We’re really looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our graduands at our degree and diploma graduation ceremonies at Bath Abbey on Friday 28 March 2025.

Please read the information below, which provides more details about the graduation timings, locations, dress and how to order graduation gowns, photography and tickets.

Norland students in Formal uniform hugging at graduation ceremony

Graduation overview

EventDegree graduationNorland diploma graduation
Registration, gowning (degree) and photography in Guildhall8am onwards11am onwards
Uniform check Guildhall (diploma)n/a1.30pm
Bath Abbey opens for guests10am2pm
Ceremony begins10.30am2.30pm
Ceremony ends (approximate)12.30pm4.30pm
Gowns to be returned (degree)1pmn/a

Important information for graduation ceremonies

The academic gowning company we use is Ede and Ravenscroft and they work with us to provide a one-stop graduation shop for you. Through them, you are invited to order your tickets, academic dress (for BA graduands), and photography packages.  

Each graduand will be able to request up to six tickets, one for yourself and five guests. Tickets are not numbered and guests may choose where they sit. We completely understand that you would like your charges to celebrate with you, but please remember the BA ceremony is long for small people. Children under 36 months will not need a ticket but they will not have a seat. They will need to sit on a guest’s lap.

When booking your tickets, you should have received a confirmation email upon booking tickets. If you have not received a confirmation email from Ede and Ravenscroft, please contact their call centre on 01223 734759 and they will be able to process you order over the phone.

If you are not attending, please let us know as soon as possible. 

You will be able to choose and pre-book from a selection of photography packages. If your gowning slot is too early for your guests, you may return to the Guildhall to have your group shots taken after the ceremony. You may pay on the day should you decide you would like a formal photograph, but it is easier to book in advance.  

Some BA graduands will return for photos after their graduation and will take priority over diploma photographs as their gowns need to be returned to Ede and Ravenscroft by 1pm.

Dress code for yourselves and your guests is formal. If you’re wearing heels, please remember you will be going on stage to receive your certificate and there are heating grates on the floor, slopes and steps in the Abbey, so you may wish to consider the height of them. Please also be aware that you will be walking between the venues and there will be uneven surfaces as well as grates.  

Should any of your guests require assistance, there is a mandatory booking question asking if any of your guests require an aisle seat/ramp/wheelchair space. Please do make sure you share as much information as possible so we can best support your guests.

There are a number of short stay and long stay car parks in Bath city centre as well as park and ride services. Take a look at the Visit Bath website for a list of car parks.

If you require blue badge parking, visit the council’s website for further guidance.

Please let your guests know bag searches may be conducted at the door of the Abbey. 

Norland merchandise will be on sale in the Guildhall as well as exciting information about the Professional Association of Norlanders (PAN). Credit cards are accepted.

Please keep us updated with any changes to your personal email address, postal address, and phone number so we can ensure we communicate as effectively as possible with you in the run up to this exciting event.

Frequently asked questions

Brown, speedwell blue and gold. 

The Norland gowns are customised for us so if you hired this through another company it would not be the Norland BA/BAO gown. They have made all gowns and hoods according to our specifications and you will not be able to order the Norland gown and hood elsewhere.  

Yes all graduands are required to wear academic dress. It is normal protocol for graduands to wear the hood and gown. We want you all to feel really proud of your achievements and the academic gown is an outward show of this.  

Ede and Ravenscroft fit your gown properly. It is up to you if you do not wear the outfit you intend to wear but it does depend on where you are staying or how and where you are travelling from. Usually everyone comes ready for the ceremony.

You should get to the Guildhall anytime between 8.30 and 9.00. If you arrive earlier, the photo queuemay not be so long. You will have longer to enjoy any breakfast plans that you’ve organised. Please keep to the gowning slots as the turnaround is quite tight. 

Yes – definitely go and enjoy walking around Bath having breakfast in your gown! You do not have to stay in the Guildhall. All graduands will be asked to return to the Guildhall for 10am 

If it is cold you should be wearing a coat to arrive at the Guildhall. We decide on the day if diploma graduates process from the Guildhall to the Abbey in coats, depending on the weather. You will be asked to remove your coats and or shrugs once inside the Abbey. The photographs of you receiving your Norland diploma look better without coats and shrugs.

Yes – guests can bring prams into the Abbey and put them at the end of a side row.

Ede and Ravenscroft who take your formal photographs as well as photograph you receiving your degree/diploma badge will email you after the event with the process of purchasing these.

A link to the images Norland’s photographer takes will be shared with all graduates after graduation. These are free.

They can if they want but it’s not essential as only you are going to be photographed.

Certificates for the degree and badges and certificates for the diploma will be sent to individuals after the graduation. You will be asked to email [email protected] to confirm you will not be attending. Please include the address where you would like these sent.

Bath Abbey usually opens approximately 30 minutes before the start of the ceremonies but this will be confirmed nearer the date. 

Graduation 2024

Set 44 celebrate their degree graduation
Set 43 celebrate their diploma graduation
TEF gold award
Whatuni Student Choice Award Gold logo for the higher education provider voted the best small or specialist intitution
IHE inspiring course winner
Heist silver award winner logo