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Diploma Ceremonies

Please find key information about our diploma ceremonies below. If you have further questions please email events@rcem.ac.uk and we'd be happy to help.

+ Who is eligible to attend the next diploma ceremony?

Currently, anyone who passed their MRCEM or FRCEM or who credentialled as an ACP between August 2023 and May 2024 is eligible to attend the next diploma ceremony. If you have deferred your place from a previous ceremony, you are also eligible to attend.

If you passed your exams or credentialled in or after June 2024, you will be invited to the following diploma ceremony which will take place in summer 2025. Invites for this ceremony will be sent out in early 2025.

+ How do I register for the ceremony?

When you are eligible to attend a ceremony, you will be invited by email. Please follow the personal invite link in your invite email to register.

If you wish to attend, we encourage you to book as soon as possible once you receive your invite as spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

+ Is it mandatory to attend the ceremony?

No, it is entirely your choice if you wish to attend your ceremony. However, please note that you will only be invited to a ceremony once unless you choose to defer to a future date.

+ Does it cost anything to attend the ceremony?

It is free of charge for all graduands to attend the ceremony, however guest tickets are charged at £30 per person.

+ Will I receive my diploma certificate at the ceremony?

No, your certificate will be sent separately via post. Our membership team will be in touch regarding this once your exam pass has been confirmed.

If you have any questions regarding your certificate, please email membership@rcem.ac.uk

+ Can I defer my place?

Yes, if you’re unable to attend your ceremony, you can defer your place to the next ceremony.

To do this, please use the deferral link in your invite email. Please note, you must complete this form in order to defer, we can not accept deferrals via email.

Completing the form does not constitute booking for the next ceremony, and you will need to book for this once the invites have been sent out in order to guarantee your place.

+ When is the next diploma ceremony being held?

The next diploma ceremony is being held on Thursday 23 January 2025. We will be holding to ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The morning ceremony will open at 09:00 and finish at 13:00.

The afternoon ceremony will open at 13:30 and close at 17:30.

+ Where is the next diploma ceremony being held?

The next diploma ceremony is being held at The Rep in Birmingham.

The full address is The Rep, 6 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EP and including details of how to get there.

+ Is there car parking onsite?

Q-Park Brindleyplace and Mailbox car parks are conveniently located nearby to the theatre and offer safe and secure parking in addition to a range of convenient services.

Q-Park Brindleyplace also offers electric vehicle charging points.

By booking your parking 24 hours in advance online at q-park.co.uk you can save up to 40% on the daily parking cost and guarantee your space. You can save an extra 10% by using the promo code REP10 when you book.

+ How long is the ceremony?

The ceremony is made up for four parts.

When you arrive you will be asked to register and collect your gown. There will also be an opportunity for you and your family to have professional photos taken at this time.

Once registration has closed, guests will be seated and the graduand line up will commence. This will take approximately 45 minutes.

The ceremony itself will take approximately one hour.

There will then be a post ceremony drinks reception which will also last for approximately an hour. Professional photography sessions will also be available during this time, and you will need to return your gown.

+ How many guests can I bring?

Each graduand can bring 3 guests to the ceremony. If you want to bring more guests, please register your interest in additional guest tickets via the link in your invitation. Additional guest tickets will only become available if other graduands do not use their full 3 guest tickets, and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

+ Will I be seated with my guests?

No, you will not be seated with your guests during the ceremony.

Graduands will be lined up in alphabetical order ahead of the ceremony based on what exam you passed and when you passed it. You will sit in this order during the ceremony and then return to your seat once you have been conferred.

Guests will be seated together and be given allocated seat numbers within the main auditorium.

+ My guests have access requirements, how can I ensure these are accommodated?

Please make sure that you complete the guest special requirements section of your registration form if your guests have any access needs. Please be as specific as possible so we can work out the best plan to support your guests’ needs. If you have any concerns or queries, please email events@rcem.ac.uk

Please note, The Rep is a fully accessible venue and accessibility details can be found here.

+ Can I bring my children to the diploma ceremony?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your children to the diploma ceremony.

Children who require a seat of their own will count as one of your three guests and a ticket will need to be purchased for them.

