Registration
If you can't attend your own ceremony
Deferring your graduation to a later ceremony is only possible in exceptional circumstances. This could be due to medical reasons but not because of holidays or prior engagements.
If you can't attend, you should still complete the registration process as we need to confirm that the details we hold for you are correct. Your degree will be conferred upon you prior to the ceremony without you being present, known as graduating in absentia.
When registering, you'll be given the option to:
- graduate in absentia and have your certificate posted to an address you specify
- graduate in absentia and collect your certificate (or nominate someone to do so for you) - collect from the Old Student Hub in Market Square between 10am and 4pm on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 December 2025
Visa information for graduands
Find out which visa you need if you, or your family and friends, are travelling to the UK for the ceremony.
Data protection notice
During your application you'll be given the option to include your name and programme title in our graduation brochures, online information that is published about our events, and the 'Class of...' t-shirts that are produced each year by the Students' Union.
All our ceremonies are recorded to be broadcast across campus and online for family and friends. Graduands and guests seated in Central Hall should be aware that they may appear on this recording. By participating in graduation, graduands and guests consent to be party to these practices.
A photograph of every graduand will be taken as they appear on stage at their ceremony. These images will be published on the website of the official graduation photographers. Graduands who do not want their photograph published must contact the photographers.
University photographers will be situated around campus taking photographs and video footage of the celebrations for future publications - see our photography and video privacy notice for details. Graduands and guests who do not wish for their image to be used for such purpose should inform the photographer on the day or email communications-support@york.ac.uk in advance of the day.
We may use your name, award (BSc, BA, etc), subject, department and faculty in promotions of graduation and celebrations of our graduating students on the University website, including the University homepage, for a period of up to two weeks before and four weeks after graduation. We will not publish your degree classification. You can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing communications-support@york.ac.uk.
For more information about your rights please see the general privacy notice.