Graduation home
University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton. BL3 5AB
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University of Bolton, why we are the right choice
Location - Bolton, Greater Manchester
Providing you have booked your tickets by 2 July 2024 you will be asked to register on campus at Y0-02 - Greater Manchester Business School.
Please allow two hours to register, collect your robes, have photographs taken (you can also do this afterward), make your way to the Albert Halls, and be seated at least 15 minutes before the start of the graduation ceremony. The walk from the Greater Manchester Business School to the Albert Halls takes approximately 5 minutes. Therefore, you must leave the University at least 35 minutes before the start of your ceremony.
There is a strict closed-door policy in place at Albert Halls. Therefore, all graduands and guests must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. If you do not arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony, then you will be classed as a latecomer and may not be able to participate in your graduation ceremony. It is not possible to issue refunds to latecomers, however, you will be permitted to watch the ceremony in the live-streaming lounge.
The dates of the 2024 Graduation ceremonies are:
For further details on the Graduation ceremonies visit the Graduation page.
Changes from your allocated ceremony to another are not permitted unless there are extenuating circumstances and you can provide evidence of this.
Due to the very high number of students graduating this year, please accept that this is not something we will encourage and that we may not be able to accommodate any requests. We hope you can make every effort to attend your allocated ceremony.
If you do have a request to change ceremony then it will be looked at on a case-by-case basis by the Executive Management of the Graduation Team and it must be made via email to graduation@bolton.ac.uk.
In the unlikely event you are unable to book the Ceremony you have been assigned to, this will be due to all student and guest tickets being sold out. Please rest assured that the Graduation Team will assign your ticket and your guest tickets to another ceremony.
You will receive communication from the Graduation Team via the myBolton app and to your student email address informing you of the change to your ceremony if this situation presents itself.
Whilst we appreciate that many of you would like to attend the same ceremony as your peers, it is not always possible due to seating capacity within the Albert Halls.
Providing you have booked your tickets by 2 July 2024 you will be asked to register at Greater Manchester Business School.
Your student ticket will be printed with your name and the name of your award at Registration. You must always have this ticket with you whilst in the Albert Halls. You will be asked to hand your ticket to the Narrator prior to accessing the stage, where the Narrator will announce your name and Award.
Please allow two hours to register, collect your robes, have photographs taken (you can also do this afterward), make your way to the Albert Halls, and be seated at least 15 minutes before the start of the graduation ceremony.
The walk from the Greater Manchester Business School to the Albert Halls takes approximately 5 minutes.
There is a strict closed-door policy in place at Albert Halls. Therefore, all graduands and guests must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. If you do not arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony, then you will be classed as a latecomer and may not be able to participate in your graduation ceremony. It is not possible to issue refunds to latecomers, however, you will be permitted to watch the ceremony in the live-streaming lounge.
Your graduation ceremony will be held at the Town Hall, The Albert Halls, Bolton, BL1 1RU
Each ceremony is expected to last approximately one and a half to two hours depending on the number of students being presented. We strongly recommend that students review the full schedule of events for their Ceremony. This can be found on the myBolton App/Graduation and on the University myGraduation web page.
A drinks reception will be held at the Greater Manchester Business School following your graduation. Please note, when you are booking your student ticket, you will be required to answer a question on the number of guests attending the drinks reception.
Yes, your seat number will be printed on the reverse of your ticket. Students must collect their student ticket from the Registration Desk at the Greater Manchester Business School and present this ticket at the Albert Halls.
You must ensure to keep your ticket safe and on your person at all times whilst at the Albert Halls, this is so that our Presenter can correctly announce your name and award on the stage as you are presented.
Once you have been shown to your seat, it is essential that you remain in your allocated seat until it is your turn to be presented.
You will be guided to the platform; walk up the steps, present your student ticket to the Narrator – this will be read out and you will then be presented. Please then walk across the platform (shake hands/pause) and then proceed to exit the platform by the steps opposite to return to your seat.
We will ask you this when you book your tickets, we have processes in place so that the Presiding Officer knows if you wish to shake hands or not.
Unfortunately, not. All guests will be shown to seats in the designated guest seating area. It is advisable that your group of guests arrive together so that they can be seated together, as guest seats are not numbered.
The walk from Greater Manchester Business School to the Albert Halls takes approximately 5 minutes.
You do not need to purchase a ticket for yourself, these are free for graduating students. However, you do need to book a 'free student ticket'.
The booking system will be live on Monday 22 April 2024 when you will be able to book your free ticket via the myBolton app or the Graduation Web Pages (if you have successfully completed your studies). If you are still completing your studies, the booking system will open after results day (27 June 2024).
