A practical guide to Graduation 2022

QEII Conference Centre SW1P 3EE
(registration, gowning and photography)

Central Hall Westminster SW1H 9NH
(ceremony and celebration reception)

Emergency contact on the day: 07808 315302

Graduation is the most important day in the RVC calendar. There is a lot for graduands, graduates and guests to do in a short space of time, and this year we are using two venues (very close to each other), so please read this guide carefully in advance and ensure you are familiar with timings and locations.

This guide has been created to help you plan ahead, so you can relax and celebrate this momentous day.

Venue Locations

The QE II Conference Centre is less than a 1 minute walk from Central Hall, Westminster

• Registration, gowning and photography – QEII Conference Centre
• Ceremony and reception – Central Hall

On the Day

Each graduand/graduate and guests must be in possession of a wristband to gain access to the ceremony and reception at the Central Hall venue.

Upon entry to the QEII conference centre head to the Registration desks. Here you will be issued with wristbands for you and your guests. These will enable your access to Central Hall.

Key Information

• Due to the number of ceremonies taking place across the two days, we are using two venues – the QEII Conference Centre for registration, gowning and photography and Central Hall for the ceremonies and receptions.
• Your support in keeping to timings and being in the correct location is vital to the success of the days. The celebration receptions must end at the designated times due to the tight turnaround times of the ceremonies.
• Please familiarise yourself with the locations and timings of all elements of your ceremony.
• Whilst we will work to keep queuing to a minimum, please be prepared to wait at some points due to the close timings and high volume of people we look after each day. We have found, over the years, that pre-booked times for gowning and photography do not work and normally lead to disappointment and longer waiting times. These slots will not be allocated but available on a first-come-first- served basis so please do allow time for this process.
• You should have your professional pre-booked photographs taken before your ceremony at the QEII Conference Centre.
• Lifts at the venues are only for those with access and mobility requirements, so please use the stairs throughout the event if you are able to.
• If guests or graduands/graduates have access and mobility requirements, or small babies and young children, it is essential that you provide details of this when booking tickets so appropriate seating can be allocated. Note that children over 2 years of age will require their own ticket.
• Graduates will need to drop gowns off at the QEII conference centre on departure. Look out for the designated drop off point which will be signposted and located behind the RCV4Life registration desk.
• The café in the basement of Central Hall will be open until 3.00pm for you to purchase refreshments. Self-serve water coolers are distributed throughout the building and drinks will be provided at each celebration reception.
• Toilets are located on every level of Central Hall. 
• First Aid will be available – ask any member of RVC staff (wearing a purple sash) for directions.

Travel

• Please allow plenty of time for travelling to the venue. Whilst efforts will be made to help late arrivals access the ceremony, this may not be possible.
• Public transport is the best way to get to Graduation. There is no parking at the venues and central London driving can be subject to long delays.
• ‘Transport for London’ is a useful resource to help plan your journey www.tfl.gov.uk

Arrival, Registration, Gowning and Photography

• On arrival, graduands and graduates should head straight to the QEII Conference Centre venue for registration on the ground floor.
• Graduands and graduates will need to collect wristbands at registration before proceeding to gowning and photography. Please give your guests their wristbands and they may then either wait outside the venue if you do not have photography booked, near the photography studios for you or go straight to Central Hall and wait in the café or Aldersgate Room in the basement.
• Once registered, go to the Pickwick Room on the first floor of QEII to collect your gown.
• If you have photography booked, then go to the Churchill Suite on the ground floor of QEII to have your photos taken.
• Guests, graduates and graduands may leave items in the cloakroom at QEII which is past the registration desk to the left of the Churchill Suite on the ground floor.
• When you have had your photograph taken, head to Central Hall and wait in the café or Aldersgate Room with your guests or on the lawns outside the venue.
• If you have guests with you who are not attending the ceremony and reception they are welcome to wait on the lawns of the QEII Centre – you will need to ask for a LAWN PASS wristband when registering or alternatively they can wait in the café at the QEII.

