4. Table of Contents
*Note Click on title to go to that page
What is Graduation Day
Where to collect your tickets
What happens once you have entered the ceremonial hall
The order of the ceremony
How you will receive your congratulations from the Presiding Officer
Restrictions on entrance to the auditorium
Photography and recording during the ceremony are restricted
Things to Eat at a Graduation Party
- Barbeque
- Cold Buffet
- Brunch

5. What is Graduation Day?
It is a time to celebrate with all those people, your friends,
teachers and parents who have helped you in all the initial years of
your student life and made learning fun. Yes, it is Graduation Day
we are talking about, that wonderful day when the early years of
your academic life culminate into an all-important degree.

6. Where to collect your tickets
On arrival at Highfield Campus, please collect your
academic dress by making your way to ‘Wippells Robing’ located
in the Student Union Building 42. Please remember that to
collect your guest tickets from the Ticket Collection and
Information Desk you must be wearing your academic dress.
Ticket collection is available an hour and a quarter before the
start of your Ceremony from the Ticket Collection and
Information Desk also located in the Student's Union Building.
Please be seated in the ceremonial hall 30 minutes before the
start of ceremony.
More!

7. What happens once you have entered
the ceremonial hall
Your e-ticket will confirm the venue, time and seat number for
your ceremony. Please make your way to your ceremonial hall in good
time. Doors open one hour before the ceremony starts.
Graduands must be seated 30 minutes before the start of your
ceremony or we cannot guarantee your place at ceremony. Your
Faculty Marshals will be on hand in the ceremonial hall to guide you to
your allocated seat. We ask you to remain in your seat to ensure you
are presented in the correct order. Please do not change seats or
position in the line-up for presentation as the reader (usually the Head
of Faculty or Dean) reading the names will not have your correct name
for presentation. Graduands are announced in the order of individual
subject groups; degree classification will not be announced.
There is
another page.

8. The auditorium doors will close ten minutes before the
start of ceremony; VIP guests of the University are now seated
and then the graduation procession will begin to make its way
to the ceremonial hall. Ceremonies will begin promptly. Once
the auditorium doors are closed there can be no further
admittance.
On entering the auditorium of the ceremonial hall,
female graduands keep their mortarboards/bonnets on while
male graduands remove their mortarboard/bonnet and place
them securely under their LEFT arm until they are ready to
leave the ceremonial hall. NB Do not place them on the floor
as you may not return to the same seat after presentation.

9. The order of the ceremony
Graduands and guests will be asked to stand
whilst the graduation procession enters the
ceremonial hall. Once the graduation procession
has reached the platform and are ready to be
seated graduands and guests will be directed to be
seated. The Presiding Officer will declare the
congregation open, and make the opening address.
Graduands are presented in order of:
-Bachelors
-Masters
-PhD
There is
another page.

10. Once all the graduands have been presented
the Presiding Officer delivers a closing speech and
the procession will exit the ceremonial
hall. Following the closing address from the
Presiding Officer the audience is asked to stand as
the graduation procession leaves the ceremonial
hall. Ushers will close the exits until the graduation
procession’s exit is complete. After this time all
graduands and guests may leave the ceremonial
hall in an orderly fashion.

11. How you will receive your congratulations from
the Presiding Officer
At the appropriate moment, the Faculty
Marshal will ask your row to stand for presentation
and guide you to the Graduands Marshal, near the
platform area. Your name will be checked again.
When the reader calls your name, walk across the
Platform to stand in front of the Presiding Officer.
They will then place their hands over your hands
(your hands are palms pressed together as if in
prayer) and say a few words of congratulations to
you. Leave the platform on the far side and a
Faculty Marshal will guide you to your return seat.
Please be aware that this may not be your original
seat and therefore you cannot leave personal
possessions under your seat.
Following the closing address from the Presiding
Officer the academic procession will leave the
ceremonial hall. Once their exit is complete all
graduands and guests may leave the ceremonial hall
in an orderly fashion.

