Frequently asked questions on graduation

The ceremonies will take place at Friends House, Euston, London between 7 and 9 December. The post-ceremony reception will be held at SOAS University.

The graduation ceremonies taking place between 7 and 9 December are for students graduating from SOAS in the Summer or Autumn of 2019 or 2020. New registrations are no longer being processed as registration for the December ceremonies is now closed.

For students completing studies in 2022, including students who completed a Postgraduate Taught or Research degree in Autumn 2022, you will be invited to the graduation ceremony taking place in 2023 (dates are still to be confirmed). The Graduation Team will be in touch with you with full registration details.

The dress code is formal and academic dress is compulsory for all SOAS graduates. Your gown can be hired when you register for your place at the ceremony.

For students that have secured a space for the December graduation ceremonies but have been unable to book tickets via Ede & Ravenscroft, please contact us by emailing ceremony@soas.ac.uk.

Two ceremonies take place on each date starting at 10.00 and 14.00 and our confirmed order of ceremonies for December is listed below:

Wednesday 7 December - 10:00am - Development Studies
                                           - 2:00pm - Law, Gender and Media

Thursday 8 December - 10:00am - East Asia, Languages and Culture; Languages, Cultures and Linguistics (Middle East, Africa, South and South East Asia)

                                      - 2:00pm - Anthropology; Arts; Finance Management

Friday 9 December - 10:00am - Economics; History, Religions and Philosophy
                                  - 2:00pm - Politics and International Studies

The duration of each ceremony is expected to be approximately 90 minutes.

All students can initially purchase two guest tickets. In the event additional guest tickets are made available we will notify all students registered via email on how an addition purchase can be made.

Each guest ticket costs £35.00.

Each guest ticket included entry to a ceremony at Friends House, Euston, London and attendance at the corresponding post ceremony reception.

Academic dress is compulsory for all graduands registering to attend their graduation. By confirming attendance graduands agree to wear official academic robes provided by our robing company Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd.

Yes. All December graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed. Details to be confirmed. 

Yes, however this is dependent on UK travel restrictions. Please check if you need a visa to visit the UK.

The postponement of the ceremonies does not affect the award of a SOAS degree; all eligible students will still graduate. When you receive your results, you officially become a SOAS graduate, and your degree certificates will be sent to you to confirm this.

We do not present degree certificates at graduation ceremonies. Your certificate will be posted to you after the event, and it is therefore important for SOAS to have details of your current address. 

Certificates will be posted to your home address as follows:

• Postgraduate students awarded a degree in December 2021 – certificates posted in March 2022.
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Masters students awarded a degree in July 2022– certificates posted in October 2022.

Enquiries about degree certificates should be sent to assessments@soas.ac.uk.

The legal requirement to wear a face covering no longer applies.

However, we recommend in line with government guidance that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet. (You are welcome to remove your mask when crossing the stage to accept your award)

These are formal events, where graduating students will be able to mark the end of their degree with their fellow students, academics and guests. There will be entertainment, refreshments, and speeches.

Yes, Ede & Ravenscroft will provide professional photography. You can purchase photos from the Ede & Ravenscroft website. SOAS photographers will also be documenting the day.

Any child over the age of two years old will be permitted to attend and will require a ticket. There are no concession prices for children.

Children under two are permitted to attend without a ticket. However, they may become restless during the ceremony and cause some disruption to those seated nearby, in which case we would advise leaving the hall.

Please note there are no creche or any child-minding facilities at Friends House.

Some graduands and/or their guest(s) will require a Standard Visitor visa for the UK to attend the graduation ceremony. Non-visa nationals can request this visa on arrival at the port of entry.

SOAS does not provide letters to support visitor visa applications, however, your graduation invitation and confirmation of registration from Ede and Ravenscroft can be used as evidence in support of your/your guest(s) visa application.

Please visit the UKVI webpages for information about visitor's visas.

Please contact ceremony@soas.ac.uk.