests in the marquee for those with exceptional circumstances.  

Once registration has closed, no further tickets can be allocated.

For any ceremonies where additional tickets remain available, depending on the number of graduands attending, we may release some additional tickets for sale once registration has closed. We anticipate these tickets would be released in early August, on a first come first served basis, with graduands able to purchase up to 4 additional tickets until they run out. If additional tickets are available for your ceremony, you will be notified via e-mail. 

Yes, the graduation ceremonies will be filmed and streamed live on the Harper Adams University website, and the recordings will be available online for the month following the ceremonies. If you have any queries or concerns regarding the above, please let us know at graduation@harper-adams.ac.uk

Information on travelling to the University can be found on our How to get to Harper Adams page.

See the Graduation timetable for timings of the day.

The Graduation Village, located directly in front of the QMH building, will be your base camp for the day, where you and your guests can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments, choose from a range of street food vendors and celebrate your success with your guests, fellow students and faculty.

Catering outlets on campus will also be open. Details will be available on the day.

No. Unfortunately, we do not have a secure area for storing your luggage or belongings. 

Regrettably, there will be no accommodation available on campus for the graduation ceremonies. 

Please note that we are unable to recommend or take responsibility for any off-campus accommodation arrangements. We would advise that you book early to avoid disappointment. 

Graduation will still go ahead if the weather is wet. Please check the forecast and bring an umbrella if it looks like rain!

If you have unpaid fees you will need to have reached an agreement with the Director of Finance before graduation or you may not be permitted to attend.  This is set out in the published Collection of Student Debt Policy. Please contact the Finance Office for further information if you are in this position, at income@harper-adams.ac.uk or on 01952 815214.

If you would like to defer attending your Graduation Ceremony, you might have the option to attend our next Graduation day, on Monday, 11 January 2027. Please contact graduation@harper-adams.ac.uk to arrange this.

Yes, you can graduate in absentia. This means that you do not have to attend the ceremony and your Certificate will be posted to your address. If you do not want to attend graduation, let us know by completing the graduation registration form.

If you qualify for your award but do not register to attend graduation, your certificate will automatically be sent to your registered home address, by secure post, usually within four weeks of graduation. Please ensure the University has your correct postal address when you complete the registration form.

Please contact Exams Office for any queries in relation to your certificate.