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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think graduation fees are outrageous

112 replies

Storm4star · 07/07/2018 12:37

So my son got his results yesterday, with an email link to book graduation. Deadline is Sunday so 48 hours. 2 guest tickets and gown hire £105!! Luckily I can afford it. But there are probably many families who wouldn’t be able to just come up with over £100 in 48 hours! Given how much degrees cost nowadays I think that’s outrageous.

OP posts:
TarragonChicken · 07/07/2018 12:49

Gown hire, fair enough. Never heard of tickets being charged for, though.

Are you sure he really only got informed of graduation yesterday? Might details have been available before, but he hadn't looked at them?

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 12:50

No it was definitely only yesterday as he showed me the email. His results weren’t even in until yesterday. It was all on the one email.

OP posts:
QuinquiremeOfNineveh · 07/07/2018 12:51

Well, these things cost money. Robes are supplied by a private company who need to cover their costs. It's a major logistical exercise, transporting all the robes for all the graduates at all the institutions, at this time of year, then storing them the rest of the time when they aren't needed.

Then the venue for the ceremony may need to be hired and paid for, if it isn't part of the campus.

Who do you think should pay for it?

Presumably your son knew there was a ceremony, and knew that he would want to attend, if he passed. He could have been planning for weeks or months, rather than leaving it to the last minute to find the money.

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 12:53

If you read my post i’m not complaining about my situation. I can afford it. I’m saying for people on low incomes, yes it is outrageous.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/07/2018 12:57

Yes for hat, hood, and robe I think my daughters was about eighty quid. Never heard of the first two tickets being charged though. Have you bought extra tickets?

Bluntness100 · 07/07/2018 12:58

And agree if the family is low income the graduate could have saved the money, it's not a hidden cost and they are adults. I assume he's at least 21.

QuinquiremeOfNineveh · 07/07/2018 12:59

But it costs what it costs, regardless of whether someone thinks it's outrageous. How do you suggest those costs are met?

bandthenjust · 07/07/2018 12:59

you are absolut ely NOT being unreasonable.
My husband is graduating soon. He gets two free tic kets, and gown/mortar board hat thing is an ex tra £50. To hire.
University blag that the gown hire is from an independent store in our city... Which is owned by the university. As if the tuition fees arent enough, they have to scrat more off you at the end!

krustykittens · 07/07/2018 13:01

I didn't go to my my graduation as a twenty something because I was skint and couldn't afford to go and eat in the same month. Didn't go to my MA graduation as a mature student as I had two young children and could think of better things to do with the money. I don't regret not having that pic of me in a gown, it hasn't made a damn bit of difference to my life. I have my education, that is all that matters. I really do not understand why people make such a big deal of the ceremony. It turns into a very expensive day when people thrown in travel for family members and at least one meal out.

jarhead123 · 07/07/2018 13:01

I can't believe some of the replies. YANBU in my opinion. Crazy cost!

viques · 07/07/2018 13:05

To be fair, you do have three years to save up for your graduation costs ...............(dons iron plated mortar board and ducks!)

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:07

So the gown/hat hire is £45 and guest tickets are £30 each. And yes that is just for the first 2 guests. I think it was the guest cost that really shocked me.

OP posts:
PUGaLUGS · 07/07/2018 13:07

DS1’s gown hire is £45. He gets two free tickets and the option to by a third ticket at a cost of £12.50 - which we have paid so his girlfriend can attend.

bandthenjust · 07/07/2018 13:07

Lol @ viques

Grasslands · 07/07/2018 13:08

People who can’t afford it don’t attend. It’s not a requirement. Just like school photos.

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:08

DS1’s gown hire is £45. He gets two free tickets and the option to by a third ticket at a cost of £12.50 - which we have paid so his girlfriend can attend

Exactly, I thought 2 guests were free. I have no idea why his uni are charging so much.

OP posts:
Amanduh · 07/07/2018 13:09

That is extortionate, I didn’t and have never known anyone pay for tickets!

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:10

No it’s not a requirement but this is something he’s worked damned hard for, for four years. It was a tough degree and he didn’t sail through it by any means. He deserves his graduation day.

OP posts:
Bearfam · 07/07/2018 13:11

I agree! I got a first which I was really proud of. But just get the 30 pound (ish) cost per ticket was redic so didn't go to my graduation. I went to my MA graduation because you didn't have to wear a gown so the cost of tickets in top wasn't as difficult.

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:11

That is extortionate, I didn’t and have never known anyone pay for tickets

Ah ok, seems like it’s just his uni then! Might have another look at the ceremony blurb and see if I can see why they’re charging.

OP posts:
ExFury · 07/07/2018 13:12

I wonder if his uni have had issues with people taking their two free tickets but then only have one guest or no guests so they end up with empty seats when some people haven’t been able to bring both parents and a partner?

That’s the reason a uni here charge for guest tickets, but they only charge £10 each guest

Racecardriver · 07/07/2018 13:13

Does it matter? I never go to these things.

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:13

I just think when you are paying 9k a year for tuition it is really sad if someone has to miss their graduation because they can’t afford it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 13:14

Does it matter? I never go to these things

Surprisingly, not everyone is you! Just because it doesn’t mean anything to you, doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t be gutted they couldn’t go. We’re not all the same!

OP posts:
NiceCardigan · 07/07/2018 13:15

We’ve never paid anything like that for a graduation. The only cost has been gown hire.

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