Daughter unable to attend her graduation ceremony as it is full. Advice please

[mildlyfried]

My daughter has just finished a three year Bsc (hons) at a major University. She has been advised that she cannot attend her graduation ceremony as it is full and she is on a waiting list. All the other ceremonies are at capacity too. She has been told that if a place does not become available then she can either try to graduate in November without her friends or have her certificate posted to her for a £10 fee.

To say we are upset and disappointed is an understatement. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I did not think a University would do this and would make sure they had enough graduation days/dates for all their students. The students have paid tens of thousands in fees and slogged for three years to be denied the chance to get their degree in a ceremony with their family watching.

Is there anyone out there with any advice? maybe someone who works at a University? I'm tempted to go to the local paper and tell the story so other students know what to expect at this University. Students should be told when they are choosing the University that they are not guaranteed a graduation.

Thanks for reading

Well of course not, and rightly so. She’s an adult. You should have taught her to advocate for herself.

There is a good chance she will get a place if she is wait-listed.

I know you are upset but generally universities are trying to do their best. They model the graduation ticket numbers based on typical attendance rates. They use the biggest venues. They don't make a profit on graduation ceremonies and it's not in their interests to upset anyone. Student recruitment decisions do not take into account graduation ceremony capacities (and it would be mad if they did) and no one is making any money from UK students' fees.

She could try getting support from the Student Union. Otherwise there should be a Student Experience Officer she could approach in each Faculty - Lancs seem to have a few listed on their website.

I'm a doctoral graduate of Lancaster and formerly lectured there, ex still does. Lancaster has a history of being very financially savvy ever since they nearly went under for my cohort (1997 graduates) and almost had to go cap in hand to the Govt/float on the stock exchange to keep going. Since then it's been all eyes on the money and in recent years they have heavily recruited home students for bums on seats here (and offered multiple high cost online courses in marketing, finance and law internationally to draw in additional funds without ever seeing a matriculated student.) The Great Hall is tiny compared to many other venues, but they should be putting on multiple ceremonies to accommodate all graduates. It doesn't surprise me they're doing this to save costs though - they count every penny.

I know it's no consolation if you don't get a ticket @mildlyfried, and this is at least semi-lighthearted obviously, but if ever you're going to spend a day in a dreadful 1960s building and come out with a migraine, it's a graduation day spent in Lancaster University's Great Hall. There really is nothing great about it. I graduated twice before from other institutions and my PhD ceremony at Lancaster is one I won't forget as it was so ghastly. I used to feel sorry for my own graduands heading off to their ceremonies in there and tell them to take pre-emptive Ibuprofen! It's not fair, but honestly she'd have a better day with her friends and family in the city with a pub lunch sitting on the water or up at the castle/priory in the sunshine! And she'll still have a degree from a top university. All the best to your DD for her future.

Universities do not hand out certificates on stage anymore. They haven't for years.

That's awful! It's such an important day for them! Def get her to email to complain via course tutor etc.

They did for my DC and the last graduated last year.

(I don't quite see the point otherwise?)

This is daft OP, how very annoying. I'd be very cross.

You keep saying that but it was a first come first served thing. That means the earlier she applies the more likely she is of getting it.

I can apply for a ticket to x and the window opens on the 1st and closes on the 28th but if it's first come first served and I leave it to the 28th there's no chance I'm getting a ticket, I'll also be low on the wait list.

If it was another day her friends probably wouldn't be there then either. The best bit is pictures with friends and family afterwards, the ceremonies are incredibly boring and repetitive, students in a line walk up shake hands take certificate walk off repeat hundreds of times. Just go and enjoy the best bit.

I never went my graduation…. You get awarded a certificate and that’s imo. I was already working and had moved on by the time my graduation was. Would have seemed a step backwards to return.

Who said anything about how she gets it in person. What is the point of the ceremony if you don’t get it then ?
What I wouldn’t want is a degree certificate posted out.

That's crazy. How can they not have enough space?! Graduations are put together based on the number of students on the course. The university know how many students need to graduate. I don't understand how they can mess this up.

I did a popular course so my graduation was us plus a tiny course. People who did 'middle number' courses were paired with a similar sized one.

@HeavensAboveBelow everything you said. I always left the hall with a splitting headache and if it’s sunny you nearly pass out!

What you do need to do is book somewhere for a meal out NOW and if you need accommodation to stay over take out a personal loan to fund it!

I didn't go to my graduation. Booooring.
Celebrate with a nice lunch or something.

If the original letter said first come, first served she knew timing would be of the essence. Even if they put on an extra ceremony on another day she still won’t be with her friends. I saw very little of my friends at graduation as I was with my family - so I’m not sure that really matters. And to be honest it’s a real headache…I’d pay the £10 for the cert and enjoy it without having to sit through hours of names & clapping!!!

I think the point is that there shouldn’t be a waiting list, and everyone should be able to graduate.

Yes they do, my son's graduation was in 2024 and he received his certificate on stage.

Interestingly, I didn't! We were given something that looked like a certificate for photos but the actual certificate arrived in the post.

He didn't go to his Masters' graduation and received his certificate in the post (at no extra charge).

I think it's unreasonable to accommodate friends and family and not students. Anyway presumably she's on the waiting list. Some people are bound to drop out.

I haven't got any advice @mildlyfried but just to express shock as that is terrible on the part of the university. I understand a limit on the number of guests but everybody who has completed the course should be able to graduate at the same time. If they don't have space they should spread out all the graduations over more days.

I have never heard of this, but it sounds typical of so many organisations nowadays that take on more customers (in this case students) than they can handle, are happy to take their money, and then thrown their hands up and say "not our fault" when they cannot deliver the quality of service that people are entitled to expect.

I have never heard of this, but it sounds typical of so many organisations nowadays that take on more customers (in this case students) than they can handle, are happy to take their money, and then thrown their hands up and say "not our fault" when they cannot deliver the quality of service that people are entitled to expect.

Yes and as ever there are sanctimonious people on this thread saying it's the OPs dd's fault because for some reason some MNers think the business is always right. No, she's paid £30K in fees and they should be able to accommodate students at the same ceremony.

Never heard that the graduate has had to apply for tickets to graduate and that being first come, first serve. Absolutely insane.

This is dreadful! My DD graduated two years ago and her university use a tiny (but beautiful) space for the ceremonies. They have multiple ceremonies back to back but do guarantee everyone a space plus 2 guests and, whilst this means it ends up being like a 'one lot out, next lot in' conveyor belt, at least everyone gets their chance.

The university just need more ceremonies. They've all worked hard so they deserve their day in a cap and gown!

Even if, say, all graduates decide to login at 8am to secure their tickets on day 1, there are still fewer seats than there are graduates. So those who get into the online queue at 8:03 won’t get tickets. The issue is that there aren’t enough ceremonies in the small venue to accommodate everyone, and that’s poor on behalf of the uni.

Some definitely do. I work for a University.

I agree it seems very harsh of them.

Actually DD had Grayson Perry give her cert to her and he was interesting when he spoke. We didn’t find it boring. However I cannot believe they have scheduled faculties and courses for ceremonies in a building that doesn’t accommodate them! Just very poor planning!

I agree with you op, I would have been upset not to see the graduation of my three dds and their uni friends. It’s the fact that they know that some people will be disappointed that’s outrageous. After they have all the confirmations then they should divide into two ceremonies if they are over capacity. Regarding first come, first served then it could be that everyone confirmed within the first hour (unlikely I know but possible) and those within the second hour it’s tough shit. Not right!