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Graduation

Gowning and photography

Gowns are internationally recognised as a part of higher education ceremonies. The historical, distinctive tradition of wearing one highlights the unique importance of the occasion, and Queen Mary robes have a specific design.

Academic dress is a compulsory part of graduation. Your academic cap and gown will be available to hire when you complete your booking. Graduation ceremonies are formal occasions and we ask that graduands and their guests dress appropriately. Jeans and trainers are not appropriate.

See what our graduands wore at previous ceremonies on our Instagram and Flickr pages.  

Queen Mary graduate or University of London graduate?  

If you are not sure of your awarding body please log into your MySIS Account and click on the Research Student Details link (postgraduate research) or View My Details - non-research (all other students) under the My Details menu. Your awarding body will be displayed on this page. 

Gown hire

Academic dress is compulsory for this event. You must wear the correct academic dress in order to graduate at a ceremony.


Students can hire their gown and book graduation tickets online at www.marstonevents.co.uk/QMUL. Gowns booked through this link are supplied by Marston Events. Marston Events is Queen Mary’s graduation partner and supplies ticketing, photography and official dress.

You will need the following information to complete your booking online: 

  • Details of which ceremony you have been invited to (date and time) 
  • Your student ID number 
  • Level of Award (eg, LLM, MSc, MA, PhD, etc) 
  • Your height (either in cm or feet/inches) from head to toe 
  • Chest measurement (either in cm or inches) 
  • Approximate hat size (eg, Small, Medium or Large - you will have a choice of hat sizes on the day to ensure a good fit) 
  • Whether you are graduating as a Queen Mary student or as a University of London student (please see below if you need to find out which you are graduating with) 

You will receive a confirmation email from the booking system once you have completed your order. If you pay by card, you will also receive a confirmation of your card payment directly from the card processor.  

For any enquiries you can use the Live Chat facility on the Marston Events  website or email at info@yourgraduation.co.uk 

You can also telephone Marston Robing on 01293 822 211 during working hours. 

If you were a late booker and have not yet arranged your gown or photography, the gowning company are aware of your intentions but a gown will not be held under your name. You are advised to go to the gowning area when you arrive and hire a gown on the day of your ceremony. You can purchase photographs on the day of the event. 

Photography and souvenirs

You can choose your photography package on the day, but if you book in advance you will benefit from: 

- An easier booking process 

- A wider choice of cheaper photography packages 

- One less thing to worry about on your graduation day! 

- Pre-book when you order your gown and tickets online, and up until the week before ceremonies.  

To find out more about photography packages, please visit Marston Events at www.marstonevents.com or contact them via email at enquiries@marstonevents.com or phone 01293 822 211.  

Souvenirs 

We’ve teamed up with the brilliant Campus Clothing to provide an exclusive range of branded Official Graduation Clothing & Gifts, including personalised hoodies and t-shirts, graduation bears, mugs, and pin badges.  

Visit the friendly Campus Clothing stall at your graduation ceremony, where a selection of graduation merchandise will be available to purchase and take away. All stock will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also place orders for items that you would like personalised at the event. 

Alternatively, browse the full range of Graduation Clothing & Gifts here and order personalised graduation merchandise online for home delivery. 

You can also purchase merchandise from the Students' Union stand. They will be selling a range of Queen Mary merchandise

If you'd like to watch your special moment back, be sure to purchase your "Clip of Me" when you book your place at graduation. This is a short clip showing just yourself crossing the stage. 

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