graduate standing in front of spade icon

Your graduation ceremony at The Bridgewater Hall

How to get to the venue, accessibility, parking and what happens at the ceremony.

About the ceremony

Graduation ceremonies take place in the auditorium of The Bridgewater Hall, an international concert venue in the heart of Manchester, which is accessible by public transport and by road.   

We ask that you arrive in good time, as we cannot delay the start of the ceremony. 

You will be considered late, if you arrive: 

  • after 9:30am for the 10:30am ceremony 
  • after 1:00pm for the 2:00pm ceremony 
  • after 4:30pm for the 5:30pm ceremony 

If you are late, you will not be able to register and will not be permitted to join your ceremony. 

If you arrive after the ceremony has started you may be asked to attend a ceremony later in the day or the next day to avoid disrupting the other graduates and guests. 

Go to The Bridgewater Hall on Google Maps

The Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall
Lower Mosley Street
Manchester
M2 3WS
United Kingdom

What happens at the ceremony?

When you are called into the auditorium, please take your seat promptly and make sure you sit in the place allocated to you. 

Please do not change seats and, when called to the platform, please do not change your position in the line-up, as graduates will be presented in a predetermined order. 

You will be seated on the ground floor of the auditorium alphabetically in department and course order. Guests sit separately in seating in the upper levels.  

The ceremony begins with the entrance of the academic procession, whose members will include the presiding officer and senior academics from your faculty. 

After the procession has entered the auditorium, welcome speeches will start and as the ceremony progresses, graduates will be called to cross the stage. A steward will ask you to stand and will direct you to where you will be checked on a list to ensure you remain in the correct order. You will then be directed up the stairs to the side of the stage.  

You will be called across the stage in formal recognition of your achievement and receive acknowledgment from the presiding officer before going down the stairs of the other side of the stage and returning to your seat. A steward will be on hand to help those who require step free access to and from the stage.  

Once seated, you are not normally permitted to leave the auditorium. As a courtesy to other graduates and guests, once the ceremony has started please remain in your seat until it finishes and the platform party have left the auditorium.  

Please note: You do not receive your award certificate at the ceremony. 

  • How long does the ceremony last?

    Ceremonies will last between 60 and 90 minutes on average. However, those for larger cohorts may last up to two hours. 

  • Getting there by public transport

    The Bridgewater Hall is in the centre of Manchester, easily accessible by public transport and by road. 

    Metrolink tram passengers should alight at St Peter’s Square or Deansgate-Castlefield.

    The nearest bus stops for major routes into the city centre are St Peter’s Square/Portland Street or Deansgate. The nearest rail stations are Deansgate and Oxford Road, with Piccadilly and Victoria a short walk or taxi ride away. 

    Transport for Greater Manchester have also put together this webpage providing up to date travel information for the Graduations. Traveling by Public Transport.

  • Getting there by car and parking

    From the south

    From the M6 junction 19 join the M56. Follow signs for the city centre (A5103), then for the Manchester Central Convention Complex/Bridgewater Hall onto Medlock Street. Go through the lights onto Lower Mosley Street. Pass Bridgewater Hall on your right and the rear of the hotel is facing you.  

    From the north

    From the M6, join the M61 at Preston. Follow signs for M60 south and west towards the Trafford Centre. Then follow signs for the Manchester Central Convention Complex/Bridgewater Hall onto Medlock Street. Go through the lights onto Lower Mosley Street. Pass The Bridgewater Hall on your right and the rear of the hotel is facing you.  

    Using a sat-nav

    When using satellite navigation, enter the postcode M2 3NQ to reach the hotel.

    Parking

    The nearest car parks are: 

    • Q-Park Piazza 
    • NCP Manchester Central 
    • NCP Great Northern 
    • NCP Oxford Street 

    Seven disabled parking bays are available across the road from the main entrance of the hotel on Mount Street, which are free for Blue Badge holders. 

    Refreshments at The Midland

    You can buy refreshments from The Midland Hotel’s range of bars and restaurants. 

  • Disabled parking

    Disabled parking spaces are available at NCP Manchester Central charged at an hourly rate. 

    A wheelchair drop-off point is located on Lower Mosley Street outside the Hall. Please note: this is not a parking space, even for Blue Badge holders.   

    Double yellow lines at the rear of The Bridgewater Hall on Great Bridgewater Street allow parking for Blue Badge holders except 6:00am-8:00am, and 4:00-6:00pm. 

    Please check its website for up-to-date advice about parking restrictions. 

  • Accessibility at the venue

    The Bridgewater Hall has step free access, lift access available to all floors, accessible seating, and various methods of assistance available for hearing impaired and sight impaired guests. 

    Please check its website for access information.