On the day

Everything you need to know about what happens on the day of your Graduation Ceremony.

YOUR GRADUATION CEREMONY AT THE ALBERT HALLS

How to get to the venue, accessibility, parking and what happens.

Graduation ceremonies take place at the Albert Halls, Bolton’s brilliant all-round entertainment venue. Set within Bolton’s famous Town Hall right in the heart of town.

We ask that all students and guests arrive with plenty of time before the start of your ceremony as we are unable to delay the ceremony starting.

You will be considered late, if you arrive:

• after 09:45am for the 10am ceremony

• after 1:15pm for the 1:30pm ceremony

• after 4:00pm for the 4:15pm ceremony

If you are late, we may be able to accommodate your Graduation by slotting you in at the end of the ceremony, but this will depend on each ceremony.

If you arrive after the ceremony has started you may be asked to attend a ceremony later in the day or the next day to avoid disrupting the other graduates and guests.

What Happens at the Ceremony?

When you arrive at the Albert Halls you will be shown to your seat which has been allocated to you. Your guests will be directed to their seats which are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: Do not change seats with other students, your seat has been allocated in the order that you will be called onto stage to receive your award.

All Graduands will be seated in the top tier of the Albert Halls, with your guests sitting in front of you to ensure they have the best view of your special day.

The ceremony will begin with your academic tutors and senior staff of the University entering the hall to take their seat on the platform. The Mace of the University of Bolton will lead the presiding officer into the hall.

After the procession has entered the Albert Halls, welcome speeches will start and the ceremony progresses, Graduands will be lined up in order and asked to walk up the steps of the platform, present your ticket to the Narrator, who will read out your name and award. Graduands will then walk across the platform in formal recognition of your achievements and shake hands (if you wish) with the presiding officer (NB. Photographs will be taken of Graduands on the platform). You will then exit the platform at the opposite side and take your seat with your fellow classmates.

Once you are seated after your moment on stage, you are not normally permitted to leave the Albert Halls. As a courtesy to other Graduands and guests, once the ceremony has started, please remain seated until it has finished and the platform party have left the Albert Halls.

Please note: You do not receive your award certificate on the day, it will be posted to you within eight weeks of the ceremony. (The scroll you are given on the day is for photographic purposes and your memento of the day)

Is there reserved seating?

Graduates are seated in the top tier at the Albert Halls, in the order that they will be called onto stage to receive their award. You will be allocated a seat number at the registration desk before your ceremony.

Guests sit separately in unreserved seating in the lower tiers. Guests should be seated no later than 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. If you arrive later than this, we cannot guarantee access to the Albert Halls and you may be asked to watch the ceremony from the Live Stream room in the Albert Halls.

How long does the ceremony last?

Depending on the number of Graduands, the ceremony can last anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes. Please allow for 2 hours.

Getting there by public transport

The nearest train station to the Albert Halls is Bolton Train Station (0.4miles). For train times and journey/route planning please visit National Rail Enquiries.

You can also travel by the local bus network; you can travel to Bolton Bus Interchange which is located next to Bolton Train Station (0.4miles). More information can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester webpage.

Getting there by car and parking

If traveling by car, please allow plenty of time for your journey.

For satellite navigation, the postcode for the Albert Halls is BL1 1RU.

The nearest car parks to the Albert Halls are:

NCP Octagon Theatre

NCP - Bolton Blackhorse Street

NCP Deane Road

There are various Blue Badge Disabled parking places across Bolton and outside the Albert Halls, all car parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. There are blue badge spaces at the NCP car parks listed above.

Accessibility at the Albert Halls

The Albert Halls has full disability access with a ramp entrance, and lift to all floors. Where students or guests require support, we ask students to email our Graduation Team and we will try to accommodate requests working with our Disability Service. More information can be found here

Email: graduation@bolton.ac.uk