Please note: these FAQs are designed to give you quick answers and point you towards the relevant pages for your query. For full details of Summer Congregation, please check through the pages linked in the information hub. If you have any further questions or requests, you can contact the Ceremonies Team at congregation@durham.ac.uk.
For more information please visit our Summer Timetable page.
To register for Congregation, you will need to log onto Banner Self Service and select Congregation and Parchment. Full instructions for registering for Congregation can be found on the How to Register page.
NB: For full information on the schedule of events for each ceremony, please check the Attendance Information page.
You should arrive at least 2 hours before your ceremony to allow time to pick up your robes. Graduands will be escorted into the Cathedral 45 minutes before their ceremony begins. Late arrivals will be excluded from the ceremony.
Each ceremony lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
There will be a Congregation Fair running all day for you to enjoy before and after your ceremony, including refreshments, photography, Durham merchandise and more.
For more information on the ceremony schedule and Congregation Fair, please check the Attendance Information page.
You can order your robes using the order form found on the Ordering Your Robes page.
Robe costs are as follows:
We recommend graduates and their guests to dress smartly, and advise that graduates wear appropriate footwear to process across cobblestones and walk up and down the two steps to the ceremony stage. Further information can be found on the Ordering Your Robes page.
All students are guaranteed up to two guest tickets for their ceremony, with the opportunity to obtain one additional ticket during the registration process. Guests without tickets can watch the ceremony in the Assembly Rooms, where each ceremony will be shown on a livestream.
Yes - there will be a livestream available on the University website for each ceremony.
To support an application for a visitor visa, graduands can produce their letter of invitation to Congregation. For more information, check the International Students page.
Yes - you will be able to advise of any special requirements for you or your guests when registering for Congregation. Graduands and guests can also contact the Ceremonies Unit directly to discuss any special arrangements or accessibility issues. For further information please see the Special Arrangements and Accessibility page.
Yes - guests with mobility issues will be escorted into the Galilee Chapel 1 hour and 10 minutes before the ceremony, and guests in wheelchairs will be escorted into the Cathedral 45 minutes before the ceremony. For further information please see the Special Arrangements and Accessibility page.
There will be a supervised luggage drop in PG28 (next to the Police Office) for graduands and guests to use during the ceremony. Please note that large handbags, rucksacks and luggage will not be allowed in the Cathedral during the ceremony. For further information, please see the Attendance Information page.
Ede & Ravenscroft Photography will be located in the marquee to take images of graduates and guests either before or after ceremonies. Please see the Photography and Film page for further information.
We encourage graduates and their guests to take photos to commemorate their special day - however, the use of cameras and recording devices will not be allowed during ceremonies, and flash photography is not permitted within the Cathedral.
The use of cameras and recording devices is not permitted during ceremonies. However, each ceremony will be filmed by Galaxy Video, with ceremony videos available to purchase afterwards. Please see the Photography and Film page for further information.
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