On The Day Guide

Train

Derby Station is located just a short walk away from the venue. Trains to Derby run direct from:

• Sheffield
• Nottingham
• Leicester
• Birmingham New Street
• London St Pancras

Buses

The Arriva bus services: Park and Ride, 4, and 4A run from the bus station and take 8 minutes to reach the stop. The stop is a 1-minute walk from the venue.

Car Parking

Car parking at the rear of the Arena is limited, as spaces are reserved for blue badge holders (accessible parking). There is car parking in front of the Arena and at Pride Park Stadium.

Should you wish to park for longer or to park closer to the city centre, more information on alternative car parking can be found on the Derby City Council website. 

More specifically:

• Bold Lane car park
• Chapel Street car park

Travelling from overseas

Manchester Airport (MAN) is 73 miles from Derby, and roughly 2 hours 30 minutes on the train. If you are driving from Manchester Airport take the A523 then A52.

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is 24 miles from Derby, and roughly 50 minutes on the train. If you are driving from East Midlands Airport, take the A50 to Brian Clough Way.

Birmingham Airport (BHX) is 47 miles from the Derby Arena and roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes on train if you are driving from Birmingham Airport, take the M42 then A42.

For more information, please see our Venue, Transport and Parking webpage.

Taxi

There is a taxi rank situated at the back of Derby Arena in the car park.

Accessible parking is available for blue badge holders, however please bear in mind we only have a limited number of these spaces. This must be requested at the time of booking your attendance and guests tickets. 

All graduates must register their attendance at the Registration Desks 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Please ensure that you arrive in plenty of time.

The registration desks for our Derby Award Ceremonies are located at Derby Arena. Graduates will enter the arena and will be directed to the inner right door, and then will be signposted to their registration desk. Guests will be separated from graduates at this time and will not need to register.

For gowns purchased with Ede & Ravenscroft, you can collect your gown from the Pride Park Stadium in the Pedigree Suite , your gown can only be collected on the day of your ceremony.  

Please see the schedule on our Derby Award Ceremonies webpage for timings to collect your gown. Please remember to bring confirmation of your order with you on the day to assist staff in finding your gown order.  

Gowns hired through Ede & Ravenscroft gowns can be returned after your ceremony. Gowns should be returned to the crates stationed outside Pride Park Stadium.

For photography purchased through Ede & Ravenscroft, photographers will be located at Pride Park Stadium in the Pedigree Suite. Photography is available until the time indicated on our Derby Award Ceremonies schedule. 

You’ll receive a final ticket order confirmation email with your tickets attached a few days before your ceremony.

If additional guest tickets are available, this will be confirmed by email in advance of the ceremony. Any additional tickets will be sold on a first come, first‑served basis and will be available to purchase only once the box office for the relevant ceremony opens, and not before. The box office for your ceremony will ordinarily open 2 hours before your ceremony is due to start. You can find this time on your ceremony schedule on our website. We recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment.  

To purchase an additional guest ticket, the graduate must be present with their guest so that we can confirm the invitation has been issued by the graduate. If the graduate is unable to be present, the guest may instead provide confirmation via a live video call with the graduate, or by showing the graduation invitation email and the graduate’s acceptance, visible at the point of purchase. This process is in place to support security and ensure that all guests attending have been invited by the graduate. 

Additional guest ticket purchases can only be made by card or contactless, we are unable to accept cash payments. 

The ceremony begins and ends with processions of the Executive, Council, civic dignitaries and academic staff. As well as the presentation of the graduates, it includes addresses from the Chancellor or Chair of Council and Vice-Chancellor and the presentation of an honorary degree. If you are able to, please stand when the procession enters.

Ushers (in maroon gowns) in the arena will indicate when it's your turn to be presented and will direct you through each step, When your name is read out, please cross the stage slowly and be ready to shake hands with the Chancellor of the University or Chair of Council.

So everyone can enjoy the event, please remain seated for the whole ceremony once it has started, at the end of the ceremony, please stand until the stage party and University special guests have left the arena

The length of each Award Ceremony varies. You can find a schedule with timings through our Derby Award Ceremonies webpages. Select your ceremony to view the schedule. 

You will be asked to remain seated for the duration of your ceremony.  

When you (the graduate) register at your Award Ceremony, you will be informed of your allocated seat. It is important that you remain in this seat for the duration of your ceremony, so you are in the right place when your name is called to cross the stage. You will be allocated your seat in order by your cohort/course and in alphabetical order.  

Guest seating is unreserved, meaning that guests can sit in any available seat in the designated guest seating area. Children must be seated with an adult guest and cannot be seated with the graduate. Children are not permitted to cross the stage with the graduate. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

If you are unsure where to sit during the ceremony, please find one of our helpful members of staff in a maroon gown – they will be able to show you where to sit.

A cloakroom is available on the day of the ceremonies inside the Derby Arena in the back area  – there is a charge of £1 per item. There will be space for small items under your chair. After you (the graduate) cross the stage, you will return to your original seat.

You can visit the Grad Lounge after your ceremony at Pride Park Stadium where a complimentary drink (for the graduate) and activities will be available. 

If you have not already received your certificate prior to your ceremony, it will be presented to you in a presentation folder during the ceremony as you cross the stage.

If you arrive late, we advise you to report to the Registration Desks immediately to register your arrival. Whether you are still able to attend your allocated ceremony is dependent on the remaining duration of the ceremony.

In some circumstances, we can change the ceremony listing so that you cross the stage at the end of the ceremony. This means that you will not sit with or cross the stage with your course members/cohort. Do not worry – your full name and award title will be read out as you cross the stage.  

In other circumstances where the ceremony is coming to a close, you will be unable to cross the stage at this ceremony.