graduation tickets 2019
RSVP AND BOOK GUEST TICKETS ONLINE HERE
14 DECEMBER 2018 to 17 JANUARY 2019
Graduation is a chance to celebrate your academic achievement with friends and family. Our winter Graduation ceremonies will be held in the Assembly Rooms, Bath; there will be three ceremonies on Wednesday 6 February, each for around 100 students. The ceremony you attend is determined by your School and course. 10am
College of Liberal Arts: Writing, Film & Digital Creativity Bath School of Art & Design 1:15pm Institute for Education College of Liberal Arts: Music & Performance College of Liberal Arts: Bath Business School 4:30pm College of Liberal Arts: Culture & Environment EnvironmentWhen you RSVP online the page will show you which ceremony or ceremonies you are eligible to attend; if you are unsure, please contact the Graduation Office or check the list of courses online: www.bathspa.ac.uk/students/graduation
If you are a student doing a major/minor or joint (equally balanced) combined degree (including Creative Arts degrees) you will be able to choose at the time of booking which of the two relevant schools you graduate with (if applicable). Combined awards are presented as one group within each School, e.g. if you are studying Geography and History, your award will not be presented with either BS Geography nor BA History awards, but with other Combined awards from whichever of the two Schools you choose to graduate with. If you have done a Specialised Education course (also known as the ‘3+1’ or ‘Primary pathway’), which leads straight into the PGCE course) will graduate with the School of Education, regardless of whether you do a combination of subjects within this course.
How to RSVP and book guest tickets If you will be attending, please RSVP via The Hub during the booking period to let us know and to book tickets for your guests. You must also book your academic dress through Ede & Ravenscroft. www.gownhire.co.uk If you are no longer a current student, you will still be able to log into The Hub using your 6-digit student number and password that you used when you were studying. If you need help with logging in, please call the IT Service Desk on 01225 876500 or itservicedesk@bathspa.ac.uk BOOKING Initially you will be able to purchase a maximum of 2 guest NOW OPEN! tickets, and place a request for extra guest tickets. However, extra tickets cannot be guaranteed. Booking will close on Thursday 17 January 2019; we will then review how many tickets are left for each ceremony, and share these out amongst the students who requested extra tickets. For example, if there are 100 tickets remaining and 60 students have requested extra tickets, all 60 are allocated one extra ticket. We then look at the list again, and if 30 students had requested more than one extra ticket, all 30 will be allocated a further ticket. We continue this process until we have fewer tickets than people requesting them, at which point they are allocated by a random ballot. We will email to let you know how many extra tickets you have been allocated, and how to pay for them. Bookings made after 18 January may incur a £10 ‘late booking’ admin charge and we cannot guarantee that there will be any guest tickets available after that date.
International students
If you need a personalised invitation for immigration purposes, please contact the Graduation Office. We are not able to write a letter for your guests (you must do this yourself) but you can ask for help with what to write by emailing: internationaladvice@bathspa.ac.uk
TICKET TYPE Adult Children aged 3-16 Children up to age 3*
COST £17.00 £8.50 No charge
*Please note that a seat will not be allocated to children aged 3 and under – they are expected to sit on their parent’s/carer’s lap. Children will not be permitted to sit with the graduating student
THE GRADUATING STUDENT DOES NOT NEED A TICKET We invite you to enjoy a complimentary celebratory drink in the Great Octagon after your ceremony.
Special requirements Included in the online booking system is a section for you to tell us about any special requirements you or your guests may have, e.g. a wheelchair space required rather than a seat, mobility issues etc. If you want to discuss this in more detail, please phone the Graduation Office, email us, or come and see us in person (on the ground floor of Stable, Newton Park). If we are not aware that you have any special requirements, we may be unable to meet them on the day.
Guest ticket charges Most universities charge for graduation ceremonies; the cost of the graduation ceremony to the University is significant. If we spend money on the graduation ceremony, we obviously cannot spend it elsewhere, for instance, for books in the library or for staff. We do not, even by the charge for guests, make a profit and continue to heavily subsidise this event. On balance, and given the tight financial climate in which we operate, we believe it is proper that we make a modest charge.
