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The ceremony

All students have an allocated seat in the Studio in Curve Theatre, there will be DMU and Curve staff there to guide you to the right seat. The ceremony is usually 90 minutes long, longer if an honorary degree is being conferred. Despite that, each student's moment onstage can feel very short-lived so it’s important to make the most of every second!  

The Order of Proceedings is as follows:

  • The ceremony unofficially begins with a series of photographs of students taken as they were arriving at the venue
  • The ceremony officially begins with the academic procession of the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Pro Chancellor, Deans, Executive and Senior Academic staff of the University and their invited guests, who will process into the Auditorium from two separate doors. Students and guests are asked to stand (if able) whilst the Academic Procession enters
  • The national anthem is played
  • The Chancellor or Pro Chancellor will give a welcome speech
  • The Vice Chancellor (or nominee) will deliver a speech
  • The De Montfort Students Union representative will deliver a speech
  • A video featuring different students from the university is played
  • A performance piece is sung
  • If the university is conferring an honorary degree, the honorand will receive a citation, the Honorary Award and then give a speech
  • The Vice Chancellor formally requests that names of the graduands entitled to receive an academic award of the university are announced
  • The Name Reader announces the name of the faculty, level of academic award, course title and graduand.  Prizes are also announced to those who students who have achieved them
  • Students are guided from their seat, in order, to wait to cross the platform as their name is announced.  There is final check of your academic dress
  • As students walk across the platform, the Chancellor, seated in the middle of the front row in a gold chair, will acknowledge each student by touching the tip of their hat; in return, you doff your hat to the Chancellor
  • As you proceed across the platform, the Vice Chancellor, or her nominee, will be waiting to greet you. Students must also doff their hat to the Vice Chancellor, who will return the gesture
  • Students will receive their certificate
  • This is your chance to wave at your guests and fellow students
  • Guests and staff will applaud each student
  • Students are guided off the platform and directed back to their seat
  • After the final student is announced, the Vice Chancellor will deliver a speech to formally close the ceremony
  • Photographs of students from inside the Studio will be shown on the screens
  • Closing music will signal for the Academic Platform to exit and guests will give a final applause to all graduands
  • DMU staff will signal to graduands to leave their seat and make their way out of the Auditorium

There is loud music and theatrical lighting throughout the ceremony.

Throughout the day there will be DMU staff on hand to guide you through each step of the day.

How to doff

Graduands doff their hat to the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor. It’s a very straight forward gesture; you simply place your right hand on the edge of your hat and tilt your head towards the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor as you pass by or approach them. Just a gentle tip forward is fine!