Failure to book your tickets will result in you being unable to attend on the day.
You must book your guest tickets at the same time as you are booking your free student ticket.
If you have completed your studies, you will be able to book your ticket and pay for your guest tickets from Monday 22 April 2024.
If you have not yet completed your studies, you will be able to book your ticket and pay for your guest tickets from 10am on Thursday 27 June 2024.
Guest Tickets can be purchased using the myBolton App or via the Graduation web pages.
You can book up to two guest tickets (three for PhD students) for your family or friends to see you graduate. You can book guest tickets on the myBolton app through Book It Bee, or the Graduation Web Pages from Monday 22 April 2024 to Tuesday 2 July 2024. Please note that all student and guest tickets will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, therefore it is advisable to book your tickets early.
NB: When you book your Free Student Ticket, you must book your guest tickets at the same time. Guests can't be added at a later date.
If you have completed your studies, you will be able to book your ticket and pay for your guest tickets from Monday 22 April 2024.
If you have not yet completed your studies, you will be able to book your ticket and pay for your guest tickets from 10:00am on Thursday 27 June 2024.
Any requests for refunds must be directed to graduation@bolton.ac.uk and monies can only be refunded to the card on which the purchase was made.
Guest tickets cost £15.00 each *PhD students are allowed bring a third guest at no cost. The price includes a seat in the venue, entrance to the drinks reception following your graduation and a souvenir graduation programme.
Please note that guest seat numbers will not be allocated on the day. Should your guests have access and disability considerations, it is important that you advise us as soon as possible by email to disabilityinfo@bolton.ac.uk.
You will be contacted by the University’s Disability Services Team, who will assist with any specific requirements wherever possible.
Your guest ticket(s) will be emailed directly to your University e-mail address (example: BC11MPO@bolton.ac.uk), so please look out for the confirmation e-mail.
It is important that you print these tickets out and give them to your guests as these will be required on the day, for admission to the Albert Hall.
If you have booked your guest tickets to attend your graduation ceremony and extra tickets become available, you will be notified via the myBolton App notifications and also to your student email address. This will be communicated as they become available.
Please note that experience has shown that the demand for extra guest tickets is very high, and these tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis from the moment that availability is announced.
Degree ceremonies are formal occasions and are not suitable for children under the age of six who might struggle with the length of the ceremonies.
Guests with children are able to watch the ceremony in our Livestreaming Lounge at the Alberts Halls. There is no charge to watch the ceremony in the Livestream Lounge.
The Livestreaming Lounge is located in the Albert Halls where children are free to move around, and are still able to join in the celebrations. Livestream Lounge tickets will be issued to guests with children on arrival at the Albert Halls.
Children over the age of six are permitted to sit in the ceremony hall with an accompanying adult, and they must have a guest ticket to do this.
ALL children must be accompanied by an adult in all areas at all times.
If you have any concerns or queries regarding the Livestream Lounge or guest tickets, please email to graduation@bolton.ac.uk.
Once you have purchased your allocated two guest tickets, you may email graduation@bolton.ac.uk and request your additional free guest ticket.
You may have extenuating circumstances as to why you are unable to attend your graduation and wish to defer to the following year. If this is the case, please email a deferral request directly to: graduation@bolton.ac.uk as soon as possible. Please ensure that you note your full name and Student ID number in your email communication with the Graduation Team.
Please ensure that you explain the extenuating reasons as to why you are unable to attend on this occasion. Your email will be forwarded to the Executive Management Team for consideration and approval.
You will be contacted further to advise whether or not the University has granted your deferral to 2025. Please note that until you have received this decision in writing, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to attend a future ceremony.
In the first instance, we would advise you to email the Graduation Team at graduation@bolton.ac.uk letting us know the circumstances of why you cannot attend your specific ceremony. Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to accommodate you and your guests on another ceremony/day. This will be subject to availability and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
If you are not present at your ceremony, your name will still appear in the official Graduation programme. Your two guest tickets will automatically be allocated to any students whose two guests were on the waiting list for tickets. No refunds will be issued to non-attendees.
There are several reasons why you may not have been contacted by the Graduation Team.
Firstly, please double-check that you have access to your Student Email address, all email communications will be sent to the student emails only. Please also check that you are logged in to the myBolton App, as notifications will also be issued to you via the App.
If our records indicate that you have an outstanding University debt, you will not be able to book tickets/gowns for your graduation ceremony. Therefore, if you wish to attend a ceremony it is essential that you contact the Finance Office as soon as possible, the deadline is midnight on Wednesday 26 June 2024.
