Graduation - On The Day
Arrival and Registration
Our ceremonies are held next door to SOAS in Logan Hall in the Institute of Education, please make your way to SOAS and you will be directed to the venue.
Your tickets will be issued on the day of the ceremony at the Registration Desk in Clarke Hall. Please bring proof of purchase and ID such as a student card, driving licence or passport.
When to Arrive on the Day
Morning Ceremony Thursday 25 July: Registration opens 8:00am; Graduands must be seated by 10:00am
Afternoon Ceremony Thursday 25 July: Registration opens 12:30pm; Graduands must be seated by 3:00pm
Morning Ceremony Friday 26 July: Registration opens 8:00am; Graduands must be seated by 10:00am
Afternoon Ceremony Friday 26 July: Registration opens 12:30pm; Graduands must be seated by 3:00pm
Travel
Public Transport
The nearest underground stations are Russell Square, and Euston Square (please see the Access Guide for further information). Please visit the Transport for London web site.
The nearest mainline stations are Euston and Kings Cross. Please visit the National Rail web site for more information.
By Car
There is no parking at SOAS or at the Institute of Education. There are however, a number of NCP car parks nearby, for example Bedford Way, Coram Street and Marchmont Street. Further information can be found on the Camden Council Web Site
Congestion Charge
Both the Institute of Education and SOAS are in the congestion charging zone. The London scheme requires drivers to pay a fee, per day, if they wish to drive in central London during the scheme's hours of operation. For further information please view the Transport for London web site.
Guests
Guests with tickets for Logan Hall should be seated by the following times:
Morning Ceremony Thursday 25 July: 10.30am
Afternoon Ceremony Thursday 25 July: 3.30pm
Morning Ceremony Friday 26 July: 10.30am
Afternoon Ceremony Friday 26 July: 3.30pm
Guests with tickets for the Graduation Suite may enter at any time.
Children under 10 years of age cannot be admitted.
Gowns
Pre-ordered gowns, including hoods and mortar boards will be available for collection on the day of your ceremony. See the gowns page for more details.
Photography
Professional Photography will be available on the day. Please see the photography page for more details.
Flash photography within the Logan Hall is prohibited by the London Borough of Camden and unauthorised video recording of the graduation ceremony is strictly prohibited.
The Ceremony
- At Registration you will be given a card with your name and seat number on it to show to the checker at the bottom of the steps leading to the platform. Without this card you cannot be presented. A check will then be made to ensure that you are in your proper place for presentation. The names of graduates who are not present to receive their cards will be removed from the list of graduands.
- You will be told when to leave your seat and proceed to the platform for presentation. Once your name is read out, walk to the middle of the platform and shake hands with the President. Then proceed to the far side of the platform and follow your line of graduands back to your seat.
- Guests and graduands are requested to stand when the platform Procession enters and leaves the Hall. You are also requested to remain standing until the last member of the Procession has left the Hall. You will then be led from the Hall by the Bedell at the end of the ceremony. The Ceremony lasts approximately two hours.
Certificates
SOAS does not present degree certificates at the graduation ceremonies, they are distributed later by the University of London.
If you have any queries regarding your SOAS degree certificate or have not received it within six months of your date of award, please contact the Registry.
To guarantee you receive your certificate at the correct address it is important you inform the Registry of any changes.
Reception
After the ceremony we invite graduands, guests and staff members to Torrington Square, between Birkbeck and the Main College Building, for the reception, the price of which is included in your ticket. The reception will begin as soon as the ceremony finishes. Please take your ticket with you.
Refreshments
We try to provide an inclusive selection of food which is clearly marked. If you have any allergy concerns, please consult with one of the waiting staff.
Access
Please see the Access Guide for more information.
Merchandise
SOAS Merchandise will be available from a stall outside the main SOAS Main College Building following each ceremony. Other merchandise is available from the Students' Union shop, situated on the ground level of the main College Building.
Alumni
Class of 2013!
Congratulations on becoming a 2013 SOAS graduate and welcome to your network of over 50,000 SOAS alumni across 200 countries worldwide!
Your studies may now be over, but the Alumni Relations team at SOAS is your continuing link with the School, ensuring that your connection with SOAS is exciting, lifelong and one of mutual benefit.
Make sure you meet a member of the team on graduation day and share your up-to-date contact details, so that you can take advantage of a wide range of benefits, including:
- Career and networking opportunities
- Exclusive event invitations, both on campus and overseas
- Alumni discounts on library membership, language courses and more
- Access to international alumni networks ... and more!
You can also purchase special graduation merchandise on the day, including the popular SOAS hoodie with your name printed on! *
The SOAS Class of 2013 Yearbook will be on sale too – an amazing collection of memories of your time at university. The Yearbook will be full of individual student profiles, photographs, stories and contact details, capturing the experience you had as a student - the events, the characters, the milestones and the fun!
We want EVERY 2013 graduate to add their details! The Yearbook is open to all Undergraduate and Postgraduate students. It’s free to submit your profile and every profile will be published.
To make sure you are included, please register online at www.gradfinale.co.uk/students/register and follow the quick and easy steps to submitting your Yearbook entry.
All contributions made online will be collated into a professionally published, full colour, perfect bound book which will be available for you to collect on graduation day (if you are a Postgraduate student you should select the postage option when ordering). Please note that you are not automatically included in the Yearbook; you must go online to submit your Yearbook profile.
Whatever your plans and wherever life may take you after graduation, we look forward to helping you to stay connected with SOAS through you alumni network.
www.soasalumni.org
*Please let us know if you would not like your name to be listed on graduation merchandise.
Check List
- I.D.
- Proof of gown hire order with Ede & Ravenscroft.
- Hair grips for securing mortar board
- Safety pins for securing your hood
- Camera
