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2026 Summer Graduation - 10 July
There are two ceremonies on Friday 10 July, each lasts approx. 1.5-2 hours.
10am: The Graduate School and The Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences.
3pm: The Graduate School and The Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business.
Graduation Ceremony schedule
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Presentation of honorary degrees.
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Speeches by Honorary Graduates.
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Award of research degrees.
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Award of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
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The Principal gives a speech.
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Chancellor/academic procession out to the City Square.
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Graduate procession out to the City Square.
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Celebration time!
Arriving and collecting tickets
Collect your invitation card, seat number and guest tickets from the registration desks in the Caird Hall:
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Thursday 9 July: 2pm–5pm
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Friday 10 July (graduation day): from 8.30am
You and your guests must be sat down at least 20 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Late arrivals won’t be allowed in once the ceremony has started. Prams and buggies can be left in a designated area, as they cannot be taken into the main hall.
Getting seated
Please make sure you have your seat number with you. You will be shown to your allocated seat by University staff. You sit alphabetically, in order of your course.
Guest do not have specific seat numbers. Guests sit where they can on a first come, first served basis.
What happens on the stage
At the right time University staff will guide you towards the stage. Please stay in the order in which you are seated. You'll have your name checked before you go up the stairs to the stage.
Make sure you are wearing your academic dress. Full details on hiring, collecting and returning academic dress.
Walk across the stage
When your name is called, walk across the stage to the Chancellor. Pause and bow your head slightly for the Chancellor to 'doff' you (this means they tap you on the head with a soft cap). Please don't shake hands with the Chancellor.
Walk off and collect your certificate
Walk to the far end of the stage where you'll be handed your certificate holder. You leave the stage through the door in front of you. In the corridor you'll be given your certificate. Then return to your seat. You've done it, you're a graduate!
End of the ceremony
The Academic Procession
At the end of the ceremony, the Chancellor leads the people on the stage out of the Caird Hall to the City Square. This is the 'Academic Procession'. You join the end of the academic procession as directed by University staff.
Celebration drinks
Now it’s time for you and your guests to enjoy celebration drinks in the City Square.
Collecting and returning robes
The venue: Caird Hall
The Caird Hall is a grand and impressive building located in the heart of Dundee’s city centre, providing a stunning venue for our Graduation Ceremonies.
Getting here: here is a map showing the Caird Hall.
Address: City Square, Dundee DD1 3BB.
It's accessible for everyone and has ramps for wheelchair users and those with other mobility requirements. Please see the Caird Hall Access page for more information.
Parking: Caird Hall is in a pedestrian area. There is no parking directly outside the Caird Hall, but there are plenty of car parks nearby.
Graduation Day Ceremony FAQs
Where do I sit?
When you register, you’ll be given your own invitation card and an allocated seat number.
Your seat number is very important, so keep the card safe and bring it with you to the ceremony.
How do I arrange specific access/disability requirements?
If you have specific access or disability requirements, need special seating arrangements or require support on the day, please tell us about this during the graduation registration process by emailing graduationevents@abertay.ac.uk.
We always do our very best to accommodate you. But we need time to plan, so please tell us as early as you can before the ceremony.
We may not be able to organise support if you haven't told us about it before the actual day of the ceremony.
I'm neurodivergent, what should I expect?
Graduation ceremonies usually involve:
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Bright, theatrical lighting and music.
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Occasional low lighting.
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Long periods of applause.
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Large crowds, some crowd congestion and general crowd noise. Queueing.
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Being seated in a row with other students next to, behind and in front of you.
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Raised voices and PA system announcements, including speeches through the PA.
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Large digital screens showing text and videos.
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Photography, sounds and lights associated with flash photography.
If you email us during the registration process, we will do our best to discuss how to manage this with you. But we can only do this if we have enough time to help you, so please contact us beforehand by emailing graduationevents@abertay.ac.uk
Where do I collect/return my academic robes?
Find out everything you need know on the Academic Dress page.
Where do I collect my graduation certificate?
Once you've crossed the stage, you'll be handed your certificate holder, and then given your certificate by University staff backstage. You'll then be shown back to your seat.
I'm graduating in 2027. What are the 2027 Graduation dates?
The 2027 Summer Graduation is Friday 9 July.
Due to the 2027 Golf Open Championship running in St Andrews from 11-18 July, we advise you to book your summer accommodation as early as you can. St Andrews isn't far from here, and Open visitors often stay in Dundee.
The 2027 Winter Graduation is Friday 26 November.
Find more about accommodation and travelling to Dundee, plus there's lots of useful information on the VisitDundee website.
Official photography on the day
Our University photographers take photographs on the day of the ceremony for publicity purposes. Wherever possible we’ll obtain consent, but this may not be feasible in all circumstances (such as crowd shots).