Arrangements for payment can be made by contacting Financial Services by email to creditcontrol@bolton.ac.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)1204 903 180.
Unfortunately, the Graduation Team cannot get involved in discussions regarding student debt.
Classifications are not published in the official programme. Graduands achieving a first-class honours classification for their first degree and postgraduate graduands achieving a distinction will be announced as they are presented on stage.
It is important that you check your Student Record to ensure that this contains the correct spelling of your name, as this information will be used on your certificate. If this information is incorrect, you must inform us immediately by email to SDM@bolton.ac.uk.
Changes to your name must be accompanied by appropriate official documentation. Names cannot be changed after the final examination boards have confirmed your award.
You will be presented with a scroll when you go on to the stage at the Albert Halls – however, this is not your award certificate (your actual certificate will be posted out following the ceremony).
Degree certificates will be posted out to your home address within eight weeks of your graduation, following approval by the relevant examination board. It is therefore essential that you advise the University of any change of address by Wednesday 26 June 2024. You can update your address online at www.bolton.ac.uk/Students/MyDetails – click ‘Student Record’ then input your University username and password.
Changes from 27 June 2024 need to be emailed to: SDM@bolton.ac.uk
Results for the majority of students will be published within your Student Portal after 10am on Thursday 27 June 2024.
Unfortunately, if you do not successfully complete your studies you will not be able to attend this year’s graduation. However, once you have successfully completed your studies you will of course be invited to attend the next graduation ceremony.
Cap sizes can be obtained by measuring the circumference of your head one inch above the eyebrows, level round, and state measurement in inches or centimetres.
Orders must be placed by Tuesday 2 July 2024 at 5pm.
For detailed instructions on how to measure correctly for your hat. Please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ttQo1pjDxI
Most students choose to wear smart attire beneath their gown.
Alternatively, national or religious dress may be worn.
There are a number of steps up to the stage to collect your award and you are advised to bear this in mind when selecting your footwear for the day.
All graduands are entitled to wear academic dress and, in our experience, almost every student chooses to do so. This can be hired from William Northam either online www.williamnortham.com, or by contacting +44 (0)370 2401 852. When ordering academic dress, you need to order a gown, hood, and cap.
Queries regarding academic dress should be made directly to William Northam.
You may need an appropriately placed button or a couple of safety pins to attach the hood over your gown. It is important that you order the correct gown for your award, so you are advised to carefully check the details before submitting your order.
Please note that the last date for gown hire is Tuesday 2 July 2024 at 5pm.
If you have pre-booked your academic dress it will be available to collect from Y0-02, Greater Manchester Business School (GMBS), Great Moor Street, Bolton, BL1 1NE. You can collect your gown from 8am on the day of your Graduation ceremony.
Only Graduands are allowed to enter the robing area, and your guests are asked to wait outside the GMBS building.
You will need to return your academic dress to Y1-05 in Greater Manchester Business School (GMBS) by 7pm on the day of your ceremony.
Should you wish to cancel your academic dress and photography order, you can do so without any financial penalty within 14 days of results day (Thursday 27 June 2024). Should you wish to cancel after the 14 day ‘cooling off period’ you may still do so; however, a £1.50 administration charge will be deducted. All refund requests must be received at least seven days before your graduation ceremony date.
To cancel please visit www.williamnortham.com and log in to ‘My Account’ or email student@williamnortham.com.
You can book official graduation photography with William Northam.
Photography will take place in Y1-04, Greater Manchester Business School (GMBS), Great Moor Street, Bolton, BL1 1NE. Official Photography will be open from 8am until 7pm. Please bear in mind any time constraints dependant on the time of your ceremony.
You are advised if your ceremony is at 10am to have your photographs after your ceremony, as the time to travel to the Albert Halls could take longer than anticipated.
Photographs will automatically be taken (whenever possible) on the platform.
Photographs taken on the platform will be uploaded to the William Northam website in the weeks following the ceremony.
All enquiries regarding photography and deliveries should be sent to William Northam - www.williamnortham.com or alternatively call +44 (0)1223 205625.
You will find the studios are located at Greater Manchester Business School in room Y1-04. This room is on the first floor, and accessed via stairs or a lift.
Yes, but you should allow yourself sufficient time to register, collect your academic dress, have photographs taken, and make your way to the Town Hall, The Albert Halls, Bolton. You need to be seated at least 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony. The walk from the Greater Manchester Business School to the Albert Halls takes approximately 5 minutes.
