Specific Requirements

Specific Requirements

Your graduation day is a very special end to your academic career, and we want to ensure that you have the best experience possible on this day.  

What do I need to make sure graduand/guests have the arrangements we need in place?

Please complete the form so we can discuss how we can support yourself/guests. 


We will ask specific things such as: 


  • The date and time of your graduation ceremony
  • What specific requirements you/your guests have and how we can meet your needs. 
We will then respond with information on what support we can provide. 


If you or your guests require us to book you BSL interpreters for the ceremony, please let us know as soon as you receive your invitation as these are booked with an external company so need to ensure there is adequate notice. 

Complete the form

What accessibility requirements can we help with?

We can assist with a wide variety of needs for both graduands and guests.


Working with a specialist team we support thousands of students and guests with a variety of needs from social/ communication issues to visual and hearing impairments, chronic conditions and/ or mobility difficulties. 


How can we assist guests?


We can assist guests in a variety of ways including: 

  • Cathedral admission

  • Minimising crowds & queues

  • Seating


How can we help the graduand?


We can provide assistance with a variety of aspects and provide as much support as you need. 


  • Check-in
  • Ticket collection
  • Collecting gowns and getting dressed into robes
  • Quiet areas, minimising crowds & queues
  • Photography
  • Processing into/around the Cathedral
  • Assistance during the ceremony

This form needs to be completed 3 weeks before your ceremony.

The form can be found at the bottom of this page


Accessibility information of our venues

Canterbury Cathedral

Follow the link for more information

Rochester Cathedral

Follow the link for more information

Corn Exchange (Rochester)

Follow the link for more information

Frequently asked questions


There is no accessible parking permitted within the Cathedral grounds during congregations. The nearest blue badge car parks are located in Iron Bar Lane, Orange Street (Blue Badge only) and Queningate, all of which are a short distance away from the Cathedral.  

There is no disabled parking permitted at the Cathedral for graduation ceremonies and Boley Hill car park is closed. The nearest available car parks are located below, all of which are a short distance away from the Cathedral. Guests are welcome to use any space within these car parks and simply display their blue badge.

Blue Boar Lane Car Park  Blue Boar Lane, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PD

Corporation Street Car Park Rochester Railway Station, Corporation Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1NH

Kings Head Disabled Car Park Epaul Lane, Rochester, Kent ME1 1SN

Generally, yes. Your two guests with tickets will be able to sit together, but if your ceremony has extra tickets that you are able to secure, your extra guests will queue at the guest entrance and sit separately. This is so that we can accommodate other guests who may have accessibility requirements for that ceremony. Please just ensure that we have the names of your guests when you notify us.

Canterbury

There are no toilets within the Cathedral building itself.

An accessible toilet is at the south east end of the Cathedral Precincts, 135 metres from the Visitor Centre. Access is level concrete with no steps.

·         It is a unisex toilet and there is no need for a key.

·         The door opens outwards and locks by a twist lock.

·         The dimensions of the cubicle are 1.5m x 2.5m (4ft 11in x 8ft 2in). There is not sufficient space to the side of the toilet for a wheelchair and sideways transfer.

·         There is a monitored pull cord distress alarm call system positioned next to the toilet.

·         The hand dryer is 88 cm (2ft 10in) from the ground.

·         The basin is 76 cm (2ft 6in) from the ground and has lever taps.

·         The toilet seat is 48cm (1ft 6in) above floor level.

·         There are grab rails, wall-mounted and drop-down rails.

Rochester

Yes – there are accessible toilets in the Cathedral for use including during the ceremony, however if your guest/s require a bathroom before or after the ceremony, they are welcome to use the facilities at The Corn Exchange (where you will check-in, pick up your gown and collect your guest tickets). 

Providing you have made arrangements with us in advance, via the form above:

When you come to collect your tickets on the day, you will be given pink tickets for your guests. Upon arriving at the Cathedral, your guests will not have to queue instead, your guests will be asked to wait at the North Door. A member of university security staff will be waiting at this door, and we will check your guests’ details with our records.

Please note: It is important that guests with specific requirements use the North Door entrance in order for their accessibility needs to be met.

If you are a student with accessibility requirements, please make yourself known to the staff in Chapter House, when you check in or as per the arrangements on your student support plan if required. We will have a record of your requirements on the day and will be able to advise you on the proceedings for your graduation.

Canterbury:

There are permanent ramps located at the South West door (main visitor entrance) into the Nave, at the north corridor into the Cloisters, by the Dean's Steps into the Crypt, and at the east end of the Precincts into the Memorial Garden.

Occasionally, temporary ramps may be in place within the Cathedral or Precincts for maintenance work. These should not be used by the public, and are not fit for wheelchairs or buggies.

Ceremonies last approximately 90 minutes, though this depends on the size of the ceremony.

All guests are encouraged to stay for the duration of the ceremony in order not to disrupt other students graduating with people coming and going throughout the ceremony. However, if guests or students need to leave the cathedral in order to use the toilet, they are welcome to do so and return.


If you have any concerns about staying for the duration of the ceremony, then please do let us know and we can support you as required. 

Gecko form

Specific Requirements form