UCAB Graduation -

Graduation 2025

This page has all the information regarding details of UCAB Graduation on Wednesday 24 September 2025 held at York Minster.

Book your place here

Please scroll down for further important information and FAQs.

Timings:

Date of Ceremony: Wednesday 24 September 2025

Must be seated in the Minster by 7.10pm

Ceremony start time: 7.30pm

Ceremony finish time: 9.00pm (approximately)

 

Students hiring a gown should arrive between 2.00pm-5.00pm to be gowned and photographed. You will be able to leave the Merchant Taylors’ Hall with your gown, but please remember to return it to the Merchant Taylors’ Hall immediately after the ceremony.

Please allow plenty of time for car parking and preparation including gowning (as there may be a queue) before the ceremony.

Gown booking

Hire of academic dress and photography through Ede and Ravenscroft (see FAQs below)

Link to gown booking

On the day

Arriving in York – make sure you allow plenty of time for travelling and parking in York. Click on the link to locate car parks in York
www.york.gov.uk/parking Please be aware, there is no parking available at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. 

Register your attendance and collect your gown, name card and seat number and guest tickets from the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, York, YO1 7BX between 2.00pm -5.00pm. (there will also be plenty of photo opportunities at the Hall). Be careful not to get mixed up with the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

Arrive at York Minster outside the South Entrance at 6.30pm for your group photograph, there will be staff to help guide you into place.

Before the Ceremony

Gather at the south entrance to the Minster by 6.45pm where you will be seated in number order with your cohort – ushers will be on hand to help with this

Guests should arrive at the west entrance and be directed to guest seating.

The Ceremony

  • Once the procession party, who are made up of college staff and invited guests, are seated the ceremony will begin, with a welcome speech from Principal Dr Tim Whitaker.
  • Your course tutor will collect you from your seats in course order and alphabetical name order and take you to the stage when your name is called by the announcer.
  • You will receive your scroll, shake hands with the Principal and have your photograph taken. The photo will be available to purchase from Ede & Ravenscroft website after the event.
  • Your tutor will wait for you at the other end of the stage until the last person from the group has been on stage, you will then all go back to your seats as a group.
  • If you are lucky enough to receive the Principal’s Trophy on the night, you will receive this on stage and a professional photo will be taken that you can purchase post event. Once you leave the stage, the trophy will be replaced with a commemorative glass plaque. At the end of the ceremony, there is short window of opportunity, whereby you are more than welcome to come back to the table to allow you and your guests to take your own photos to mark your achievement. Please make sure the original trophy is placed back on the table before you leave.

 

Good luck and enjoy your day.

You can watch the whole graduation live from York Minster – link below will become live nearer the start of the event.

YouTube link to the Graduation Ceremony – click here for the YouTube stream 

 

FAQs

  • Key address locations

    The Graduation Ceremony will be held at York Minster, Deangate,
    York YO1 7HH at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24 September 2025

     

    Gowning and photography: Merchant Taylors’ Hall, Aldwark, York YO1 7BX

  • Invitations

    You will have been emailed your invitation to graduation.
    Please reply to the invitation by Friday 5 September 2025 by using the link below to RSVP.

    It is important that you reply to the invitation to ensure your seat. Not replying will result in your name not being called out during the ceremony.

    RSVP Link

     

  • Attire - what do I wear to my Graduation?

    The Graduation Ceremony is a formal occasion so graduands should wear smart clothes eg a suit, a dress or smart trousers. Please remember that you will be required to walk up steps to the stage, so please consider your footwear.

  • Gowns - how do I order a gown?

    You are required to wear a Graduation gown along with Hood and Hat. Gowns can be hired from Ede and Ravenscroft. Information and links to Ede & Ravenscroft website can be found by going to https://www2.edeandravenscroft.com/graduation/ Please use Askham Bryan College when asked to type in the institution.

    You will need to know the title of your degree and awarding body when placing your order.

    Awarding Bodies:
    Agriculture Foundation Degrees – Askham Bryan College
    Agriculture BSc – Harper Adams
    Animal Management Foundation Degrees – Askham Bryan College
    Animal Management BSc/MSc – Harper Adams
    Equine Foundation Degrees – Askham Bryan College
    Equine BSc – Harper Adams
    Vet Nursing Foundation Degrees – RAU
    Vet Nursing BSc – Harper Adams

    Gowns will be available for collection from the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, Aldwark, York YO1 7BX (5 minutes’ walk from York Minster). You will be fitted for your gown and photographed by professional photographers. You will have the opportunity to order the photographs.

    You will be able to leave the Merchant Taylors’ Hall with your gown, but please remember to return it to the Merchant Taylors’ Hall immediately after the ceremony.

     

  • How many guests can I bring?

    Each student may bring up to 4 guests free of charge. Please let us know via the RSVP form how many guests you will be bringing and whether there are any accessibility requirements. Children are welcome and they should be included in your number of guests. Animals are not permitted apart from Guide Dogs.

  • Can I buy extra tickets?

    There might be an opportunity to buy extra tickets above the 4 already allocated. We will release extra tickets during August when we have a better idea of numbers. Please do not contact us regarding extra tickets until the middle of August.

  • How do I collect my tickets?

    You will need to come to the Merchant Taylors’ Hall to register your attendance and collect your guests’ tickets.

  • What time do I need to be seated and where will I be seated?

    You should arrive at the Minster at 6.30pm to have a group photo with your cohort and tutors.

    At 6.45pm Ushers will greet you on entry and direct Graduands and guests to the correct seating areas. Graduands will enter the Minster from the south entrance, guests via the west entrance.

    All Graduands will be allocated a seat according to surname and course studied. You must sit in the seat that is allocated to you. Graduands are called to the stage in a particular order and the seating plan has been designed around this. Failure to sit in your allocated seat might result in your name not being called or being announced for the wrong course.

  • where can I park?

    Please visit the following website for car parks in York: https://www.york.gov.uk/parking

    Please be aware, there is no parking available at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. 

     

  • Can I still come to graduation if I have Student Debt?

    If you owe the College for Tuition Fees or Additional Fees at the end of the academic year, the College reserves the right to restrict your attendance at any awards ceremony until the monies due are paid.

  • What if I have to take re-assessments or re-study the year?

    If you have been part of reassessment, or due to take part in reassessment, or you have to re-take the year, you may graduate next year. If you have any queries about this, please contact the HE team directly.

  • Can our guests take photos in the Minster?

    There will be filming and photography going on all day at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall and throughout the ceremony at the Minster by our own photographers. You will also have a professional photograph taken of you when collecting your scroll on the stage which will be available to buy. There will be opportunities to take photographs in the Minster after the ceremony.

     

     

  • Will you be live streaming the ceremony?

    Yes, the ceremony will be live streamed. Students will be able to access a link via the graduation page on the website, approximately 1 week before the event.

  • Do we get a graduation Programme?

    You will receive a commemorative programme after the ceremony. This will be posted to you with your certificate.

Press play to see last year's ceremony...

Askham Bryan College Video