Both Canterbury Cathedral and Rochester Cathedral are located centrally and are easily accessible by rail, bus and road. For Canterbury Cathedral a map of the immediate area, clear directions and parking information are helpfully provided by visiting the Canterbury Cathedral or Canterbury City Council websites.

For Rochester Cathedral please visit Rochester Cathederal or Medway Council.

It is highly recommended that you arrive at both cathedrals at least two hours before your ceremony is due to commence. This will give you time to collect your robes and to have your photograph taken.

We also advise you bring cash with you on the day as it is a very busy time and you may not have enough time to go to the ATM machine.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you only look at the timings for your ceremony as the timings vary between ceremonies

Medway students

Please click on your ceremony below to access timings and your full day schedule:

• These details will be available in due course.

Canterbury Students

Please click on your ceremony time below to access timings and your full day schedule:

• These details will be available in due course.

Medway students

If you have been unable to collect your tickets from the Medway Building (collection dates to be confirmed) prior to your ceremony you can collect them from the information desk at the Corn Exchange, Rochester. You will need to bring formal ID with you (e.g. student ID card, passport or driving licence).

Canterbury students

If you have been unable to collect your tickets from the Congregations Office prior to your ceremony you can collect them from the Shirley Hall (collection dates to be confirmed). You will need to bring formal ID with you (e.g. student ID card, passport or driving licence)

Medway and Canterbury students - Guests

There will be one queue outside the cathedrals for all guest ticket holders. All tickets are seated on a first come, first served basis by our team of ushers. Remember that you will not be admitted into the cathedral if you do not have a valid ticket. Please note the queues have historically started forming approximately 90 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony. Unfortunately no replacement tickets will be issued under any circumstances so it is vital that you look after your tickets.

Please Note: Canterbury Cathedral dates back to the 10th Century. Therefore there are large pillars incorporated within its construction. This in some cases restricts full viewing. Please be aware that the Congregations Office cannot be held responsible if you are seated in one of these areas. All guests are seated on a first come first serve basis. It is advisable to arrive as soon as comfortably possible for your guests bearing in mind there is no shelter and very little seating in the grounds of the Cathedral.

Medway students

All pre-ordered robes will be awaiting collection from the Corn Exchange in Rochester. Ede & Ravenscroft will be available from the times stated on your schedule. Once your ceremony has finished you should return your completed order to Ede & Ravenscroft. Ede & Ravenscroft will charge graduates for all orders that are not returned.

Canterbury students

All pre-ordered robes will be awaiting collection from the Shirley Hall. Ede & Ravenscroft will be available from the times stated on your schedule. Once your ceremony has finished you should return your completed order to Ede & Ravenscroft. Ede & Ravenscroft will charge graduates for all orders that are not returned.

Students who have not hired a gown

If for some reason you have not hired your gown at least 21 days before the ceremony there is a chance that Ede & Ravenscroft will not be able to accommodate your needs. It is recommended that if you find yourself in this situation you must go to the Ede & Ravenscroft collection points first thing on the morning of your ceremony. Please note that if they cannot accommodate you, you will not be able to graduate. It is therefore very important that you hire your gowns by the deadline set.

 

For more information about academic dress, please visit the Ede & Ravenscroft's website.

All graduands/awardees should dress smartly for the formal occasion of their graduation. Suits are usually worn by men and women are permitted to wear trousers if smart. Students are very welcome to wear national dress. All graduands must also wear the appropriate academic dress which has to be hired by a company called Ede & Ravenscroft. Please read your invitation letter on how to hire your robe.

Please note: students must not wear jeans or trainers.

Most graduands and their families wish to have a photograph taken wearing their robes. The University has appointed an official photographic company, H Tempest, to provide this service.

There is a queuing system on the day so you are advised to look at your schedule and pick a time which will be most convenient for you and your family around your schedule.

Please note that a photograph of the student shaking the hand of the Chancellor will automatically be taken for each student. This will be available for purchase from H Tempest on the day.

