In this article:
When do graduation ceremonies take place?
Graduation ceremonies at King’s take place twice a year – in July, our summer ceremonies, and in January, our winter ceremonies.
For upcoming graduation dates, please see our article Key information about graduating and attending your ceremony.
Which graduation ceremony can I attend?
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students
If you are due to complete your course and be awarded between 1 August and 1 January you are eligible to attend the winter graduation ceremonies in January.
If you are due to complete your course and be awarded between 2 January and 31 July you are eligible to attend the summer graduation ceremonies in July.
Important to know:
- If you expect to receive your result before the next ceremonies take place but will not receive it until shortly after the booking deadline, please don’t wait to find out your result before booking.
- If you don’t complete your course successfully, we will refund you the full cost of any tickets purchased. However, if you wait for your result and miss the booking deadline, we might not be able to fit you into a ceremony.
- We would advise you not to book flights/hotels or commit to non-refundable costs unless you are certain that you will be eligible to attend a graduation ceremony.
If you’re studying on a Postgraduate Research course your eligibility to attend a ceremony will be determined by your date of award:
- If you receive your conferred award between 2 December and 1 June, you will be invited to attend a ceremony in July.
- If you receive your conferred award between 2 June and 1 December, you will be invited to attend a ceremony in January.
Important to know: only awarded students will be sent an invite to a ceremony, so invitations will only arrive after your award is conferred. If your award conferral date is on either 1 June or 1 December, you will receive your invitation close to the closing date of the booking period. We advise you to find out when your award is likely to be conferred and to get in touch with us through our contact form if you believe your invitation has not been sent as scheduled.
King’s Digital students and Distance Learners
If you are a student studying on a King’s Digital programme or are a Distance Learner, your eligibility to attend a ceremony will be determined by your date of award:
- If you are/were awarded between 2 May and 1 November, you will be invited to attend a ceremony in January.
- If you are/were awarded between 2 November and 1 May, you will be invited to attend a ceremony in July.
Important to know: Only awarded students will be sent invites to a ceremony and you should not attempt to book if you are not awarded.
I’m studying on a 4-year master’s programme but decided to graduate with a bachelor’s qualification after my third year
If you have taken the decision to exit a 4-year course after your third year of study, you will need to first speak to your department confirm your decision.
Important to know:
- You should speak to your department and confirm your decision as early as possible to ensure you are invited to a graduation ceremony.
- Whether you are invited to the July or January graduation ceremony will depend on the date by which your department are made aware of your intention to graduate with a Bachelors.
Ngee Ann Academy students
If you are studying at the Ngee Ann Academy, your first opportunity to attend a graduation event will be in November in Singapore.
If you'd prefer to attend a graduation ceremony in London in the future, then you can contact the graduation team at ss-et-enquiries@kcl.ac.uk to make the arrangements.
Important to know:
- You will only become eligible to attend a London ceremony once you have received your invite for your November Singapore ceremony.
- You can choose to attend either the celebration in Singapore, a ceremony in London or to attend both events.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) students
Courses at RADA are accredited by King’s College London. If you are a RADA student, you should follow the same process as any King’s College London student.
See the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students section for more information.
If you are undertaking your MD as a registered King's student you are welcome to attend the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine graduation ceremonies in the winter or the summer.
Important to know:
- In order to attend the winter graduation ceremonies, you must be awarded your final degree by 1 December.
- In order to attend the summer graduation ceremonies, you must be awarded your final degree by 1 June.
University of London MD graduates
If you are an MD graduate from the University of London with links to King’s you are welcome to attend the School of Medicine winter graduation ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall.
Important to know:
- There will be an administration fee of £10 when you book your place.
- As space is limited at Southwark Cathedral priority for these places is given to students registered at the university. The Southwark ceremonies are not therefore available to external MD students.
When will I receive my invitation?
- Invitations will be sent in mid-April for July ceremonies.
- Invitations will be sent in mid-November for January ceremonies.
If you have not received anything from us in the relevant period for your ceremony, please get in touch with the graduation team through their contact form.
What if I owe a debt to the university?
Certain types of debt mean that your results will not be seen at the relevant examination board and you will not receive an award. If you have an outstanding debt to the university this could therefore mean that you may not be able to attend the ceremonies.
If you wish to attend one of the ceremonies, we advise that you clear any debt you have to the university no later than 10 days before your Examination Board. If you don’t clear your debt on time, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that you will be permitted to attend a ceremony, and your place may be cancelled.
From October 2023, students whose graduation was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are no longer eligible to attend a graduation ceremony. This is to ensure there is sufficient space for current graduating students.