Guests are welcome to take their own photographs during the ceremony providing they do not block the aisles and remain seated. We also advise no flash photography.
Please visit the William Northam website www.williamnortham.com or alternatively call +44 (0)1223 205625 to pre-order all your Graduation photographs.
Should you decide not to pay in advance, it is possible to pay at the sales desk on the day. A link to the William Northam website can be found on your myBolton App and on the University website Graduation page, once you have registered your details.
If your student visa expires before your graduation ceremony you will need to return home and apply for a Standard Visitor visa to return to the UK. You cannot apply for a Standard Visitor visa from within the UK.
Visa nationals must obtain a visitor visa before leaving their home country. Non-visa nationals may apply before leaving their home country or on arrival in the UK. To check how you should apply please visit the UKVI web page.
Standard Visitor visas cannot be extended and it is not possible to switch into any other immigration category from within the UK.
To apply for a Standard Visitor visa, you must be able to show that you:
More information on the requirements can be found at the UKVI web page Standard Visitor visa information.
Information on the documents accepted by the UKBA can be found on their web page Standard Visitor visa documents required.
On this page you can view a full list of supporting documents that you may wish to provide.
Normally you should expect to provide the following documents as a minimum for a Visitor visa application:
Applying
More information on the application process from your country can be found on the UKVI web page Standard Visitor visa – how to apply.
If your family members need to travel to the UK to attend your graduation they should apply for a standard Visitor visa as detailed above. Please check the UKVI web page Standard Visitor visa information for information on how to apply. In addition, you will need to provide a letter to formally invite them to visit you for your graduation.
Visa support letters should include the dates of your graduation and any accommodation arrangements if applicable. You should also supply the following:
If you have completed your studies, you can request a letter by either emailing Internationalstudents@bolton.ac.uk or by visiting the Student Centre and completing a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letter request.
If you are still studying with us you can request a letter via the following link www.bolton.ac.uk/Students/MyDetails click on Student Record and select the links under the Student Services heading.
University student car parks will be open for the graduation period on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional parking can be found at:
NCP Deane Road multi-storey public car park, Deane Road, Wellington Street, Bolton BL3 5DX.
NCP Bolton Octagon Theatre multi-storey public car park, Great Moor Street, Bolton, BL1 1SB.
Please also see PDF Map on the myBolton App and graduation web pages which shows various car park options near to Greater Manchester Business School and the Albert Halls.
Bolton is a great location, we're only 12 miles from Manchester city centre and 20 miles from Manchester Airport - making it the perfect base for exploring both Greater Manchester and the best of the North West.
Travelling by bus? Bolton has a great bus service with routes all over the Northwest region, for more information call 0161 244 1000 or visit: Transport for Greater Manchester (tfgm.com).
Travelling by train? Bolton benefits from one of Greater Manchester’s busiest rail stations. For more information on rail services to Bolton, please visit: National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables.
There are a number of hotels in Bolton - a few are listed below:
For more information on where to stay in Bolton, contact the Bolton Tourist Information Centre on: Tel: +44 (0)1204 334 321 or www.visitbolton.com
Email: tourist.info@bolton.gov.uk
Prior to booking your student/guest tickets, you should inform us by email to graduation@bolton.ac.uk. Please detail any special requirements that you or your guests may have (for example, wheelchair user, mobility problems, blind/partially sighted or deaf/hearing impairment), and we will make every effort to accommodate you. We will contact you to discuss arrangements, but if you have any queries, please call our Disability Team on +44 (0)1204 903 478 or email disabilityinfo@bolton.ac.uk.
There is a strict closed-door policy in place at Albert Halls. Therefore, all graduands and guests must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. If you do not arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony, then you will be classed as a latecomer and may not be able to participate in your graduation ceremony. It is not possible to issue refunds to latecomers, however, you will be permitted to watch the ceremony in the live-streaming lounge.
If you have not found the answer to your question, please contact us at: graduation@bolton.ac.uk.
Please note that in order to answer your query, we will require your full name and your student number.
The walk from Greater Manchester Business School to the Albert Halls takes approximately 5 minutes.
There is a strict closed-door policy in place at Albert Halls. Therefore, all graduands and guests must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. If you do not arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony, then you will be classed as a latecomer and may not be able to participate in your graduation ceremony. It is not possible to issue refunds to latecomers, however, you will be permitted to watch the ceremony in the live-streaming lounge.
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University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton. BL3 5AB
Part of the University of Bolton Group
University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton. BL3 5AB
Part of the University of Bolton Group