Not attending If you are not intending to come to Graduation, please let us know via The Hub during the booking period, and there you can make sure that your home address contact details are correct. We would like to send you a copy of the souvenir programme, so please do RSVP in order to check your address. It is not usually possible to defer your attendance at graduation, but the Registrar will consider individual cases. Please email us explaining why you are unable to attend in February, and if your request is successful you will be invited to our summer ceremonies, which will be held from 24-26 July 2019. graduation@bathspa.ac.uk
The venue The Assembly Rooms These public rooms were designed by John Wood the Younger in 1769; upon their completion in 1771 they were described as ‘the most noble and elegant of any in the kingdom’. The spectacular Ballroom, where our graduation ceremonies take place, has high columns, intricate plasterwork, and five original Whitefriars crystal chandeliers.
Seating Seating in the Assembly Rooms is strictly limited (see floor plan below), and all seats are numbered; we aim to guarantee two guest seats for each student who attends; we reserve the right to impose further restrictions if necessary. All of your guests will be seated together unless you request otherwise. All of the seats are upholstered chairs, and are on one level arranged around three sides of the stage; there are no features in the room to obscure the view of the stage. The Assembly Rooms have level access throughout. Not all rooms are carpeted, some have polished wooden floors which can be slippery, so please take care when in these rooms. The Ballroom is carpeted for this event.
How to get here
No parking is available at the Assembly Rooms (BA1 2QH), and nearby onstreet parking is limited. The nearest large car park is in Charlotte Street (BA1 2NE). Parking in the centre of Bath can be expensive, but the city has good public transport links and several Park & Rides; you may find these websites useful when planning your journey: www.visitbath.co.uk/travel-and-maps www.nationalrail.co.uk www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/bath_bristol Blue badge holders may park on the streets around the Assembly Rooms, subject to the usual restrictions. www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/parking-and-travel/accessible-parking
On the day TIME OF CEREMONY
10:00AM
REGISTRATION OPEN
8:30 - 9:30am
The ceremony 1:15PM
4:30PM
11:45am-12:45pm 3:00 - 4.00pm
Before the ceremony while guests and students are taking their seats, live music is played by a harpist and a brass quintet. The ceremony will begin promptly at the advertised time, and it will not be possible to admit late arrivals.
BALLROOM OPENS
9:15am
12:30pm
3:45pm
After a welcome from the Registrar, the academic procession enters the Ballroom.
CEREMONY ENDS
11:00am
2:15pm
5:30pm
The Order of Ceremonies is as follows:
COMPLIMENTARY DRINK SERVED
11:00 - 11:45am
2:15 - 3:00pm
5:30 - 6:15pm
Registration closes 30 minutes before your ceremony. You MUST register before your ceremony; if we don’t know you’re here, your name will not be called during the ceremony. The Registration Point is the Great Octagon inside the Assembly Rooms. When registering, you will be given a card with your seat number – students are all seated in one area, in the order that they will be called up onto the stage.
• • • • • •
the ceremony is declared open Vice-Chancellor’s address presentation of honorary awards (not applicable to all ceremonies) presentation of student awards student valedictory address the ceremony is declared closed.
For the presentation of your award, stewards will direct you to the side of the stage at the appropriate time; your name will be read out by a member of staff from your department, and you will cross the stage to be congratulated in the centre by the Dean of your School. You then leave the stage on the opposite side, and stewards will direct you back to your seat.
You can collect your academic robes at any point during the day from the Tea Room, but we advise avoiding 11:00 – 11:45am and 2:15 - 3:00pm as this is when the previous ceremony will be coming out, and the building will be very crowded.
At the end of the ceremony, the academic procession will leave first, followed by graduates. We expect each ceremony to last about one hour.
Once registered and robed, you are free until the time you must take your seat in the Ballroom You will be able to enter the Ballroom from 45 minutes before your ceremony begins, please be seated Please note at least 20 minutes before the ceremony. that only bottled Ede & Ravenscroft staff will be on hand to help you put water will be on your gown and hood. All hired academic dress must be allowed inside the returned to the Tea Room by 6:30pm the same day. Ballroom.
