Your graduation day is a day of celebration. We have advised times below for you to plan your day, location details can be found further down the page.
In Writtle, our graduation ceremonies take place in Chelmsford Cathedral, and you can check in at the Guy Harlings Garden Marquee. See 'When you arrive' below.
If you wish to park on the Writtle campus, complimentary coaches will be provided from outside the Main Building on a rolling 30-minute loop from Writtle to Chelmsford Cathedral and back again. This is for all graduates and their guests. The first coach will leave the campus at 8.30am and the last coach to leave Chelmsford Cathedral will be at 5pm.
Please download the Writtle on the day guide and map
Please make your way to the Guy Harlings Garden Marquee at Chelmsford Cathedral on arrival, the location of this will be sign posted on the day. This is where you need to check-in and collect your seating card and any guest tickets purchased.
You can also collect your pre-ordered gown and have professional photographs taken with your guests.
You’ll then make your way to the cathedral to take your seats in preparation for the start of the ceremony (see timings above).
Guests and students are seated separately, and on arrival at the cathedral you’ll be directed to different entrance doors. It’s important you keep hold of your seating card, and that your guests have their tickets.
Once you enter the student entrance, you’ll be shown to your seat by an usher. The seat is allocated to you and is indicated on your seating card. You’ll be seated in the order you’ll be called across the stage, so it's important you sit in your allocated seat. As an Anglia Ruskin University graduand you’ll wear academic dress and your mortar board throughout the ceremony.
You’ll be advised by an usher when your row needs to rise and approach the presentation platform.
Once your name is announced you’ll be directed to walk onto and across the stage to the centre point, where the Vice Chancellor (or representative) will greet you. You’ll then continue across the stage, and return back to your seat.
The order of proceedings is as follows.
Following the close of proceedings, all graduates are asked to process out, led by the platform party. Once all graduates have left the cathedral, we invite guests to join graduates outside. You’ll then make your way to the post-ceremony reception which is based on the Writtle campus in the Main Hall (L41) which is in the Main Building (it will be signposted on arrival).
If you have parked on campus at Writtle, complimentary coaches will be available to take you from the Cathedral back to campus. The last coach leaves Chelmsford Cathedral at 5pm.
On arrival you and your guest can collect your glass of bubbly (soft drinks also available) and celebrate with family, friends and staff members. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase memorabilia to mark your special day including teddy bears and hoodies, as well as take photos if you did not have the opportunity at the Cathedral.
Once you’ve finished your celebration on campus, please drop your hired gown in L53 before continuing your celebration.
It’s important to know how you and your guests are going to make your way to and from your ceremony. Information about travelling to Chelmsford Cathedral can be found via chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk/how-to-get-there.html. Chelmsford also has two park and ride sites which provide a regular service to the city centre, information can be found via essexhighways.org/Getting-Around/bus/park-and-ride.aspx.
Please note that parking is not available on campus or at the cathedral. If you wish to park on the Writtle campus, complimentary coaches will be provided from outside the Main Building on a rolling 30 minute loop from Writtle to Chelmsford Cathedral and back again. This is for all graduates and their guests. The first coach will leave the campus at 8.30am and the last coach to leave Chelmsford Cathedral will be at 5pm.