If you would like an easy print out to help you on the day, please check out our What to Expect on the Day - Summer Congregation 2025 document.
Congregation ceremonies are held in Durham Cathedral, but are not religious events although Christian iconography is displayed inside the venue. The Cathedral provides a large and beautiful venue for the ceremonies with other, related, activities held in the surrounding area.
The address for Durham Cathedral is:
Durham CathedralPalace GreenDurhamDH1 3RN
You must arrive at least 2 hours before the time of your ceremony
When you arrive, you (graduand) should collect your robes from the robing area at Hatfield College. You must hire graduation robes by 25 June 2025. You can find more information on robe hire and what to wear on the day here. Please take note of the weather forecast for the day and dress accordingly.
We recommend for Guests to collect their tickets from the Guest Ticket Desk. Give any belongings (e.g. bags, flowers etc.) to your guests before going to the Great Hall at Castle.
Bring your campus card, if you have one, to assist with registration on the day. If you don't arrive on time, you may be excluded from the ceremony.
You must report to the Great Hall in your robe 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to your ceremony to be put into procession order.
Various checks will be undertaken, and names will be scored off the list if you do not arrive on time.Access to Castle is for graduands only.
Your guests with tickets will be directed into the Cathedral from the Information Point approximately 45 minutes before the ceremony start time to be seated separately from graduands.
You will process from the Great Hall to the Cathedral approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony. Graduands will be seated in order. Names will be checked as it is vital that you remain in order for the ceremony.
Ceremonies begin with the Staff Procession, followed by a welcome by the Cathedral Representative. The Vice-Chancellor will provide a welcome address.
Graduands names will be called to the stage individually, to shake hands with the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer will then confer the degrees. At this point an honorary degree may be awarded, and the Presiding Officer will then give the closing address.
The Staff Procession will leave, followed by the Graduate Procession and then the guests.
The use of cameras and recording devices is not permitted during ceremonies, and flash photography is not allowed within the Cathedral.
Ceremonies are professionally filmed and photographed with USBs/ photos available to purchase afterwards at the Congregation Fair. They will also be streamed live on the Ceremonies website and to the theatre in the Assembly Rooms on the Bailey, which is open to guests without tickets.
After the ceremony, you and your guests can visit the Congregation Fair on Palace Green.
You must return your robe to the robing area before 6:00pm on the day of the ceremony.
A Congregation Information Point will be located on Palace Green outside of the Music Building.
See our Information for Guests to find out what happens on the day, arrangements for guests with children, live streaming, and Durham city accommodation, dining and retail options.
Entrance to the Cathedral will only be allowed from 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving before the entrance time are advised to wait on Palace Green.
View information for students and guests who require special arrangements for the ceremony.
Please allow plenty of time for arrival, remembering that Durham city centre will be busy on Congregation days. There are various car parks situated around Durham, including Durham's Park and Ride service, and the metered on-street parking which is available all over the city.
All of the events relating to the Congregation Ceremony will be held on or around Palace Green (the area between the Castle and Cathedral), which is located on a hill in the centre of Durham within the city congestion charge zone.
There will be no vehicle access or public parking at Palace Green during Congregation.
If you or your guests have mobility issues, you can be dropped off by car or taxi at the bottom of Owengate (the road that leads up to Palace Green).
You are advised to keep personal belongings to a minimum which should be left with guests prior to the ceremony.
Please do not bring any large bags/ rucksacks or luggage as they are not permitted inside the Cathedral and cannot be left unattended.
You may be subjected to a bag search on entry to the Cathedral. There will be a supervised luggage drop for students and guests to use during the ceremony located at Hatfield College. Please note, although this is a supervised area, bags are left at the owner's risk.
Learn more about how to purchase your graduation footage or pre-book your photographs here.
Learn more about our Congregation Fair on Palace Green.
Lost property will be held at the Information Point on Palace Green.
Find out what celebration events your college and department are holding during Congregation by visiting their webpages:
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