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Congregation
Graduates smiling while sat in the Cathedral during Congregation

Winter Congregation

Congratulations - it's time to celebrate everything you've achieved during your time at Durham!

Ceremonies will be held in Durham Cathedral between Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 and can be live streamed below.
Watch the ceremonies live
Graduating student smiling with family

Key Notes

  • The 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 Congregation Fair activities for graduands and guests to enjoy before and after the ceremony will be located in the Teaching and Learning Centre, approximately a 15 - 20 minute walk from the Cathedral. 
  • Students are required to arrive 2.5 hours before the ceremony commences.
  • Ceremonies last approximately an hour.
  • International students may obtain a letter to support a visa application for attending Congregation for themselves or their guests.
  • Students and guests are advised that photographs will be taken at this event which may be used in future University publicity and ceremonies are filmed.
  • For Winter Congregation 2025, each student attending is guaranteed up to 2 tickets. This is to ensure the maximum safe capacity in the Cathedral is not exceeded.
  • Guest tickets for the ceremony are free of charge.
  • 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.
  • Degree certificates are not issued at the ceremony and will be posted to graduates within 6 weeks of Congregation by Student Registry. To receive certificates within a shorter time frame, courier delivery should be requested. 
  • Students 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.

 

Important information

These pages contain information to assist students and guests in enjoying Winter Congregation 2025. The timetable shows the allocation of departments to ceremonies.

Congregation Timetable

Find out the date and time of your ceremony using the Congregation Timetable.
Graduates in robes exiting Durham Cathedral

How to Register

All graduates must complete the registration process to confirm attendance at the Congregation ceremonies.
Two graduands in robes outside Durham Cathedral

Attendance Information

The Attendance Information provides a printable version of the important details for students and guests.
Graduate in academic dress posing for a photo

Tickets

For Winter Congregation 2025, each student attending is guaranteed up to 2 tickets.
Parents embracing a graduating student

Robes

Graduands must wear graduation robes (gown and hood for the award) at Congregation.
Graduands in robes entering Durham Cathedral

Photography and Film

Professional photographers will be available throughout Congregation to take photos of graduates and guests.
Graduate and family taking a selfie at Congregation

International Students and Guests

Graduands can produce their own letter of invitation to Congregation to support an application for a visitor visa for themselves and their guests.
Graduates celebrating outside Durham Cathedral

Accessibility and Special Arrangements

Information for graduates and guests with additional needs and accessibility requirements.
Purple tabard reading

Name Pronunciation

Each graduate's name is read out in full during their ceremony - if you would like to clarify your name's pronunciation, you can contact your Faculty Office.
Graduate in robes with dog

Accommodation and Travel

Find information on getting to Congregation and how to book University accommodation here.
Durham Castle Courtyard

Congregation Fair

The Congregation Fair will be held in The Teaching and Learning Centre for graduands and guests to enjoy before and after the ceremony
Teddies dressed up in purple jumpers and graduation robes

Degree Certificates

Your degree certificate will be posted to the address provided during registration and will be dispatched within 6 weeks of the conferral.
Graduand holding degree parchment for photograph

 

 

Discover more

Information for graduands

Graduating? Congratulations! Check out our information for graduands page to find out more about what happens during your ceremony.

Graduands in gowns celebrating

Information for guests

Attending Congregation? Learn more about what happens on the day.

A graduation marshal in the Cathedral
Two graduates in robes posing outside Durham Cathedral

Welcome to new alumni

Your journey with Durham isn't over - find out how to stay connected with the Durham alumni community after Congregation and access career support, alumni events and more.

What happens next?

 

Celebrate with us on social media!

Congregation is all about celebrating everything you've achieved at Durham, so we encourage you to share your photos and videos with the Durham community on social media using #DUcongregation and #DUinspire. We'll also be sharing the best moments of Winter Congregation 2025 on the University's social channels, so make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!