Graduation

In Stoke-on-Trent Graduation ceremonies will take place from Monday 13 July to Tuesday 21 July at The Catalyst. 

The Catalyst is designed to offer a welcoming, spacious, and well-organised setting for your special day. With a carefully planned layout and dedicated staff support, you can expect a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish. The Catalyst is designed to enhance your celebration experience with its modern facilities, central location, and carefully planned event flow. We will ensure the venue feels truly special for your big day.

Yes (in most cases). However, please be aware that tickets for each ceremony are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the venue capacity is reached – meaning that some cohorts spill over into two, three or even four ceremonies.  

Initially, guest tickets are capped at two per Graduate. However, additional tickets will be released IF ceremony capacity allows.

Absolutely! The ceremony will be streamed live, making it accessible from anywhere in the world - so your loved ones can join in the celebration even if they cannot attend in person.

Despite inflationary pressures, we have frozen guest ticket prices to ensure the event remains affordable. The cost of guest tickets reflects the overall quality and logistics of the event, not just the venue. 

We’re proud to provide a range of complimentary elements to help you and your guests enjoy the day to the fullest. This includes free parking, a complimentary video clip of you crossing the stage (you just need to register in advance to receive it), live recordings and streaming of the ceremony, plenty of photo opportunities around the venue, a welcoming atmosphere and refreshments to enjoy throughout the day. If you’d like to make the day extra special, there will also be opportunities to pay for professional photographs, pick up University merchandise or souvenirs, buy flowers and enjoy more food and drink from additional bar and catering stands.

We want your graduation to be memorable for all the right reasons – and we’ve worked hard to ensure it’s as affordable as possible.

Yes – of course! The iconic mortar board toss will take place in a dedicated outside space (weather permitting) choreographed by our photographer and marshals, so that everyone can take part together, capture the moment, and create a stunning photo opportunity with your graduating class.

We encourage all graduates to wear academic dress to the Awards Ceremony. This comprises a gown, hood, and mortarboard or bonnet. Awards Ceremonies are formal occasions, and we encourage graduates and guests to wear smart or formal attire. We also recommend checking the weather forecast to ensure your own clothes are suitable for the conditions. If you would like to book a ticket without arranging academic dress, please email: service@graduationattire.co.uk