Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off and you'll soon be graduating and celebrating your success. We’re so proud of you.
Graduation will take place on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at a new venue: the historic Blackburn Cathedral.
Your ceremony
On the day there will be three ceremonies: 10.15am, 12.45pm and 3.15pm. Your invitation will tell you which ceremony you will be attending.
The time you will need to arrive is based on the ceremony you'll be attending. You must come to UCBC first to get your ticket(s) and gown.
Collecting your tickets
You will collect tickets at the University Centre atrium on the day of Graduation.
Graduation day schedule
The running order of the day is shown below. Please stick to these timings so your day runs as smoothly as possible.
For the 10.15am ceremony
- Please arrive at the University Centre for 8am
- Ticket collection, Gowning and Photography from 8am to 9am
- Ceremony commences at 10.15am and will finish by 11.20pm
For the 12.45pm ceremony
- Please arrive at the University Centre for 10.30am
- Ticket collection, Gowning and Photography from 10.30am to 11.30am
- Ceremony commences at 12.45pm and will finish by 1.50pm
For the 3.15pm ceremony
- Please arrive at the University Centre for 1pm
- Ticket collection, Gowning and Photography from 1pm to 2pm
- Ceremony commences at 3.15pm and will finish by 4.20pm
Celebrations
Following your ceremony, you are invited to attend a celebration with refreshments and entertainment. The afterparty will be held in The Pavillion, Blackburn Sixth Form. All graduates, family and friends are welcome!
Online registration
In order to attend Graduation, you must register online. This is also where you must order your gowns and purchase guest tickets.
Your online registration will be open once you receive your formal invitation.
A link to the online registration page will be available here on this Graduation webpage and from your invitation once registration opens.
Invites and tickets
How will I receive my invite?
You will receive your invite via post and email.
If you have changed your postal address or email since you started your course, please email us to let us know at:
graduation@blackburn.ac.uk
How many tickets are available for each student and is it possible to get extra tickets?
You will initially be able to purchase up to two guest tickets.
We expect there will be a small number of additional tickets that will be available on a first come first served basis once the initial round closes. We will send information about this in advance.
You will be able to purchase guest tickets at the same time as you purchase gown hire and any photography packages.
We will be showing the live stream of the ceremonies in the UCBC Lecture Theatre (UC001). Additional guests are welcome to watch there.
Will I get confirmation of my ticket purchase?
Once you have purchased your ticket/s, you will receive a confirmation email of payment with a reference number. Quote this reference number on the day to collect your ticket/s.
You will need a physical ticket, which will be used to identify you during your ceremony, so you must collect these on the day of graduation.
Where do I collect my tickets?
You will collect your own graduate ticket and any guest ticket/s at registration on the day of graduation. Quote your reference number on the day to collect your tickets.
Information for guests
Can a guest sit alongside me during the ceremony?
No, all guests will be seated in a separate section. But don't worry, they'll be cheering you on from there!
Are guests given seat numbers?
Guests are able to choose their own seats. They must be seated at least 30 minutes before the ceremony start time. There will be no late admittance to the ceremony.
Are children allowed to attend the ceremony?
Due to the length and formality of the graduation ceremonies they are not suitable for young children. Children over 2 years old must have their own guest ticket and be accompanied by an adult guest.
Under no circumstances are children allowed to sit with graduands.
There is no space for prams or buggies to either be taken into the ceremony, or to be stored at the Cathedral.
Gowns and photography
How do I order a gown?
You must book your gown hire online.
This is through the Ede & Ravenscroft graduation portal, where you also register and order guest tickets.
Links to the booking form will be on your invite when it is sent and available on this page once booking opens.
Where do I pick up my gown?
Gowning will take place at University Centre Blackburn College in The Curve on the ground floor.
On the day of Graduation you will need to arrive ready for gowning. Gowning will be open 2 hours and 15 minutes before each ceremony. This is so you can get your gown, have professional photography taken if you wish, and still have time to get to the Graduation Ceremony in Cathedral.
Where do I get my professional graduation photographs taken?
Professional graduation photography will take place at University Centre Blackburn College in The Curve on the ground floor.
Photography will be open for 2 hours and 15 minutes before each ceremony.
Can I take my own photographs?
Of course! We encourage you and any guests to take photos of this memorable event.
And if you share any images on social media, we’d love to see them and even repost them – so please tag us or use #BlackburnGraduation2025
FAQs
Where will the ceremony take place?
Your graduation ceremony will take place near to campus at Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA.
Other elements, such as gowning, certificate collection, and the afterparty will take place on campus.
Is there parking available?
There is no parking available on site at the College, and no parking at the Cathedral.
The nearest car park is the multi-storey on Fielden Street which is next to the Sports Centre.
What time is my ceremony?
There are three ceremonies taking place – at 10.15am, 12.45pm and 3.15pm.
You will be sent an invitation in the post that will confirm your ceremony time. The invitations will be posted out to you, and you will also be sent an invite via email.
Will I be able to pick up my award certificate at the ceremony?
Yes. There will be a stand in The Exchange at UCBC on Graduation Day where Graduates will be able to come and collect their certificates.
If you're not able to swing by on the day, you can come to the campus and collect them any time afterwards as long as you bring some Photo ID.
Can I access the platform where I will receive my award if I have mobility issues?
There is ramp access to the platform, however, please email us to let us know if you need any special requirements:
Email: graduation@blackburn.ac.uk
Will the graduation ceremony be live streamed?
Yes, the ceremony will be live streamed. Details of which platform it will be available on will be released closer to the time.
We will be showing the live stream of the ceremonies in the UCBC Lecture Theatre (UC001). Additional guests are welcome to watch there.
Will there be a celebration afterwards?
Of course!
The afterparty will be held in The Pavillion, Blackburn Sixth Form.
All graduates, family and friends are welcome. Refreshments and entertainment will be waiting for you.
Watch recordings of last year's graduation ceremonies
Please note ceremonies were held in King George's Hall last year, so the venue and platform will look different within Blackburn Cathedral for Graduation 2025.
