Graduation

Below, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for graduation, from essential tasks before the big day to what to do during and after the ceremony.

Guests can find details on ceremonies and how to prepare for your graduation on port.ac.uk.

Ticket booking is currently closed.

Before your graduation

Follow the steps in our checklist to get graduation ready.

Checklist items:

We’ll send you regular emails, to your student email address, advising you on when to complete the following.

Check your eligibility to attend graduation
Confirm ceremony date and time
Book your tickets and two tickets for your guests (The ticket booking system opens in mid-April, with a deadline to guarantee your place at the graduation ceremony by 2 May 2025. Additional ticket bookings will reopen on 12 May 2025. Prices for additional tickets are £20 for over 15s and £5 for those 15 and under.)
Book accommodation for guests (if your guests need to stay in the city, there are numerous accommodation options available, and some may be booked through the university). Note, guests are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Book post-ceremony activities, for example, if you fancy a celebratory meal, explore places to eat in the city and make sure to book!
Hire your cap and gown
Book photography (before booking, please check that your guests have not already booked this for you!)
Decide what to wear: Graduation ceremonies are formal events, so we expect graduates to dress smartly. Please consider comfort throughout the day. Improper attire may result in denial of entry to the ceremony.
Update your home address: Your digital cover letter will show your home address so please make sure it's up to date in your Student View. Starting 1 June 2025, we'll be digital-first, and printed copies will not be sent automatically. If you're requesting a printed copy you can choose where you would like them delivered to as part of the order process.
Download your e-tickets (available 48 hours before your ceremony. Do not take screenshots, as only the original e-Ticket can be scanned).

Information for international graduates

Visa support letters: You can request visa support letters for you and/or your guests on the MyGraduation tab once you have booked your tickets.
Applying for a Standard Visitor Visa: You and your guests may need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa to attend the ceremony.

Eligibility and deferrals

Not sure if you’re eligible to graduate? Or need to request a deferral? Here’s everything you need to know.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria by 11 July 2025:

Awarded your registered qualification (check Student View), OR
Bachelor’s/Integrated Master’s students with pending Level 6/7 referrals and at least 300 credits awarded, including 60+ at Level 6*
Successfully submitted your final thesis (postgraduate research students only)
No outstanding debts (such as tuition fees, library fines or halls fees). You can make payments via your Student View online account.

Eligibility FAQs

Deferrals

Deferrals are only considered in exceptional circumstances, such as:

Bereavement
Illness (self or family)
Deployment
Jury service

Deferrals are typically granted for one academic year. You’ll be able to submit a deferral request when the MyGraduation booking system opens.

Request a deferral

Some courses use protected award titles granted by their relevant Professional Statutory Regulatory Body. An example is the General Pharmaceutical Council MPharm qualification. Should you be registered on such a course, and have pending referrals, you will be listed at Graduation as having achieved a Bachelor Degree with Honours. As you can only attend graduation once, you can in this instance defer your graduation to the following year if you wish to graduate with the protected award title.

More information on eligibility can be found in our Assessment Regulations for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses, Regulations for Research Degrees, and Awards of the University of Portsmouth document, alternatively, you can contact or visit the MyPort Information Hub.

To request a deferral, submit your request before the booking system closes. If you missed last year's graduation or have any issues after 30 June that will affect your attendance at graduation, contact the graduation team to discuss your options. Note that decisions are made on behalf of the Academic Registrar and are final.

During your graduation

Find all the key details about your graduation day, from ceremony schedules to what to expect on the big day.

Your graduation day

Graduation is a huge milestone, and we want you to enjoy every second of it without stress or second-guessing.

Etiquette leaflets are your quick, no-fuss guide from what to wear and how to act to respectful behaviour. You can find these on our etiquette leaflets page below:

Portsmouth Award holder?

The Portsmouth Award is a special recognition of the skills, experiences, and achievements you’ve gained beyond your course. It’s a chance to celebrate all your successes as part of your graduation day.

Discover the Portsmouth Award | Discover this year’s recipients

After graduation

After you graduate, you'll join our alumni network, which offers a variety of benefits, including access to events and more. You'll also receive support with documentation, such as how to access, share, or verify your award documents.

If you choose to pursue further studies, you can continue your journey with us and benefit from fast-tracked and discounted postgraduate study. Whatever your decision, we're here for you. Explore below to get started.