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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:
Furrycushion · 07/07/2018 20:43

We had to pay for tickets for DD's graduation in a couple of weeks. I think they were £30 each (student was free). I was surprised. Booking has been available since April. Then there are photos (we've gone for the minimum), gown etc, accommodation (Airbnb), meals.

Mrsramsayscat · 07/07/2018 21:00

It really IS outrageous that university bureaucrats cannot plan to include tickets for graduation within the fees. Shocking, actually, when the education costs anything from 28000-46000. Really, really penny-pinching.
And some of those full time courses are for 8-10 hours a week, and not a lot of marking.,

SpottedOnMN · 07/07/2018 21:19

It must have been the best part of £500 by the time you'd finished? For a supposedly inclusive university that's appalling?

Sorry, I phrased that badly. £250 all in. I joked at the time that it was the same as a weekend break. Transport and lunch were extra, of course.

QuinquiremeOfNineveh · 07/07/2018 21:22

It really IS outrageous that university bureaucrats cannot plan to include tickets for graduation within the fees.

So everyone has to pay for the graduation ceremony,, even if they don't want to attend it?

Daddystepdaddy · 07/07/2018 21:27

It was free for the first two tickets both times I graduated. CFs are getting over 9 grand a year, surely they can fund the graduation ceremony?

Original poster
Storm4star · 07/07/2018 21:33

CFs are getting over 9 grand a year, surely they can fund the graduation ceremony

See tbh that’s how I see it. Especially since they were on strike for several weeks earlier this year.

My son said earlier that there was mention of graduation earlier this year but as he failed everything at the end of the previous year he understandably wasn’t hugely confident he was going to pass this year and he said there was no info re cancelling tickets if the individual failed. As I say, i’m lucky that I had the money, it wasn’t an issue. But seeing that there have been some responses from people saying that they couldn’t afford to attend their own graduations, my initial point still stands.

OP posts:
TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 07/07/2018 22:01

Graduation ceremonies are a total non-event. The emotional moments all come when you find out the results and then share them with your friends and family.

I'm an ex-academic and I only went to my undergrad graduation. I would have preferred not to spend money on gowns and terrible official photos and just celebrated with my family in the city where I studied. I didn't have a job at that point and really resented having to fork out money.

BackforGood · 07/07/2018 22:11

YABU claiming that it is something you only knew about 48hours before it having to be paid. Graduation information will have been on the website for months - someone only needs to look.

I've not come across Universities charging for tickets. I was indeed, quite shocked that we were all treated to a glass of wine and some canapes totally 'on the house' las year at ds's. I'd expected to pay for the 'reception' ticket, but we didn't have to.

The gown hire, is what it is. It seems a lot for an outfit, but it is an incredible amount of organisation, plus of course, a very limited "season" for them to be hired - they have to be bought in the first place, maintained, replaced, cleaned, and stored.

It seems odd that people will think nothing of spending hundreds of pounds on wedding outfits but then moan at under £100 on a graduation outfit. Seems a similar level of "photograph going to be hanging in your house for decades" to me.

MirandaWest · 07/07/2018 22:20

DSS graduated last week. Not sure what the charges were for him - am pretty sure there were two free guest tickets and then on the day you could apply for more (so his girlfriend came too). We did pay for official photos but you didn’t have to. Not sure how much his gown was but presume he paid for it as he didn’t mention it to us.

Fintress · 07/07/2018 22:35

I've never heard of being charged to go to a graduation. Mine was free, granted I had to pay for my gown etc, likewise with my daughter's. We even got a reception at her uni with food, drinks and transport to the graduation venue and the icing on the cake was sitting next to Paolo Nutini, lovely chap.

fantasmasgoria1 · 07/07/2018 22:38

Part of the reason I didn’t go to mine! I had to wait two months to start my job and used up my money and graduation fees were too much.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 07/07/2018 22:57

BackForGood, when I buy an outfit for a wedding or other occasion, it's something I have chosen and that I actually like. I've also got the option of wearing something I already own if money is tight.

luckycat007 · 07/07/2018 23:32

I didn't go to mine (no family support-was always skint). I made damn sure I went to my PhD ceremony though (was fortunate to get a scholarship to do that and a masters so can't moan too much).

If you do the whole shebang - grad ball, photos etc it can be crazy expensive.

Mrsramsayscat · 07/07/2018 23:42

Quin, you're misunderstanding. Everyone should have access to a free graduation ceremony within the cost of the current fees. Everyone already is paying.

MrsRubyMonday · 08/07/2018 00:24

I second PPs who have said that the unis send out repeated emails very early on with information on graduation booking costs, gown and hat hire, and the processes for the day. We also had the lecturers reminding us during personal study meetings to register for our free tickets. We spent weeks looking at the gown options available, because you could buy or rent each part, so would need to be custom ordered.

