Have you heard the news? Graduation is on for both 2020 and 2021 graduates!
Like every other university in the country, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) had no option but to postpone their 2020 summer and winter graduation ceremonies due to the pandemic.
However, they are well aware of just how frustrating it was for graduates after working so hard – attending lectures online from their student accommodation in Liverpool or at home – and are planning to celebrate the class of 2020 this summer.
When will LJMU students graduate?
Ceremonies are due to commence from the 5th of July at the Cathedral. There will be 33 in total.
The summer ceremonies for the class of 2021 are due to take place from the 12th of July whereas the ceremonies for those who should have graduated at the beginning of the year will now be held in January 2022.
LJMU want to assure you that the ceremony itself will be conducted safely. Inside the Cathedral, there will be additional spacing, face masks must be worn at all times indoors, and everyone entering must present a negative COVID test.
With less than a month to go, there is a lot to do to prepare for the big day. That’s why we thought we’d offer a few useful tips to help you graduate in style.
Preparing for graduation
- Make sure you’ve had your invite
Graduating students should have been contacted directly through the alumni platform – LJMU Connect – or via email in the week commencing the 10th of May 2021.
If you’ve received your personal invitation and wish to attend graduation in July, you must register. And if you haven’t heard from the university but are a 2020 or 2021 graduate, either use the link to register your intentions or contact the uni.
- Order your cap and gown
When you think about graduation, you probably picture happy students wearing gowns and tossing their caps into the air, right? Well, if you’re planning to do the same, you should have already ordered yours from LJMU’s official suppliers, Ede & Ravenscroft when you registered your attendance.
If you have any queries regarding cap and gown hire, liaise with Ede & Ravenscroft directly.
- Invite friends and relatives
This year, due to the restrictions currently in place, students will be allocated two guest tickets only. There will be no additional tickets for any of the ceremonies.
But you needn’t worry about anyone missing out. For friends and family who don’t have tickets but want to watch you graduate, they can do so via a live stream online.
- Pick an outfit
Graduation is definitely worth dressing up for! You’ll be walking across a stage in front of fellow graduates and their guests to be greeted by the Vice-Chancellor and Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor. There’ll be plenty of photo opportunities too so it’s only right that you’re looking your best.
Girls usually opt for a nice dress and a pair of heels that they can walk in, whereas the boys wear a suit or smart pants and a shirt – but you should wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
- Plan your celebration
Whether it be a celebratory meal with your family at your favourite restaurant or a party with the friends you made on your course or at your student accommodation in Liverpool, there are loads of ways you can celebrate your graduation.
But remember to plan ahead to avoid disappointment as, the chances are, graduates not just from LJMU will be planning their celebrations around the same time as you.
And one last thing. ENJOY IT!
Graduation is an important yet exciting day for all students. If you were supposed to graduate in 2020 or at the start of 2021, you probably thought that the day would never come after ceremonies were postponed and with so much uncertainty around whether they’d ever go ahead. But July is the month to celebrate you and your greatest achievements as you embark on your next chapter.
