Information on the arrangements for attending Winter Congregation are published below.
The What to Expect on the Day of Winter Congregation (pdf document) provides a printable version of the important details for students and guests.
Congregation ceremonies are held in Durham Cathedral, but are not religious events although Christian iconography is displayed inside the venue. The Cathedral provides a large and beautiful venue for the ceremonies with other, related, activities held in the surrounding area.
Robing, photography and the Congregation Fair take place in the Teaching and Learning Centre, which is approximately a 20 minute walk from the Cathedral.
You must arrive at least 2.5 hours before the time of your ceremony
Please see Travel and Parking for full information.
Your guests will be directed to enter the Cathedral from approximately 45 minutes before the ceremony start time and should take advantage the facilities at the Congregation Fair beforehand.
A Congregation Information Point will be located on Palace Green outside of the Music Building and on the ground floor of the Teaching and Learning Centre for general enquiries.
We recommend that your guests collect their own tickets.
Collect your robes from the first floor of the building. Due to limited capacity, only students are allowed access to the robing area.
Guests to collect their tickets from the Guest Ticket desk. Give any extra belongings to your guests before going to the Durham Castle. Bring your campus card, if you have one, to assist with registration on the day. If you do arrive on time, you may be excluded from the ceremony.
You must report to the Great Hall of University College in your robes:
1 hour and 15 minutes prior to your ceremony to be put into procession order.
Various checks will be undertaken, and names will be scored off the list if you do not arrive on time.
Your guests with tickets will be directed into the Cathedral from the Information Point approximately 45 minutes before the ceremony start time to be seated separately from graduands.
You will process from the Great Hall to the Cathedral approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony. Graduands will be seated in order. Names will be checked as it is vital that you remain in order for the ceremony.
Ceremonies begin with the Staff Procession, followed by a welcome by the Cathedral Representative. The Vice-Chancellor will provide a welcome address.
Graduands names will be called to the stage individually, to shake hands with the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer will then confer the degrees. At this point an honorary degree may be awarded, and the Presiding Officer will then give the closing address.
The Staff Procession will leave, followed by the Graduate Procession and then the guests.
The use of cameras and recording devices is not permitted during ceremonies, and flash photography is not allowed within the Cathedral.
Ceremonies are professionally filmed and photographed with USBs/photos available to purchase afterwards at the Congregation Fair. They will also be streamed live on the Ceremonies website and to a lecture theatre in the Teaching and Learning Centre, which is open to guests without tickets.
After the ceremony, you and your guests can visit the Congregation Fair in the Teaching and Learning Centre, including Zing Cafe.
You must return your robes to the Teaching and Learning Centre before 5:30pm on the day of the ceremony.
See our Information for Guests for what happens on the day, guests with children, live streaming and Durham city accommodation, dining and retail options.
Entrance to the Cathedral will only be allowed from 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving before the entrance time are advised to wait in the Teaching and Learning Centre as there is no shelter outside the Cathedral and it can be extremely cold in winter.
View information for students and guests who require special arrangements for the ceremony.
You are advised to keep personal belongings to a minimum which should be left with guests prior to the ceremony.
Please do not bring any large bags/rucksacks or luggage as they are not permitted inside the Cathedral and cannot be left unattended.
You may be subjected to a bag search on entry to the Cathedral. There will be a supervised luggage drop in the Teaching and Learning Centre for students and guests to use during the ceremony. Please note, although this is a supervised area, bags are left at the owner's risk.
Learn more about our Congregation Fair at the Teaching and Learning Centre.
Lost property will be held at the Police Office on Palace Green or at the Teaching and Learning Centre.
You must hire graduation robes by 16 December 2024, view guidance on what to wear on the day.
Dress warmly, as you will be outside at certain times of the day and it can be cold inside the Cathedral.
Find out what celebration events your college and department are holding during Congregation.
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