FAQ list
Public transport
The Cathedrals are located close to train stations (Canterbury West / Canterbury East and Rochester) and Southeastern offer a high-speed rail service which takes less than an hour.
Parking
We cannot provide parking within the Cathedral grounds. Please arrive with plenty of time to allow for parking.
There are a number of pay and display car parks available.
Canterbury
Please see the Canterbury Council parking list.
You may also wish to use the Park and Ride service, with buses running regularly from just outside the city centre.
Rochester
Please see the Medway Council parking list.
We also run a park and ride service from the Medway campus to Rochester, please get in touch to request details.
There is no dress code for guests at the ceremony, but we advise that it is a formal occasion.
Your graduand has been advised that this is a formal occasion and that they are requested to dress smartly for the occasion. It is recommended that graduands and their guests wear shoes that they are comfortable wearing for walking to and from the venues and standing waiting to enter the Cathedral. National dress is welcomed.
Guest seating within the Cathedrals is not assigned, so seats are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and is separate to the graduands.
Guest seating will begin 60 minutes before the ceremony start time, however guests typically begin queuing 90 minutes before the ceremony. You should take your seats no later than 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
There are a few seating areas within the Cathedral, such as the central nave or the south aisle. There are differences in view between these areas, and some provide a view of the graduand walking down the central aisle whereas others can see them at the front. Some of the seats are located behind a pillar, and therefore have an obstructed view, please note that where seats have an obstructed view, there are screens displaying live streaming.
Graduation ceremonies are a formal opportunity to celebrate graduates. They will begin with the processions into the Cathedral, starting with students and ending with senior academics and civic attendees.
You will hear from our Presiding Officer, and either the new honorary graduate if there is one being awarded at the ceremony or representatives from our student union.
Ceremonies take place in either Canterbury or Rochester Cathedral (dependent on where your graduand studied), and are about 90 minutes long.
Please respect all the graduates by remaining in the Cathedral for the duration of the ceremony.
At the end of the ceremony, the academic procession exits first, followed by the graduates and then guests.
Our team will be advising graduates to make their way out of the Cathedral to the meeting point, this is where you will be able to join up with them for post ceremony celebrations.
Canterbury
Meeting point: by the Canterbury War horse sculpture
Rochester
Meeting point: Corn Exchange
Only the graduand can collect or purchase additional tickets on the day and in advance. Your graduand should provide you with your ticket.
We welcome children at our graduation ceremonies; however, we advise that these are formal occasions, and the ceremonies are approximately 90 minutes long, this may not be suitable for all ages.
Please note that children aged 3 or under do not require their own ticket. However, they will be required to remain seated on a parent or guardian's lap for the duration of the ceremony.
Children must always remain accompanied by a parent or guardian within any of the venues designated for graduations.
There will be no admission to the ceremony for children under 18 without an appropriate adult accompanying them. There are no crèche or childminding facilities available at either Canterbury or Rochester Cathedral.
The ceremonies will be live streamed via YouTube, and links will be shared nearer the time.
You can have professional photography taken by our supplier, Tempest Photography.
These do not need to be booked in advance - but there will be opening times dependent on your graduand's ceremony.
Use of professional photography and filming equipment is prohibited inside the Cathedral as well as the venues where Tempest Photography are operating.