Children who are young enough to sit on the lap of a parent or family member throughout the ceremony do not count as one of your four guests and you do not need to purchase a ticket for them.

Please note, childcare is not provided at the ceremony.

+ Is there a family room at the diploma ceremony?

We want this event to be as family friendly as possible whilst also being sensitive to the needs of all graduands and their guests during the ceremony. There will therefore be a livestream of the ceremony shown in the foyer area outside of the ceremony room and a private area available should you wish to take your child out of the ceremony at any time.

+ Can I bring a buggy to the venue?

There is limited space available for buggies and pushchairs in the venue, and they will not be allowed in the ceremony room due to space restrictions. Please see The Rep’s website for more information about the venue and layout of the ceremony room.

+ Can you support me or my guests with a visa letter so I can attend the ceremony?

Yes, if you or your guests require a visa support letter in order to attend the ceremony, please email events@rcem.ac.uk with the name, date of birth and passport number of the person or people who require the letter and we will be able to provide this. Please note, you need to register for the ceremony before we are able to provide a visa support letter.

+ Are there refreshments at the ceremony?

There will be a drinks reception at the end of your ceremony.

+ How do I book my gown?

You will be emailed with details of how to book your gown approximately 4 months ahead of your ceremony date.

You will need to book your gown via our third party supplier Ede and Ravenscroft.

Gowns are available to hire or purchase.

If you have any questions regarding your gown booking please contact Ede and Ravenscroft directly, as we are unable to assist with gowning queries.

+ Do I have to wear a gown?

No, you do not have to wear a gown, however the majority of graduands choose to do so.

+ Can I wear my own gown?

If you have your own gown you are welcome to wear it, however please note that unless you have purchased it from Ede and Ravenscroft, it may not match the other graduands at your ceremony.

+ Am I able to book a photography session ahead of the ceremony?

Yes, you can book photography sessions for yourself and any guests.

Ede and Ravenscroft also provide our photography service for the event. When you are emailed about how to book your gown approximately four months ahead of your ceremony date, you will also have the opportunity to book your photo session.

+ Is photography available on the day without a booking?

Photography may be available on the day, however priority will be given to those people who have booked in advance. If you think you would like professional photographs taken, we encourage you to book these in advance.

+ Will a photograph be taken of my conferral?

Yes, when you cross the stage a photo of you will be taken shaking the hand of the President. This will be taken automatically, and you have the option to purchase the photo after the ceremony should you wish to do so. Further information about this will be sent in your final information email, approximately one week prior to the event.

+ How can I collect my photos after the event?

Photos will be available to purchase directly onsite, and also via a link that will be sent to you directly from Ede and Ravenscroft post ceremony.

If you have any questions regarding your photography please contact Ede and Ravenscroft directly, as we are unable to assist with gowning queries.

+ Will the ceremony be livestreamed?

Yes, the ceremony will be livestreamed so that friends and family who are unable to attend the event will be able to watch. Details of how to access the livestream will be sent in your final information ceremony, approximately one week prior to your ceremony date.

+ Will the ceremony be recorded?

No, the ceremony will not be recorded or made available post event, so family and friends who wish to watch it will need to do so live.

+ Will I be sent tickets for the ceremony?

No, you will not be sent tickets for the ceremony. Details of where you and your guests will sit will be sent in your final information ceremony, approximately one week prior to your ceremony date.

+ Once I have registered for the ceremony, can I amend my booking?

You can amend your booking until the date listed on your registration confirmation email. Please note, if you wish to change from the morning ceremony to the afternoon or vice versa, we will only be able to accommodate this if the other ceremony has not sold out.

+ Can I cancel my place at the ceremony?

You can cancel your place at the ceremony and get a full refund for any guest tickets until two weeks prior to your ceremony date. You can do this via the link in your registration confirmation email or by emailing events@rcem.ac.uk

If you cancel your registration within two weeks of the event, we may not be able to refund you for any guest tickets as per our event terms and conditions.

+ When will future diploma ceremonies be held?

The ceremony after the January 2025 event is due to be held in summer 2025. We are unable to confirm the exact date or location at this time, but invites will be sent to those eligible in early 2025.

+ I have further questions which are not answered above, who can I contact?

If you have any more questions please email events@rcem.ac.uk or call 020 3931 0700.



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