Medway students

H Tempest will be at the Corn Exchange on the day.

Canterbury students

H Tempest will be at the Shirley Hall on the day. Please look at your schedule for options throughout the day to best suit your ceremony time. Please be advised that there will be limited studios available after 18.30 on any of the evening ceremonies. If you wish to have your photograph professionally taken we recommend, to save queuing and disappointment, that you try to have your photograph taken before the 19.15 ceremony.

 

H Tempest Photography can be contacted at:

H Tempest Photography
The Colour Laboratory
St Ives
Cornwall
TR26 3HU
T: 01736 752411
W: www.tempest-graduations.co.uk

 

Children aged 3 or under do not require their own ticket. Children aged 4 or over require their own ticket to gain entry. This is due to the Health and Safety Regulations of our venues.

If you wish to bring children, please note that the ceremony is approximately one and a half hours long. As the seating in the cathedrals are not tiered the view of the ceremony is limited. Families with children under five will be seated at the back of the cathedral or on an aisle seat for easy exit if necessary. If the child becomes distressed, we may ask you to leave the cathedral for a short period, so that other people are not disturbed.

If you are taking part in the ceremony and wish to bring your children with you, please make arrangements for an adult to supervise them throughout the day. Those taking part in the ceremony will be separate from their guests, from the time of assembly until after the ceremony has finished. Thank you very much for your help in this matter.

There are no creche or childminding facilities available at either Canterbury or Rochester Cathedral.

The graduation ceremony programme celebrates and records the achievements of graduates from the University of Kent. It is available to all graduates and guests who attended the ceremony and are placed on the seats of the graduates and guests.

If you have informed the Congregations Office that you or your guests have a special requirement, you should have already received information regarding entrance into the cathedrals and the time at which you or your guests will be met and seated.If this information has not been received by Friday 28th June 2013. We may not be able to accommodate your request. If you turn up on the day with someone who has a special requirement and you have not communicated this with the Congregations Office there is a chance that assistance will not be available.

We do advise that graduates arrive at Rochester/Canterbury Cathedral at least two hours prior to the commencement of the ceremony. However we also appreciate that, for a variety of reasons, graduates can be delayed.

If you do arrive late then staff will make every effort to accommodate you. However there is a great risk that your guests will not gain entry into the cathedrals so please ensure you leave in plenty of time to travel and arrive in good time and safely.

Some individual schools arrange their own celebratory events and receptions to coincide with your graduation day. Please find below details from the schools which have informed us so far. Please contact your school directly with any query regarding these events. If your school is not listed below, it does not necessarily mean they are not running an event; you would need to contact them directly to confirm this.

If you have any enquiries on the day, University staff will be available at the information desks at both cathedrals to answer any of your questions.

Please note, whilst guests are queuing there is no cover so please check the weather forecast and ensure you dress appropriately.

Eva London provide the official University of Kent graduation rings and personalised jewellery as a lasting gift to commemorate graduation and your time at the University. To view the collection and order (or collect any pre-orders) please visit the Eva London stand on the day of your ceremony which will be located at the Corn Exchange at Medway and at the Shirley Hall at Canterbury.

The range includes cufflinks, charm bracelets and charms from £30. Click here to view the range. You can also have a graduation ring specially made for you featuring your year, degree initials and an inside engraving of your choice. Prices start at £59 including personalisation. For more information please visit http://www.evalondon.com/kent or call +44 (0)20 7148 7060.

Campus Clothing will be on site during your graduation to allow you to purchase special keepsakes in celebration of your academic achievement. This official University of Kent range features personalised graduation hoodies, t-shirts, stationary and much more. Don’t forget to ask about special personalisation offers, you can also view the range online at www.campusclothing.com. Please visit the Campus Clothing stand on the day of your ceremony which will be located at the Corn Exchange at Medway and at the Shirley Hall at Canterbury.