Graduation 2024

Graduation 2024

This year's Graduation will take place on Friday 27 September 2024 at Ayr Racecourse

There will be a morning ceremony and an afternoon ceremony and curriculum areas will be split as follows:

Morning - 10.30am

• Early Years
• Health and Social Care
• Sports and Fitness

Afternoon - 2.30pm

• Aeronautical
• Art, Design and Media
• Business, Computing and Travel and Tourism
• Construction Technology, Trades and Renewables
• Engineering and Science
• Hairdressing, Beauty, Complementary Therapies and Make-up Artistry
• Humanities
• Music, Sound Production and Performing Arts

Invitations are being issued from Wednesday 31 July.

The online booking system is now live. Please read the information below which will help you navigate the system and answer any questions you may have.

Action Short of Strike

Since February 2024, some of our teaching staff have been operating ‘Action Short of Strike’ (ASOS) as part of an ongoing campaign of industrial action, called by the EIS. This means that although lecturers will have marked student work, some lecturers may not have disclosed or processed results into college systems. It is important to note that this is a national dispute that is affecting all colleges in Scotland. There is no information, at the moment, about when this dispute will reach a satisfactory conclusion.  

Determining Graduation eligibility has been difficult because of the above. If you have received your SQA certificate, then you have not been affected and can book your place at Graduation.  

We apologise if you have not yet received your certificate, however, if you know that you have successfully completed your qualification you can still book your place. Please do not book to attend if you know that you have not successfully completed your qualification. 

If you are unsure about the status of your qualification, please get in touch with your curriculum area who will advise. Curriculum staff return on 12 August.

At the Racecourse - Friday 27 September 

Ceremony one - 10.30am

• Registration and gown collection in the Ayrshire Suite – 9.10am
• Registration closes - 10.10am
• Gowned and seated by 10.20am
• Refreshments and photographs - 12.00pm (approx)
• Vacate Princess Royal Suite by 1.30pm

Ceremony two - 2.30pm

• Registration and gown collection in the Ayrshire Suite – 1.30pm
• Registration closes – 2.10pm
• Gowned and seated by 2.20pm
• Refreshments and photographs – 3.50pm (approx)
• Vacate Princess Royal Suite by 5.00pm

Registration

All graduands must register in the Ayrshire Suite on arrival at the Racecourse. Please do not enter via the front door, you should make your way to the entrance at the right side of the Racecourse, which will bring you to the lower level.

Parking

There is plenty of parking at the Racecourse. If the car park at the front is full there are additional spaces between the Racecourse and Tesco.

Gowns

You should collect your gown directly after you have registered. You may require two safety pins to secure your gown.

You are responsible for ensuring that your gown and hood are returned to Ede an Ravenscroft after the ceremony. There will be a drop off area upstairs in the Princess Royal Suite.

Photography

The first people to arrive may have time to have their official photograph taken before the ceremony in the Ayrshire Suite. Ede and Ravenscroft will close this studio early to allow people to be seated for the ceremony. Those who do not have time to be photographed before the ceremony will have theirs taken afterwards, upstairs in the Princess Royal Suite. 

Tickets

Guests should present printed or electronic tickets to a member of staff on arrival.

Personal belongings

Please do not bring personal belongings to your seat. We suggest leaving them with your guests, as you may not return to the same seat after receiving your award. Unfortunately there is no cloakroom.

The ceremony

After you have collected your gown you should make your way to the seat number allocated to you. Staff will be there to direct you.

Graduands and guests will not be seated together.

Graduands are seated in the same order as the programme. It is therefore very important that you do not change seats as this could result in disruption of the ceremony and graduates receiving the wrong certificate.

During the ceremony staff will ask you to leave your seat and form a queue. When your name is announced, walk onto the stage, shake hands with the person presenting your certificate and stop to have a photograph taken. You should then leave by the stairs on the opposite side of the stage.

You'll be able to purchase your presentation photograph from Ede and Ravenscroft after the event.

Anyone requiring support to access the stage should have made this clear at the time of booking and made appropriate arrangements with the Events Team.

After you receive your award

College staff will direct you to a seat, where you should stay until the ceremony has finished. As mentioned, the seat you are allocated after the presentation of your award may not be the same one you had initially, so please do not leave any personal belongings.

Making a Difference in the Community, Outstanding Achievement and Student of the Year award winners will be allocated a second seat to allow them to easily access the stage to receive their additional award. Details will be given to the recipients at registration.

Certificates

In the unlikely event that you receive an incorrect certificate, please accept the certificate presented to you and leave the stage as detailed above. At the end of the ceremony please notify a member of college staff.

After the ceremony / Refreshments

When the ceremony finishes the piper will start piping and everyone will be directed upstairs to the Princess Royal Suite, where graduates can reunite with guests and have photographs taken. Cakes and juice will be provided but the bar will be closed and no alcohol will be served. Please note there will be no refreshments available before the ceremony.