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Winter Congregation
A student holding the hood of a graduation gown with flurries of snow

How to Register

Two graduands in robes outside Durham Cathedral

All graduands must complete the registration process for Congregation and confirm delivery for their degree certificate.

Registration will open on Monday 20 October 2025 and close on Wednesday 17 December 2025. All eligible graduands will receive an email before the opening date with full instructions.

Graduands who do not register by this time will not be able to attend the ceremony.

For further information on how we use the personal data collected as part of the registration process, please read our Privacy Notice.

 

Registration System

To access the registration system between the above dates, graduands should log into Banner Self Service (via Single Sign On) then select Congregation and Parchment. Please ensure you complete ALL sections until you reach the final confirmation page.

Please note, you will need to set up Multi Factor Authentication to access Single Sign On. Full instructions are available at My Digital Durham (internal only).

Graduands on Distance Learning and Global Learning Centre programmes need to click on the Student Record System tab to view Banner Self Service.

If you cannot access Banner Self Service try following the Password Problems section on the Help screen or contact the IT Service Desk in the first instance.

If you continue to experience issues, please email the Ceremonies Team after registration has opened, and we can register on your behalf. Do not wait until the deadline date to try accessing the registration system as we may not be able to assist you at this late stage.

The Congregation and Parchment registration system enables students to:

  • Confirm address and contact details for the delivery of their degree certificate
  • State whether or not they wish to attend the Congregation ceremony
  • If attending the ceremony, request guest tickets, order robes and photographs
  • Advise of any special arrangements (if required) for the student or guests
  • Confirm the thesis title (Doctoral students only) which is printed on degree certificates

Graduands who fail to register by the deadline will be unable to attend a future Congregation.

You should register before your results are published. Graduands who fail to register by the deadline will graduate in absentia and will be unable to attend a future Congregation.

Graduands can return to the registration system to check or amend details at any time before the registration deadline. Any details previously input will be displayed, including the number of tickets allocated. Graduands are advised to only amend details they wish to change. 

If you have any problems accessing the registration system contact the IT Service Desk in the first instance or the Ceremonies Team.

Graduands are strongly advised not to make any non-refundable travel arrangements for themselves and their guests until they have registered to attend and requested their guest tickets.

 

Attendance Criteria

Results must be published by 17 December 2025 in order to attend Winter Congregation 2026. Postgraduate Research students must submit the final electronic thesis by Friday 28 November 2025 for the results to be published by this deadline.

No degree or other qualification shall normally be conferred upon a student while he/she has a significant tuition fee debt owing to the University, in line with the University General Regulation IX B.

Only graduands awarded the following are eligible to attend Congregation:

  • Bachelor
  • Undergraduate Master
  • Postgraduate Certificate
  • Postgraduate Diploma
  • Postgraduate Master
  • Doctorate

Graduands awarded any other qualification e.g. Undergraduate Certificate, Undergraduate Diploma or Graduate Diploma, are not eligible to attend a ceremony.

 

Deferrals

Graduands should attend the first ceremony they are invited to and are eligible to attend. Graduands are allocated a ceremony based on their department and are unable to attend an alternative day in the same congregation, except in certain circumstances. This is at the discretion of the Ceremonies Team and requests should be made by contacting the Ceremonies Team via email directly.

Deferral to another set of ceremonies (e.g. Winter to Summer) is reserved for exceptional circumstances only and is at the discretion of the Ceremonies Team. Deferral requests should be made during the relevant registration period. Requests after the registration deadline will not be considered.

Deferral (if granted) is to the next available ceremony as dictated by the Ceremonies Team.

 

Preferred Names

At Durham University, we are committed to providing a supportive environment for all graduands attending our ceremonies.

We recognise and respect graduand's gender identity by allowing them to use their preferred name during ceremonies, even if it doesn't match their legal name. Graduands may request for their preferred name to be read out at the ceremony by contacting the Ceremonies Team by 17 December 2025.

We will be unable to accept any requests after this date as the scripts will be printed.

Please note degree certificates will still contain full legal names.

 

Name Pronunciation

Name pronunciation requests should be directed to the Faculty Offices as per instructions HERE.