12. Restrictions on entrance
to the auditorium
The University of
Southampton reserves the
right to refuse admission or
to ask any graduands or
guest displaying
inappropriate behaviour to
leave the ceremony.
Please note that for security
reasons:
•There are no facilities at
the ceremonial hall to store luggage,
large handbags or any type of
personal possessions. We kindly ask
you to refrain from trying to bring
these items with you to the ceremony.
•Graduands are asked to
pass any personal possessions to their
guest for safe keeping before entering
the ceremonial hall.
•Graduands are asked to use
the ladies/gents toilets before entering
the ceremonial hall as once in and
checked, you will not be permitted to
leave until after the ceremony, one
hour later.
•You are advised to make
sure all mobile phones are switched
off - not just on silent as incoming calls
are picked up by the public
announcement system.

13. Photography and recording during the
ceremony are restricted
Photographs may be taken until the ceremony
begins but flash photography is not permitted at all
as it disrupts the professional recording equipment.
Unauthorised video recording of the graduation
ceremonies is strictly prohibited. Photographs of
you receiving your congratulations from the
Presiding Officer and DVDs of the whole ceremony
are available to purchase on the day please see T-
shirts, Photography and DVDs.

14. Things to Eat at a Graduation Party
Depending upon the preferences of the graduate and his
guests, there are many different types of food to serve as a main
meal during a graduation celebration. Since there are no specific
foods that must be served at a graduation party, it is usually
best to simply choose foods that the graduate loves. Selecting a
particular type of menu for a graduation party allows the host to
choose a variety of appropriate and tasty dishes centered
around the theme. Does this Spark an idea?

15. Most graduations take place in the spring, so
preparing a menu centered around barbecuing is
particularly appropriate. For a barbecue graduation
party, the main meal usually consists of either chicken,
ribs, hamburgers or hot dogs. A few of these choices
can be paired together so guests can choose what
they would like to eat. If hamburgers and hot dogs are
on the menu, proper toppings, such as ketchup,
mustard and relish, should be offered. Pre-cooking as
much of the food as possible, including chicken and
ribs, makes barbecuing easier during the party. If pre-
cooked, the chicken and ribs merely need to be
browned on the grill. As suggested by Graduation
Party.com, some easy side dishes include coleslaw,
macaroni salad, baked beans and chips. If the host
wants to be able to enjoy the party, it is also possible
to hire a professional caterer to handle the barbecuing
during the party. As a dessert, fruit salad is often
served, as well as an appropriate cake
commemorating the graduation.

16. A cold buffet is a good option for hosts
who want to keep the party simple. Not only is a
cold buffet easy to set up, but it is also usually a
guest favorite. Food for a cold buffet can be set out
early and do not require preparation during the
party. For a graduation party, the main food in a
cold buffet is usually a hero. Depending on the
preference of the graduate, the hero can be one
type, such as Italian, or it can be made up of two
types of hero, such as Italian and American. Many
caterers also offer specialized heroes, such as
chicken breast or vegetarian. Proper condiments
should be served, including ketchup, mayonnaise
and dressing. This type of a buffet also should
include cold salads, such as potato, macaroni or
coleslaw. As suggested by Graduation Invitation
and Graduation Party Ideas, setting out bowls of
chips, pretzels and nachos also works well with this
kind of party food.

17. Most graduations take place in the morning,
so a brunch is a great choice for a graduation party. A
brunch requires a bit more preparation than other
types of parties, but many of the foods can be made
in advance. Chafing dishes are a good option to keep
heated food warm throughout the party. Typically, a
brunch offers a variety of breakfast foods from which
guests can choose what they want to eat. One easy
choice is bagels, with a variety of cream cheeses, such
as plain, vegetable or lox. As suggested by Best-
Brunch-Ideas-Ever, some hot offerings include
pancakes, french toast or waffles. These foods can be
prepared beforehand or can be cooked during the
party on a large griddle, as suggested by Graduation
Party.com. It is also fun to offer different types of
syrups and toppings. Ham, bacon or sausage also goes
well with the brunch theme. A brunch would not be
complete without an egg dish, and scrambled eggs
usually work best. All hot foods can be kept warm in
chafing dishes. Coffee, tea, milk and juice are perfect
drinks to serve during a brunch.