The Ceremony

• Guest seating will approximately 45 minutes before the ceremony commences. This will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Accessible seating is on Level 3 all other seating is Level 4. (For Ceremony three only - all guest seating will be on Level 3).
• Prior to the ceremony commencing, announcements (ringing of a bell) will be made to let graduands, graduates and guests know when to leave the waiting areas and proceed to seating.
• Graduands, when called, will need to go to level 3 where you will be shown to allocated (named) seats by our marshals.
• Some graduands/graduates will be given specific instructions on where to walk when they go to the stage but will be guided by marshals. Everyone else simply follows the person in front. Please take your time walking, particularly up the stairs as you make your way to the stage.
• You can also share your celebrations with friends and family using the link below.

During the Ceremony

• As a rough guide the ceremony will last around an hour to an hour and a half.
• As the Principal and Ceremonial Staff enter the room everyone who can, should stand.
• Take your seat when the Principal does and remain seated until instructed.
• The Chairman will open the ceremony.
• Honorary Degrees and Fellowships are conferred (if being awarded)
• The presentation of graduands/graduates (that’s you). You should walk onto the stage with your hood in your hand, and when instructed stand before the Principal to receive your hood and shake hands. You will be guided by marshals in purple gowns. If you have hired a hat please leave this under your seat. The Principal will also present any prizes
• Graduates in Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Medicine may also shake hands with the representative from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• During the morning ceremonies, Nursing graduands and Veterinary Medicine graduands will then be admitted to the RCVS by standing and when called upon making the declaration:

• Staff prizes will be awarded.
• The Principal will give an address.
• The ceremony will close and the ceremonial staff will leave the hall.

After the Ceremony

• At the end of the ceremony, the Ceremonial Procession goes straight to the celebration reception. Guests and graduates follow the procession down the stairs. Anyone with access and mobility requirements will be shown the lifts to the celebration reception.
• Receptions will last for one hour.
• All gowns must be returned before you leave to the QEII Conference Centre gowning collection area.
• Exits at Central Hall will be different to the point of entry. Please follow the instructions and directions from staff on the day.
• Please collect all personal items from the cloakroom in the QEII Conference Centre before departure. Please bear in mind there may be queues if left too late as the next ceremony’s guests will be arriving.
• The lawns outside the QEII conference centre are available as a social space (but no drinks to be taken from there from the reception or elsewhere please). It’s a perfect place for informal photographs or meeting friends/guests.

Guidance on Graduand/Graduate Dress Code

• Gowns are obligatory and must be hired or purchased via our approved supplier when booking.
• Graduation is a formal ceremony and as such we require guests and graduands/graduates to dress accordingly. Suits/jackets, shirts and ties or dresses, skirts or similar should be worn. No casual wear or denim please. There will be a number of stairs to negotiate and lots of walking, so please wear comfortable footwear.

Food and Drink

• Alcohol, soft drinks and nibbles will be provided at the celebration receptions. If you have any specific allergens please speak to a member of the catering team at Central Hall to ask any questions.

Health and Safety

• We are not expecting a fire alarm. If you hear a continuous, electronic, very loud ringing, it is the fire alarm and you will need to leave through the nearest exit to the lawn outside the QEII complex. Please do not use lifts and please leave belongings in the building. We will follow the procedures set by the venue.
• The RVC Graduation bell sounds like a school playground bell and is very different to the fire evacuation sound.
• If you require first aid please ask a member of RVC staff (wearing purple sashes) or venue staff.
• The venues are both public, but if you do see anyone acting suspiciously, please inform security immediately as you would in normal circumstances.

Information Point

• There will be information desks just inside the main entrance both venues with RVC staff available to answer any questions you may have about Graduation on the day.

RVC4Life

You are and always will be a member of the RVC alumni community. Please remember to register for RVC4Life online before Graduation day (the link will be sent to you by email over the next week). You will receive news and information from the RVC, be invited along to class reunions, receive an annual magazine, keep your RVC email address for life and much more!