Do I need to register if I am not attending my ceremony?
You must register online through MAP by the deadline of 10.00am on Friday 8th June 2012 even if you don't plan to attend the ceremony and:
-
you wish your degree to be conferred in absentia, or
-
you wish to defer graduation until the relevant March 2013 (postgraduates and Foundation degree only) or the July 2013 ceremony
-
If you want to be awarded ‘in absentia’ (not attend the ceremony in July 2012 or any future ceremony), you must confirm the address where your certificate should be posted to (via MAP), otherwise you may not receive your certificate. Postal delivery can take up to three weeks. If you are an overseas student, you may wish to send an address label in your native language, including your student University student number to Liz Hobday, Registry, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham
B4 7ET.
Alternatively, you may arrange collection of your certificate (in the week following the ceremony) from the HUB reception (upper foyer) in the Main Building from Tuesday, 17th July onwards (times from 10.30am to 2.30pm). If you elect another person to collect the certificate for you, they must have signed authorisation from you to do so, and show their identification when they collect the certificate, on your behalf.
Please note that some graduands request to receive their certificate before the ceremonies have taken place. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE! The Chancellor has to validate the certificate at the ceremony before it can be sent out or collected.
Please do not wait for exam results before registering, failure to register by the deadline of Friday 8th June 2012 may result in you not graduating. If you are in any doubt as to whether you will graduate in July 2012, you must still register via MAP. If necessary, your name can be removed at a later stage. We can withdraw you from a ceremony but we cannot fit you into a ceremony after Friday 8th June.
I have been asked to register for the July 2012 graduation, does this mean that I have successfully completed my programme of study?
NO, you should NOT take receipt of this notification to mean that you have successfully completed your programme of study. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility to graduate, please contact your relevant School at Aston University.
When will I receive my guest tickets for the graduation ceremony and how many will I receive?
Tickets for your guests will be posted out by the Birmingham Town Hall (or can be collected from their foyer on graduation day). The Graduation Office will notify you after Friday 8th June 2012 with details of how to contact the Birmingham Town Hall Box Office to order your guest tickets. Please note that you must contact the Birmingham Town Hall Box Office even if you only require your two free guest tickets. Indicating on MAP how many guest tickets you require is not the same as booking them! IF YOU DO NOT CONTACT THE BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL TO ORDER YOUR GUEST TICKETS THEN NO GUEST TICKETS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO YOU.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO BOOK GUEST TICKETS AND ROBES IN PLENTY OF TIME AND CERTAINLY BY THE END OF JUNE OTHERWISE THE GRADUATION OFFICE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING YOUR CEREMONY!
There will be a facility on MAP to request 2 extra guest tickets (maximum) which will cost £10.00 each. Please note that additional tickets are never guaranteed. Additional tickets are based on how many graduands want to attend the ceremony (the more graduands in a ceremony, the less guest tickets). If someone you know has managed to obtain additional tickets for their ceremony, it does not automatically mean that additional tickets will be available for your ceremony (some ceremonies end up fuller than others!). Additional tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis which means if additional tickets become available, they will be allocated to those graduands who have registered first on MAP (your registration with the day and time is automatically forwarded to the Graduation Office).
Please do not encourage family or friends to book airline tickets or hotel accommodation based on your request for guest tickets via MAP, please wait for the Graduation Office to confirm whether your request has been successful.
The University will not be held responsible for any loss of monies due to flight cancellations or cancelled hotel bookings based on your request for additional tickets via MAP. Your request does not mean that the University has promised or allocated additional tickets to you. Please wait for email confirmation from the Graduation Office about guest tickets. No information regarding guest tickets will be sent out to you until the deadline for graduation registration - Friday 8th June has passed.
Please note that graduands' seats are pre-allocated which means that you do need need a ticket for yourself.
Take a look at the pages on ordering guest tickets for full information.
What time do I need to arrive at Aston University?
You must arrive at Aston University at least one and half hours before your Town Hall ceremony commences. This will allow you enough time to collect your robes (from Aston University), travel to the Town Hall, collect your guest tickets (if applicable) and register at the Checkpoint.
Please make sure that you are aware of any road works that could affect your journey on the day. If you think you are going to be late, please contact the Graduation Office at Aston University as soon as you can on +44 (0) 121 204 4551.
If you are travelling a long distance, it may be worth considering booking overnight accommodation in Birmingham
What time do I need to arrive at the Town Hall?
In order to take part in the ceremony, you must be robed and at the Checkpoint in the Birmingham Town Hall by 9.30am/10.00am at latest (for the morning ceremony) and by 1.00pm/1.30pm at latest (for the afternoon ceremony.) Once you have checked in, you must find your seat in the Auditorium and remain seated until the ceremony begins. If you are not robed or fail to check in or check in late you may not be allowed into the Auditorium and be conferred on stage by the Chancellor.
PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE FOR CHECKPOINT - if your ceremony commences at 11.00am, you must be at Checkpoint no later than 10.00am. If your ceremony commences at 2.30pm, you must be at Checkpoint no later than 1.30pm. Late graduands delay the start of a ceremony which means all other graduands/guests/University staff are kept waiting and this spoils the occasion for everyone involved.
What happens to my guests when I go to Checkpoint?
Guests with tickets should find their seats in the Auditorium, whilst you go to Checkpoint.
How do I know if I have ordered the correct robe?
As long as you have stated the correct School and attainment on the order, your robes should be correct.
How long does the ceremony last?
Approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
If you attend the ceremony, you will receive your certificate in person during the ceremony (providing you do not have any outstanding debts to the university). If you do not attend, your certificate will be sent to you by recorded delivery the week following the ceremony. Please note that it can take up to three weeks for the certificate to arrive. Alternatively, you may collect your certificate from the HUB, upper foyer of the Main Building from Tuesday 17th July 2012 onwards (times from 10.30am to 2.30pm).
Please note that many graduands who wish to go through in-absentia (not attend the ceremony or any future ceremony) ask for their certificate to be sent out in advance of the ceremony. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE - the Chancellor needs to validate the certificate (the Chancellor does this at the ceremony). If you need any paperwork for job interviews, the Graduation Office suggests that you contact your relevant academic School and ask for a transcript.
Where can I park on the day of my ceremony?
Visit the page on planning your journey and parking for all you unanswered questions on parking at all venues, the University's 'graduation park and ride facility' and disabled parking during the event.
Does the University provide facilities at the ceremonies for those with special needs?
Visit the page on requests for those with additional needs for information on this area.
Main University navigation links
