Graduation Accessibility and Support

When you book your graduation tickets, you will be given the option to list any accessibility requirements you or your guests may have. We will contact you if we require more information to put accommodations in place. 

If you need to make alterations or additions to the accessibility requirements on your booking, please contact us via the number or email address at the bottom of this page. Please quote your student ID number so we can locate your ceremony booking and make the required changes. 

Hearing impairments

The Bridgewater Hall, where the ceremonies take place, is fitted with an infrared hearing system with multiple types of receivers available. If you are a graduating student and require the use of a receiver, please let us know in advance so we can ensure you are seated in an area covered by the receiver. Guest seating will be unallocated, and venue staff will be able to assist with choosing appropriate seats on the day. 

Venue staff will be on hand on the day to assist with queries and issue receivers if required. Please note that not all seats are covered by the hearing system – for more information, please visit Bridgewater Hall’s dedicated Accessibility page. 

British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is available upon request. If you are a graduating student and need a BSL interpreter at your ceremony, please add this to your accessibility requirement notes when you register or get in touch as soon as possible.  

Please note this is for graduates only, and we are unable to provide interpreters for guests.  

Sight impairments

If you are a graduating student with impaired vision and require a seat closer to the front of the auditorium, and/or require an assistance dog at your ceremony, please add this to your accessibility requirement notes when you register. Contact us as soon as possible if this has not been included in your original ceremony booking. 

Mobility aids

If you use a wheelchair, have mobility difficulties, or need a seat on an aisle for any other reason, please add this to your accessibility requirement notes when you register. Contact us as soon as possible if this has not been included in your original ceremony booking.  

If your guests have access requirements, the venue staff at Bridgewater Hall will be available on the day to assist. Prior arrangements do not need to be made. Guest tickets are unallocated, so guests can sit in a location that suits them and the venue staff will be able to help guests locate appropriate seats. 

Companions and carers

We understand that some students and guests may need the additional support of a companion or carer to attend. Tickets for essential companions/carers can be arranged on request at the discretion of the graduation team—please contact us for more information. 

Where possible, we encourage students to use one of their free guaranteed guest tickets for their essential companion.

Please note that if the need for an essential companion was not noted on your booking or communicated with us before 24 May 2024, it may not be possible to honour your request.

For a guideline of what to expect on the day, including where to go and when, please see the main On the Day page. 

If you’d like to see what the structure of the ceremony can look like, including what to do when you cross the stage, you can find recordings of past ceremonies on our Graduation Video Archive page. 

Graduation staff, wearing blue robes, and student ambassadors, wearing yellow t-shirts, will be available throughout the day to assist with any questions. We will help you line up in the correct order for crossing the stage and explain what to do when you walk across. There will also be Bridgewater Hall staff on all levels to assist. 

Disabled parking

Midland Hotel (registration, robing, and photography venue)

There are seven council operated accessible parking bays opposite the hotel on Peter Street. These are free for Blue Badge Holders with no time limit and subject to availability.

Bridgewater Hall (ceremony venue)

Please find information about disabled parking at the Bridgewater Hall on their website.  

Accessible entrances and building layouts

All areas, including photography and robing rooms, and the ceremony venue, have options for step-free access. If you need assistance on the day, please speak with a student ambassador or member of graduation staff. 

Quiet areas

Quiet areas will be available at The Midland Hotel and Bridgewater Hall for students and guests. If you require the use of one of these areas, please speak to a member of staff at either venue on the day.

If you require detailed information on the location of quiet rooms ahead of the day, please email us with the subject line ‘Quiet Rooms’ and include your student ID. Please note that due to planning limitations, we may be unable to confirm the exact locations of quiet rooms until early July, but will send you information and a marked venue map as soon as possible.