You must wear the correct academic robes, hired or bought from Ede & Ravenscroft, in order to take part in your ceremony. www.gownhire.co.uk
Personal belongings should be left with your guests. Please do not carry anything with you on to the stage.
What to wear
Graduation is a formal occasion, and you should ensure that you are dressed appropriately. Smart but simple and uncluttered clothing will prove more comfortable and manageable beneath your robes. Bath Spa University robes are dark blue, and the hoods are blue with a silver trim. The hood is designed to be worn by attaching a loop on the hood to a button on a shirt/blouse, though it can be pinned instead.
Official photographs
Children
Ede & Ravenscroft are also our official photographers - they’ll be in the Tea Room where you pick up your robes from 8:30am until at least 6pm, and you can have photos taken either before or after your ceremony. You are, of course, at liberty to make private photographic arrangements if you wish. You can make an appointment for your photos by visiting the Ede & Ravenscroft website, or just turn up on the day (there may be queues). Please be aware of the time when organising your photo sessions – if you are late registering or assembling for your ceremony, we cannot wait for you! www.edeandravenscroft.co.uk (click on ‘graduation services’) photography@graduation-services.co.uk 01223 861854
Official filming The University has arranged for 1st Take to film the ceremony; you can order a a copy of the DVD directly from them: www.1st-take.com sales@1st-take.com 01454 321614 The ceremonies will be streamed live on the university website: www.bathspa.ac.uk/students/graduation/
Unofficial photography and filming The use of cameras and video recorders during the ceremony is strictly prohibited (this includes mobile phones) as they distract those taking part and spoil the enjoyment of other guests. You may of course take photographs etc. before and after the ceremony itself.
Our Students Union will be selling a variety of souvenirs in the Tea Room on the day.
We realise that some students may wish to bring young children, but we suggest that this event may not be suitable for them. Please bear in mind the limits on guest tickets and that this is a formal occasion; experience has shown that children do get bored and restless, which can spoil the event for them and for others. If you do wish to bring children to Graduation, please note: •
children aged under 3 will not be allocated a seat, they must sit on their parent’s/carer’s lap, and this may be awkward and uncomfortable for both
•
all children must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a responsible adult who will be fully accountable for the safety, welfare and deeds of that child
•
we will try to place parties with young children in seats at the end of a row, but this may not always be possible.
Further information
Where to stay
It’s your big day – remember to enjoy it! But a few things to bear in mind:
The Bath Visitor Information Centre can provide help and information, and book accommodation for you:
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If you owe the university any money, such as library fines or course fees, you will be allowed to attend graduation BUT you will not receive your certificate and transcript (sent by post within six weeks of results being published) - these will not be released until all of your debts have been cleared. If you have any questions regarding your debts please contact the Finance Office.
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If you have booked tickets for guests who can no longer attend, please let the Graduation Office know BEFORE 6 February and we will arrange a full refund. We cannot give refunds for any tickets returned after the ceremony.
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Refunds for other services (gown hire, photographs, other souvenirs) should be sought directly from the supplier (sometimes this will be subject to an administration fee).
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Any changes to your booking (changes to any special requirements, change of address etc.) should be made by contacting the Graduation Office directly.
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Guest tickets are non-transferable. Any attempt to transfer tickets will lead to the boking being cancelled.
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We reserve the right to refuse admission to graduating students or guests who appear intoxicated, or are causing offence or nuisance.
•
Graduation is a formal occasion – students and guests should dress appropriately.
Address: Web: Email: Phone:
Bridgwater House, 2 Terrace Walk, Bath BA1 1LN www.visitbath.co.uk tourism@bathtourism.co.uk +44 (0) 1225 614420
Useful contacts Graduation Office graduation@bathspa.ac.uk 01225 875566 or 01225 875873 www.bathspa.ac.uk/services/graduation Finance Office myfinance@bathspa.ac.uk 01225 875870 Bath Spa Switchboard
01225 875875
E&R Gown Hire: 01223 861854 www.gownhire.co.uk RNID Typetalk: 18001 01223 861854