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Booking tickets, gown hire and photography

Tickets

Graduate Tickets

All graduation tickets can be booked along with gown hire through Ede & Ravenscroft. Your student ticket to graduate is free-of-charge, but you must book a ticket in order to attend your graduation ceremony. Your ticket includes access to your graduation ceremony, as well as the chance to attend an hour-long drinks reception which takes place after your ceremony.

Guest Tickets

Guest tickets for all ceremonies are priced at £35 per adult and £20 for children aged 3-17. Infants under the age of 3 are free but please ensure you still reserve a ticket for them. You'll initially be able to book tickets for up to two guests. Booking is by invitation only and must be completed directly by the graduating student, not by guests. Any additional guest tickets may be released nearer the time, but there is no guarantee for this as some ceremonies sell out very fast.

Gown hire

Graduation gowns can be booked along with your ticket to attend your ceremony on the Ede & Ravenscroft website. A gown costs £45 to hire for the day. You can also pre-book your photography with Ede & Ravenscroft in the same order. If you have any questions about ordering your gown, complete the Ede & Ravenscroft contact form.

Graduating students with hearing difficulties, who don't have access to a computer, can order their gown by calling the dedicated Ede & Ravenscroft number: 18001 0122386 1854.

What does your gown include?

  • Your gown will include a hood and cap and will vary slightly depending on the type of degree you've been awarded.

Collecting your gown and tickets

  • You'll need to collect your tickets and gown (if you've pre-ordered one) on the day from Stewart House, which is a five-minute walk from Russell Square tube station. Your tickets will not be posted to you. Ede & Ravenscroft staff will be on hand to help you arrange your gown so that you look your best. Once your reception has finished, you'll need to return your gown to Ede & Ravenscroft in Stewart House by 7pm.

Dress code

  • Graduation is a formal event, so we'd recommend wearing clothes which reflect the prestigious occasion. Many graduating students choose to wear business attire, smart national dress or other formal clothing under their gowns.
  • Ede & Ravenscroft recommend wearing a shirt so that the hood on the gown (which has a loop) can be hooked onto a button on your shirt to ensure it sits properly. Alternatively, you can bring hair or safety pins with you to help keep the gown and hood in place.

Photography

Our official photographers, Ede & Ravenscroft, are around on the day to help graduands and their guests capture the occasion. Pre-booking is available to beat the queues and can be ordered at same time as your graduation gown. The photography station will be located at the Stewart House building, and this is also where you'll collect your tickets and gown. 

While the aim is for graduating students and their guests to visit a photography station before the ceremony, please be aware that queues may be extensive, so you're welcome to return and have your photograph taken later in the day.

If you've further questions about your graduation photography please check the Ede & Ravenscroft website for their Photography FAQs.

Merchandise

A range of merchandise is available to celebrate your time as a Birkbeck student. Birkbeck Class of 2023 branded items will be available, from clothing to graduation mugs, to purchase both online and on the day in MacMillan Hall.