If you didn't register for your free tickets, they then went out on sale on a first come first serve basis after results ready for graduation. Also, for families who were short of money (students on top bursary level etc) they could contact the fees office or the graduation organisers to speak to them about the costs. We then got a formal invite about a week before graduation with the instructions reiterated for anyone not paying attention.

I think it's likely your son missed or didn't pay attention to the early reminders OP. Students who knew their families would struggle would also likely be contacting the uni early on to confirm costs to save up, and most unis publish the price on their website. There is no way this should have been a suprise to you two days before the ceremony. The company wouldn't even be able to get everyone's gowns sorted, labelled and on the right hangers in two days ready for collection.

AlwaysTheEnd · 08/07/2018 01:20

I agree. I think the costs are a bit OTT and I find the gowns outdated and silly.

BTW well done to your son for getting his degree. It sounds like it was a great achievement for him. 💐💐

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 08/07/2018 01:31

I know a couple of UK people who found it little different to buy the robes/mortar board as the hire was so high....

One still uses hers... She's an academic and wears it for her students ' graduation

woodhill · 08/07/2018 02:05

I had to pay for tickets for my dds one, is a rip off

Bowerbird5 · 08/07/2018 03:15

I can't remember how much my daughter's graduation cost but it was nearer £300 as it included a professional photo and champagne and canapés for two. Her partner couldn't go and the following year likewise because they were only allowed two guests in the Cathedral.
One of her friends parents said they couldn't afford it. I found out too late because I told my daughter I would pay for it but was unable to. I felt so sorry for her lovely, talented friend. She not only worked hard at uni but had two jobs as well to pay her rent and feed herself. I couldn't understand how if her parents knew that she was going to graduate that they hadn't put some money aside each month for three years. We are by no means rich but there is no way I wouldn't have had that money set aside. They had about three months notice ( three years as far as I was concerned).
As it was her friend came to the venue and afterwards we dressed her up in the gown and took photos of her. My photo of her was better than my daughter's photo her friend was beaming at my suggestion of dressing up and then so glad she had come. She had come to congratulate her classmates.

Fintress · 08/07/2018 09:00

As it was her friend came to the venue and afterwards we dressed her up in the gown and took photos of her. My photo of her was better than my daughter's photo her friend was beaming at my suggestion of dressing up and then so glad she had come. She had come to congratulate her classmates.

What a lovely thing to do.

AliTheMinx · 08/07/2018 09:36

I graduated 18 years ago and even then there was quite a high cost for gown-hire, although no cost for tickets (but they were limited to 2 or 3). I would not have missed graduation for the world. It was a very proud day for me and for my parents. I now work in the same University and students still pay a hefty fee for gown hire. The first 2 tickets are free, and anyone wanting extra tickets goes into a ballot. We have also arranged a reception in a marquee for our students - again at no extra cost, as we want to make it a really special day. One family has been in touch as they are struggling with the costs, so I believe their gown fees have been waived. We try to make it as inclusive as possible, buy obviously gown-hire comes with added costs. I don't think it's right to charge for tickets though, but fully understand the need to limit numbers. Graduation is expensive (many of our students are international), but families can plan and save in advance.

scaryteacher · 08/07/2018 09:49

Ds's gown hire wasn't too bad last year, neither was the cost of the photos. He paid £10 for one extra ticket, so my Mum could attend, but we paid for the travel back to the UK, hotel rooms , meal out, gown hire and photos. Will rinse and repeat in December if he gets his MA.

Blaablaablaa · 08/07/2018 09:58

It is pretty poor that they're charging for tickets. My uni only charges for extra tickets.

However, there's no way your son was only told about his graduation this week. We've been telling our students since march! People need to know dates and costs in advance. It would be extremely poor practice for them to leave it so late - they will have had students asking about it for months as they all want to book their summer hols

DontTouchTheMoustache · 08/07/2018 10:01

I couldn't go to my masters graduation because I couldn't afford it. I was a single mum o maternity leave so there was no chance. I still feel sad about it because I worked so hard and was so proud but such is life.

sashh · 08/07/2018 10:12

There is actually a company who will sell you gowns cheaper than Ede and Ravenscroft hire prices. But then if you use the university provider they do actually dress you correctly and can swap the gown if it is too small/big, hat doesn't fit.

www.graduationattire.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlJCD35OP3AIVzp3tCh1nswnbEAAYASAAEgK7xfD_BwE

churchillgowns.com/gb/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlJCD35OP3AIVzp3tCh1nswnbEAAYAiAAEgInbfD_BwE