Virtual Presentation of Graduates

Virtual ceremony

Friday 07 June 2024

** Booking open **

Booking your virtual ceremony

Attending your virtual ceremony is free.

To book your place, you will need your personal identifier and email address.

Booking will open on Tuesday 16 January at 10:00. Please use the following link to book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-university-virtual-ceremony-2024-tickets-794418466017

If you have any questions, please contact the Ceremonies Centre via Webchat or emailing Ceremonies@open.ac.uk before making your booking.

This page was last updated on 12 January 2024. The final version will be posted 2-3 weeks before the ceremony.
 

Set up prior to your ceremony day

Firstly, make sure you have Zoom installed on your device and your Zoom name is your First and Last name that you used to register for the ceremony. This will allow the Zoom coordinator to allocate you to the appropriate room. Failure to do so could result in delayed entry and you could miss some of the ceremony.

Joining your Zoom ceremony on the day

Please join 15-30 minutes prior to the start time of the ceremony.  Please use the link provided in the joining email sent to you by Zoom this is unique to your ceremony and for graduates only.  Please ensure you join in good time and no later than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony starting to ensure your correct position in the ceremony. Late comers may not be admitted.

When you join you will see the OU logo on your screen with background music playing. This will remain in position until the start time your ceremony.

If your connection drops out at any point don't worry, you will just need to click your personalised link again to re-join the ceremony. If you experience any technical issues on the day you can email webcasting@iamagraduate.com this address will be monitored throughout the ceremony.

Please do not share your own zoom link with your friends and family as this is for Graduates only. Friends and family will be refused entry via this method and this can delay the ceremony itself.

Your friends and family can join our live event via YouTube. Details on how they can do this are listed below. 

Live Stream (Friends, Family & Supporters)

You can invite your friends, family and supporters to share your moment with you, as this event will be stream live on YouTube. The link will be sent to you the week before the ceremony.  

Academic Dress

Wearing of academic dress during this virtual ceremony is not compulsory however, if you would like to, our official gowning provider Ede and Ravenscroft are offering a hire-at-home service where you can hire academic dress for this ceremony. For more information and to order, please go to https://graduation-services.edeandravenscroft.com/graduation/. Please arrange this service well in advance of the day.

Please note: we are currently unable to offer this service for anyone resident outside the UK.

Pronunciations

If your name is difficult to pronounce or not pronounced as it is written, please email the Ceremonies Centre at least a week before your ceremony date to advise us of the correct pronunciation of your name.

The ceremony

The ceremony will start with a short welcome video.  You will then hear a message from our Chancellor, Baroness Lane-Fox and our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Blackman.

The formal proceedings will then commence and the Graduate Presenter will present Graduates for thier qualifications.

The Graduate Presenter will present graduates from each zoom room. After the Graduate Presenter has announced each graduate, this will give everyone in the same room the opportunity to congratulate fellow students.  Please show your appreciation by clapping and cheering. Once the Graduate Presenter announces the last graduate in your room your microphones will be made live and this will provide you with the opportunity to congratulate each other at the same time by cheering and clapping.

The Graduate Presenter will continue to present graduates from each zoom room until the last graduate in the last room has been announced. At this point everyones microphones will be activated as we revisit each room for a final celebration of cheers and clapping. 

The Vice-Chancellor will then make an address to graduates to conclude the ceremony.