Winter graduation

Ceremony schedule for 2026

Winter graduation will take place from Wednesday 21 January until Friday 23 January 2026 in the Brighton Centre. The schedule will be available in the autumn term. 

Key dates and deadlines

• November 2025 – invites sent to personal email addresses
• TBC – deadline to confirm your place and book your tickets
• TBC – deadline to apply for a refund for unwanted guest tickets
• TBC – additional guest tickets go on sale
• TBC – deadline to book your gown and photography.

PhD students

If you’re a postgraduate research student who wants to graduate at a winter ceremony, you’ll have to do the following by these dates:

• TBC – corrections must have been submitted to the Assessment and Exams Office
• TBC – submit a final PDF copy of your thesis and the completed ETHOS Library form to the Assessment and Exams Office.

For more information, email PGR-exams@sussex.ac.uk or go to the Sussex Researcher School page about thesis examination.

Attending graduation

Read our information about attendance and eligibility if you need advice about visas, money or any fees that you owe.

Collecting your certificate

If you're attending your ceremony, you will collect your certificate on graduation day, unless you have already received it before the ceremony.

If you choose not to attend your ceremony, you can either collect your certificate from us or have it sent to you. Certificates are normally sent out after your graduation ceremony has taken place either by recorded delivery, or UPS if you have an international address.

If you have questions about receiving your certificate, contact the Student Systems and Records Office.

You might also be interested in:

• getting ready
• what to do on graduation day
• visitor information.