Congratulations! You’ve worked hard, you’ve been awarded your degree and now you’re about to graduate. We hope you can join us in celebrating this special day and if you’re a student who needs a visa, here’s how you can obtain one.
If you’re already here on a student visa which covers the graduation date, problem solved.
If your visa isn’t long enough, don’t worry. You can return home before your student visa expires and apply for a Standard Visitor visa to attend your ceremony. If your family and friends abroad would like to come along they can also apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
If you have a different type of visa that allows you to remain in the UK at the time of the graduation ceremony, you can attend the ceremony.
We’ve put together this useful information to help you and your guests apply for their visas. The links below will provide you with all the information you need to submit a valid application first time around (which will save you time and money).
The main visitor visa is the Standard Visitor visa which allows people to come to the UK for a holiday or to visit people in the UK. You can check if you or your guest require a visa.
You can apply for the Standard Visitor visa online and get further help.
You will need to include these documents with your application (they must be originals):
Passport
Bank statements and salary slips for the last three months and confirmation of hotel bookings (if applicable)
If you are supporting your visitor financially and providing their accommodation, you must send them your last three original bank statements and a letter from your landlord/accommodation provider to confirm that they are happy for you to accommodate your visitors for this period.
A support letter confirming your ceremony details and guest tickets purchased, printed out from e:Vision
Once you have confirmed your attendance and purchased any guest tickets required, you can request and print a support letter via your e:Vision (under the letters tile). If your award has already been confirmed, you should also print out your electronic transcript which is also available via e:Vision. If your award is not already confirmed, your attendance at the ceremony (and that of your guests) is provisional on your award being confirmed in time for the ceremony.
An invitation letter written by you and sent to your guest
Your guest will have to include the letter with their application. We can’t issue an invitation letter because the UKVI wants you to provide the letter.
Your letter of invitation needs to explain:
Please make sure your guests understand that they must comply with the UK’s immigration rules and leave the UK before their visas expires.
To make it easier for you to prepare this letter, we have created a sample letter of invitation which you can use to write your letter.
Any other required documents
GOV.UK provides a guide to supporting documents
The Official Publication of Results lists the dates when results will be sent to students.
We hope you enjoy your graduation day!
It’s important to check the current Government advice for travelling to the UK before you make your travel arrangements.
For information on travel to England please see the GOV.UK guidance on travel to England during COVID-19.
We are working hard to ensure in-person graduation ceremonies take place, but there may be some factors beyond our control that lead to ceremonies being cancelled or delayed.
We strongly encourage all students and their guests to ensure that they have sufficient insurance protection to cover any losses they might suffer as a result of ceremonies being cancelled or delayed.
The University cannot be held liable for the cost incurred of any travel arrangements made by graduates or guests.