Essential guide for your award ceremony

There are plenty of hotels and guest houses in the area if you wish to stay overnight - we recommend you book well in advance. For more information take a look at the Visit Buxton website.

Each student is allocated guest tickets, allocation is provided on your invitation. You can register an interest in additional tickets when you respond to your invitation - simply ensure that you enter the number of tickets you're interested in purchasing in the box on the ticket ordering form. We strongly recommend that you don't pay for travel and accommodation for people that you have not secured tickets for. We won't admit anyone without a ticket to the ceremony.

If you've registered an interest in extra tickets you'll be contacted by email to advise you of any availability we may have once the ticket deadline has passed. 

Keep connected with the University after you graduate through your Alumni Relations team.

Register to receive our seasonal newsletter which will keep you up to date with the latest news and events at Derby. Plus you’ll receive inspiring career opportunities and information.

Our Careers and Employment Service gives recent graduates free career advice and help with interview techniques, CV writing and completion of application forms. This is available for all University of Derby graduates for up to three years after the completion of their studies.

We suggest that small children don't attend the ceremony as it's a formal occasion and they can become restless. If you're bringing a child, you'll need a guest ticket for those aged three and over. Children under three can be accommodated on an adult's knee. There are no concessionary tickets available.

We produce a programme for the day which includes the names of all the graduands.

Graduands can request that their name be withheld from these items by emailing us by the ticket deadline at graduation@derby.ac.uk.

You can contact the  Awards Ceremony team at graduation@derby.ac.uk.

If you or your guests have any special needs or disabilities we will endeavour to make arrangements to accommodate them. We can arrange on-campus car parking for blue badge holders. Please email us at graduation@derby.ac.uk to discuss any requirements you or your guests may have.

We request that you and your guests dress smartly. It is suggested that graduands wear a front buttoning blouse, shirt or jacket so the hood of the gown can be easily attached. The gowns are predominantly black and trimmed in light blue and red.

Wearing a gown is not compulsory. However, most graduates do decide to hire academic dress as they feel it adds to the sense of occasion. These items are available to hire from Ede and Ravenscroft or an alternative supplier that provides University Regulation compliant academic dress. Please ensure you have your head circumference, chest and height measurements available when you place an order. In addition, you'll need to supply them with your student number and they'll ensure you are allocated the correct gown for the level of your award.

Online orders benefit from an automatic discount applied at the point of purchase. You can hire on the day but will be charged a premium price for this.

Order your gown

The invitations are sent to your Unimail and any other active email address we have on record for you, so please make sure we have your up-to-date email address. Please check your spam folder if you've not received your invitation.

You'll receive full information about the ceremony and how to obtain tickets. Please ensure you read your invitation carefully and click on the links for additional information.

You'll need to respond to your invitation and order your tickets by the ticket deadline.

If you are unable to attend, please let us know and ensure you update your mailing address so we can post your certificate to you after the ceremonies have taken place.

Photographs can be pre-ordered from the Ede & Ravenscroft website. You can also order on the day of the ceremony. Ede & Ravenscroft photography studios will be located within the Dome. The studios are open before the ceremony commences and will open again after the ceremony has concluded. Additional people can be admitted to the Dome at the conclusion of the ceremony for the purpose of allowing group photographs to be taken.

Please note, if you have pre-ordered the photographs you need to print off your photography order card, which will have been emailed to you and bring this with you on the day.

If you have any queries please contact Ede & Ravenscroft directly at 01223 861854.

In the unlikely event that the ceremony has to be cancelled for any reason. If the ceremony is postponed, we will notify you as soon as possible of the reserved date for the ceremony.

Our press office is on the lookout for interesting news stories that involve student research and academic success. If you’d like to tell the Press Office at the University about your final year work, contact them at 01332 592032 or email pressoffice@derby.ac.uk. You could be our next media star!

Graduands need to register with us when they arrive at the Dome on the day. This process ensures that graduands names are announced when they cross the stage and they occupy their allocated seat to reflect the order of presentation.

Tea and coffee will be served when you arrive at the Devonshire Dome.

Graduands are seated separately from guests.

Graduands will be allocated a seat number and row when they register. This seat will reflect the order of presentation of graduands. Our ushers (wearing maroon gowns) will help you find your correct seat.

Guest seating is unreserved.

• Graduands tickets are free of charge. Guest tickets are allocation based and will be on your invitation. They are priced at £15.00 each
• When you make a purchase, automatic confirmation of your payment will be emailed to the email address that you have entered on the ticket order form
• Extra tickets - please note: We strongly advise against making travel arrangements for guests on the assumption that extra tickets will be available. There is no admittance to the ceremony without a ticket. Please see our Additional Ticket section at the top of this page for further information
• If you have a UK address, your tickets will be posted to you
• If you are an overseas student and have an overseas mailing address your tickets will be available for you to collect on the day at the door
• We are unable to refund purchased tickets after the ceremony has taken place

Please ensure you refer to our terms and conditions before placing an order.

Please follow our guidance on how to order your tickets.

Please see the on-the-day guide for details of the timings. You don't have to arrive when the doors of the Dome open but please allow sufficient time for your journey, registration and for collection of your gown and formal photographs.

If you arrive late, please ensure that you report to a registration desk as soon as you can.

The Award ceremonies at Buxton are held at the iconic Devonshire Dome. Please plan and allow plenty of time for your journey, Buxton can become congested at peak times. Train services will be available on the day. On-street parking is available close to the Dome or within town-centre car parks.

We can arrange on-campus parking for registered blue badge holders. Please let us know when you book your tickets if you need this facility. You can contact us by email at graduation@derby.ac.uk.

The full postal address of the Devonshire Dome is:

Devonshire Dome,
Devonshire Road,
Buxton,
SK17 6RY

From Buxton Train Station

There is a 9-minute walk from Buxton train station to the Devonshire Dome.

From the M6

Leave the M6 at Junction 18 and join the A54 (Signposted Congleton) from Congleton, take the A536 to Macclesfield and then the A537 to Buxton.

From Derby/Ashbourne

From Derby, take the A52 to Ashbourne and join the A515 following signs for Buxton.

From Manchester

Take the A6, following signs for Stockport and Buxton. Buxton is less than 25 miles from Manchester city centre

Travelling from overseas

Manchester Airport

Manchester (MAN) is 24 miles from Buxton and roughly 1 hour and 37 minutes on the train.

Derby/East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is 54 miles from Buxton and roughly 3 hours on the train.

On the day, we will be streaming the ceremony live via our website.