Information for guests
If you are visiting us to celebrate someone's graduation, we welcome you. Here is some information to help you enjoy the big day.
Who can attend Graduation ceremonies
Can more than 2 guests attend?
Each student can request up to two complimentary guest tickets, which they can request when they register to attend their ceremony. These will be collected by the graduate on the day of Graduation. They are also welcome to bring along any extra guests to watch the ceremonies from our Livestream theatre, which is the University of Salford's MediaCity building. The livestream is also available on the University of Salford YouTube channel.
Occasionally we have additional tickets available on the day however, this is not guaranteed. If tickets are available, they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, priced at £16 each, graduates can ask at the ticket desk if additional tickets are available.
Bringing Children to Graduation
Children are welcome at the ceremonies, but any child under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Any child over the age of 2 will need a ticket to attend. Children who are less than two years old may sit on an adult’s lap and will require a free ‘Child Under 2’ ticket, which you can add to the access requirements notes when you register to attend graduation. You can contact us to add a 'Child Under 2' ticket to your access requirements if you have already registered by emailing grad-acd@salford.ac.uk.
Please be aware graduation ceremonies are approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, which can sometimes prove to be too long for younger children who may become restless. On occasion we may ask guests to leave the theatre if their children are disturbing the ceremony.
Preparing to attend a Graduation
How do I get to the venue?
Summer Graduation is held at the Lowry Theatre. If you are travelling by car, the nearest car park is Quayside Car Park, located next to the theatre. Please be aware car parking charges do apply. You can also travel to the venue by bus and tram.
How much does Graduation cost?
Graduate cap and gowns are the only mandatory costs at Graduation. These can be hired or purchased. Graduate tickets are free, and they each get up to two complimentary guest tickets. Other Graduation costs may include, photography, accommodation and merchandise, you can visit our costs page to explore additional Graduation costs.
Is the venue accessible?
Lowry is an accessible venue, there is step-free access into the theatre and to each floor once inside.
If you are attending a ceremony and have an access requirement, we can help to ensure the day is as easy and accessible as possible. Students can provide information about guest accessibility requirements in the box provided when they register to attend their ceremony and we will make appropriate arrangements or contact them to discuss needs further. If the student has already registered and forgot to add this information please email grad-acd@salford.ac.uk.
Where can I stay and celebrate?
If you would like to extend your celebrations by staying over or having a meal in the city, many companies have special rates for graduates. Ceremonies last approximately 90 minutes, graduates will have to return their gowns afterwards, they also may want to take professional or personal pictures on campus, so ensure you leave a suitable amount of time between the end of the ceremony and your post-ceremony plans.
What should I wear to the Ceremony?
Graduation is a formal occasion, and we ask that those attending dress appropriately. We suggest smart and comfortable clothing. Bags are searched upon arrival at the theatre and any larger bags will need to be left in the cloakroom for a cost.
Visas
If you have are travelling from overseas to attend a Graduation you should make sure you hold a valid visa where required. You can find the process for arranging visas on our dedicated Graduation visas page.
Graduates and guests can start the process of applying for a visa once the graduate has registered for Graduation. We recommend you ensure you have enough time for the full process to ensure any relevant visas are granted in time.
On the Day of Graduation
Arriving at Graduation
Graduates are asked to arrive 2 hours before the start of their ceremony, so they can check in, collect their gowns and guest tickets. They will then take their seats 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony. Guests only need to be seated 30 minutes before the ceremony begins so we recommend guests aim to arrive 1 hour prior to the ceremony.
Before the Graduation Ceremony
If you arrive with your graduate, we ask that you do not accompany them to check in or gowning. There is plenty to do in the Lowry and the surronding area though while you wait. You can get food and drink at the theatre and explore their art gallery. You can also take a walk around MediaCity, the UK’s leading hub for media, creativity and innovation, where you will find plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants.
During the Graduation Ceremony
Graduation ceremonies will open with University staff leading a procession onto the stage.
Ceremonies will begin with speeches from University of Salford leaders and alumni. Graduates will then cross the stage one by one. Each ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. We ask that all graduates and guests stay for the whole ceremony, we need the first cheer to be as loud as the last.
To ensure our ceremonies are a memorable occasion for all, we ask that mobile phones are on silent and that guests do not block other guests view of the stage.
At the end of the ceremony, the procession exits first, followed by the graduates and then guests.
After the Graduation Ceremony
After the ceremony concludes graduates will need to return their gowns to the gown drop off point, by the closing time, your graduate will have been informed of this when they collect their gown. They may also use this time to take professional and personal pictures. Guests are encouraged to head to the photography studios with graduates, as many of the photography packages include group shots. We also encourage graduates to go to professional photography prior to their ceremony.
Graduation Merchandise
Each graduate is given a brochure at Graduation, but you can choose to buy additional copies for £3 each, the brochure includes the names of all graduates along with messages of thanks and support from some familiar faces at the university, alumni and further studies information, You can also choose to buy your graduates further mementos, including branded fans and flips flops as well as graduation hoodies, t-shirts, bears and mugs!