Graduations are the highlight of the Imperial year, where we can all come together to celebrate the achievements of our graduating students.
Graduation Days 2026 will be held on Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 June, and is for our most recent postgraduate students and graduands with an approved deferral.
There are three main ways staff can be involved in the days, and celebrate with their graduands, so please do read the below, and choose the best options for you.
- Attending the ceremony
- Attending the Faculty Reception
- Volunteering on the day
Attending the ceremony
Details of how to attend the ceremony and take part in the academic procession are circulated by each faculty and/or department ahead of time, usually by the Heads of Department.
To attend the ceremony and participate in the staff procession, please order your gown or confirm with the Graduation Events team that you have your own gown by 12:00 on Wednesday 6 May. Please note that there are a limited number of spaces available, and we operate a first-come, first-served approach. The booking system will close early if the procession fills up before this date.
If this is your first graduation ceremony at Imperial as a member of staff, please let the team know at staffgraduation@imperial.ac.uk and they will set you up with an Ede & Ravenscroft account, to order your academic dress and register your attendance.
Attending the reception
All staff who register to attend the graduation ceremony as part of the procession will automatically get access to the Faculty Reception after their ceremony
If you wish to attend the reception only, you will need to fill out the Faculty Receptions - Staff reception form to confirm your attendance and receive your e-pass.
This form will be available from Wednesday 4 March – Friday 22 May. Please check back during that time to book your place.
Volunteering on the day
There are a variety of volunteer roles available on Graduation Days 2026, and each is vital to creating a positive experience for graduands. Roles include:
- Guiding graduands and guests throughout our South Kensington Campus.
- Heading up our information desks.
- Supporting graduand queries at Door 6 of the Royal Albert Hall.
- Stewarding inside the Royal Albert Hall.
Even if you are planning to attend a ceremony or Faculty Reception, please do consider volunteering at another time of day, as we need plenty of volunteers to help the events run smoothly. Prior to the event you will be provided with a detailed briefing pack and volunteer guide. All volunteers will be fully supported before and during their shift.
This form will be available from March 2026. Please check back during that time to book your place.
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Jessica Leung at graduationvolunteers@imperial.ac.uk