Register your graduation choice
For graduation in summer 2026, you must register your graduation choice and update your personal details by Friday 1 May. Registration opens on Monday 13 April.
If you do not register your choice by 1 May, we will not be able to guarantee your attendance at graduation and there may be delays to your degree certificate.
Your graduation options
- Attend graduation in July 2026
- Attend later in the year, in December 2026
- Attend next year, in July 2027
- Don’t attend any graduation, known as in absentia
If you choose to attend in July 2026, you can select one type of ceremony:
- an in-person graduation with a ceremony on campus in the Great Hall where your award is presented
- a virtual graduation streamed live in an interactive Zoom experience
- or a relaxed graduation on campus designed to offer a smaller, low‑sensory environment.
You must register your choice using Student Services if you want to attend in December 2026 or July 2027 or if you won’t attend. You will then need to register again nearer the time of the graduation you’ve chosen.
How to register your graduation choice
Choose a ceremony type according to your needs. Please only register to attend one graduation ceremony or make your choice to defer or not attend.
Registration links will only be active during the graduation registration period: 13 April to 1 May 2026.
In-person graduation
To choose an in-person ceremony:
- Go to Student Services. We recommend using a desktop browser or access Student Services through Minerva if the page does not load for you. See instructions on what to do if you have issues accessing Student Services.
- Sign in with your username (followed by @leeds.ac.uk) and password.
- Click the ‘Registration and Student Records’ tab.
- Click on the ‘Graduation Ceremony’ link at the bottom of the page.
- Click the ceremony number.
- Enter your details and make your graduation choice.
You’ll get a confirmation email (usually within five working days).
Virtual graduation – online
For virtual graduation, complete the virtual graduation registration form.
You only need to complete the registration form once, so there’s no need to submit another choice through Student Services.
Relaxed graduation – in-person
For relaxed graduation, complete the relaxed graduation expression of interest form.
You only need to complete the expression of interest form form once, so there’s no need to submit another choice through Student Services.
Relaxed Graduation is an alternative to the other ceremonies and is subject to availability and demand. If we’re able to offer this option and you’ve expressed your interest, we’ll provide further details closer to the time. If we cannot offer this, we’ll give you alternative options, so you don’t need to register another ceremony choice in advance.
Defer or not attend
To choose not to attend any graduation or to defer your graduation choice:
- Go to Student Services. We recommend using a desktop browser or access Student Services through Minerva if the page does not load for you. See instructions on what to do if you have issues accessing Student Services.
- Sign in with your username (followed by @leeds.ac.uk) and password.
- Click the ‘Registration and Student Records’ tab.
- Click on the ‘Graduation Ceremony’ link at the bottom of the page.
- Click the ceremony date shown, even though it is not the date you wish to attend.
- After that, you’ll be able to choose either to defer your ceremony or to graduate in absentia.
You’ll get an email confirming your choice after the registration deadline has passed.
If you have issues accessing Student Services
To access Student Services through Minerva, log into Minerva, then click on ‘Student Services’ in the ‘My Leeds’ section. This will take you to the Student Services page where you can then follow the steps detailed previously.
If you are unable to access Student Services or your University account when graduation registration opens, email the Graduation team at graduation@leeds.ac.uk including your student ID number. You’ll then be sent a link to register using an alternative method.
You must register your graduation choice before the deadline, so allow enough time if you need support.
Preparing for your ceremony and what to expect
- Check the graduation ceremony eligibility criteria that applies to your ceremony choice.
- Read more about getting tickets on the graduation tickets page.
- Learn more about booking your gown on the ordering your gown page.
- Find out what to expect on the day at an in-person ceremony.
- Check about accessibility on the graduation venue accessibility page.
- Get more information about degree certificates and when you’ll receive yours.
Contact
If you have any questions, email the Graduation team at graduation@leeds.ac.uk. Please include your student ID number in your email.