Skip to main content

How to Register

Two graduands in robes outside Durham Cathedral

The registration system is now closed for Summer Congregation 2025. Students who have not registered will not be able to attend Summer Congregation 2025 or a future ceremony (unless you have a deferral).

All eligible graduates should have received an email confirming their attendance.

 

Attendance Criteria

Results must be published by 25 June 2025 in order to attend Summer Congregation 2025.

No degree or other qualification shall normally be conferred upon a student while they have a significant tuition fee debt owing to the University, in line with the University General Regulation IX B.

Only graduands awarded the following are eligible to attend Congregation:

  • Bachelor
  • Undergraduate Master
  • Postgraduate Certificate
  • Postgraduate Diploma
  • Postgraduate Master
  • Doctorate

Graduands awarded any other qualification e.g. Undergraduate Certificate, Undergraduate Diploma or Graduate Diploma, are not eligible to attend a ceremony.

 

Deferrals

Students should attend the first ceremony they are invited to and are eligible to attend. Students are allocated a ceremony based on their department and are unable to attend an alternative day in the same congregation, except in certain circumstances. This is at the discretion of the Ceremonies Unit and requests should be made by contacting the Ceremonies Unit directly.

Deferral to another set of ceremonies (e.g. from Summer to Winter) is reserved for exceptional circumstances only and is at the discretion of the Ceremonies Unit. Deferral requests should be made during the relevant registration period, by contacting the Ceremonies Unit, and requests after the registration deadline will not be considered.

Deferral (if granted) is to the next available ceremony as dictated by the Ceremonies Unit.

Previous examples of exceptional circumstances include:

  • Recent bereavement
  • Funeral attendance
  • Critical illness in graduand or close family member
  • Pre-arranged medical appointment such as scheduled surgery
  • Imminent or recent birth of a graduand's child

Examples of circumstances we cannot account for are:

  • Work/ academic commitments
  • Availability of guests
  • Holidays
  • Family events
  • Financial difficulties
  • Childcare issues

 

Preferred Names

At Durham University, we are committed to providing a supportive environment for all graduands attending our ceremonies.

We recognise and respect students' gender identity by allowing them to use their preferred name during ceremonies, even if it doesn't match their legal name. Students may request for their preferred name to be read out at the ceremony by contacting the Ceremonies Unit by 25 June 2025.

We will be unable to accept any requests after this date, once the scripts are printed.

Please note: degree certificates and programme inserts will still contain full legal names.

 

Name Pronunciation

Name pronunciation requests should be directed to Faculty Offices as per instructions HERE