Graduation 2023

This year's Graduation ceremonies will take place at Ayr Racecourse on Friday 29 September 2023 as follows:

11.00am

• Early Years
• Health and Social Care

2.30pm

• Art and Media
• Business, Accounting, Administration, Computing, Travel and Tourism
• Construction Technology and Trades
• Engineering and Science
• Hairdressing, Beauty, Complementary Therapies and Make-up Artistry
• Hospitality
• Music, Sound Production and Performing Arts
• Social Sciences
• Sports and Fitness

Eligibility

Since May, some of our teaching staff have been operating ‘Action Short of Strike’ (ASOS) as part of an ongoing campaign of industrial action, called by the EIS. This means that although lecturers will have marked student work, some lecturers may not have disclosed or processed results into college systems. It is important to note that this is a national dispute that is affecting all colleges in Scotland. There is no information, at the moment, about when this dispute will reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Determining Graduation eligibility has been difficult because of the above. If you have received your SQA certificate, then you have not been affected and can book your place at Graduation.

We apologise if you have not yet received your certificate, however, if you know that you have successfully completed your qualification you can still book your place. Please do not book to attend if you know that you have not successfully completed your qualification.

If you are unsure about the status of your qualification, please get in touch with your curriculum area who will advise.

Booking your place

Please take time to read the information on the next pages carefully as it should answer any questions you have about the ceremonies.

You must register your attendance, book guest tickets, hire your gown, buy photography and book transport (if required) by Tuesday 19 September at 5pm.

Each student will be allocated two guest tickets.

Transport will be available for graduands and guests from Kilmarnock and Kilwinning Campuses, if required. 

Booking your place

When you receive your letter you must log on to www.edeandravenscroft.com and do the following:

• Confirm your attendance
• Hire your gown
• Book photographs (if required)
• Book guest tickets
• Book transport from Kilmarnock or Kilwinning Campus (if required)
• Tell us if you or your guests have any special access requirements e.g. wheelchair access, mobility problems, hearing impairments, health issues, etc.

Your student ID is your Scottish Candidate Number. This can be found at the bottom of your letter. 

We have included some guidelines on the next page.

Access denied

If you receive an 'access denied, contact your institution' message, it is likely that your Scottish Candidate Number starts with a zero or multiple zeros. In this case, try removing the zero or zeros to complete your booking.

If you have any problems please contact the Events Team on 01563 495035 or events@ayrshire.ac.uk

Registration deadline

You must complete registration and bookings by Tuesday 19 September at 5pm or you you will not be able to attend your ceremony. 

Gowns and photographs

Graduating students should wear the appropriate gown and hood. These can be hired from Ede and Ravenscroft and cost £35.

Ede and Ravenscroft will be available on the day of the ceremony for photographs. It is best to book photographs in advance. Those who do not pre-book may still be able to request these on the day. Price options are available on the booking site.

If you prefer you can book gowns and photographs via Ede and Ravenscroft's call centre on 01223 861 854. Telephone bookings may be charged at a higher rate.

Tickets

You can book up to two guest tickets initially. These are free but must be booked to allow us to monitor numbers. Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves.

Tickets will be sent to the email address you provide when booking. You should receive these the week of the event. If you do not please check your junk mail.

Extra tickets

Extra tickets were released on 14 September.

There are a limited number available and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Depending on demand, these will be available until the booking system closes on Tuesday 19 September.

You can book an additional two tickets for the 11am ceremony and an additional one ticket for the 2.30pm ceremony.

Visit www.edeandravenscroft.com, log in to your existing order and amend the number of tickets required.

Access requirements

If you or one of your guests have any specific access requirements, mobility problems, hearing impairments, health issues please provide details to allow appropriate arrangements to be made. If you have any concerns please contact the Events Team on 01563 495035 or events@ayrshire.ac.uk

Ede and Ravenscroft - Online instructions

We have included some extra information below to help you book  tickets, gowns and photography online:

STEP 1: Go to www.edeandravenscroft.com

STEP 2: Click on the ‘Graduation Services’ tab and select

‘Hire or purchase academic dress’.

STEP 3: Type ‘Ayrshire College’ in the ‘Institution Details’ box.

STEP 4: When it has found Ayrshire College, click continue.

Please note - Your ID is not your student ID; it’s your Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) which you will find on your results or on your invitation letter.

If your SCN number starts with a zero, please try the number with and without the zero as in some cases the system removes the zero from the front.

Your email address will just be your most up to date email – this will be used to send your e-tickets.

STEP 5: Fill in the boxes: ‘ID, Surname and Email’ (see note*) and click the ‘Continue’ button.

STEP 6: The next bit will show you your award level, e.g. HNC, please make sure this is correct and click submit.

STEP 7: The next page will come up with ‘Ceremony details’. Please make sure you have been allocated to the correct ceremony then click the yes button.

You should see this page:

STEP 9: Please scroll down and click ticketing.

STEP 10: You will then see this page…

Fill this in and continue through the website to make your selections. You will need to fill in your ticket details before it allows you to hire your gown. You can also choose to book photography. After this please remember to scroll right down and proceed to checkout.

If you have any problems with this process call 01563 495035 or email events@ayrshire.ac.uk

At the Racecourse - Friday 29 September 

Ceremony one - 11.00am

• Registration and gown collection in the Ayrshire Suite – 10am
• Registration closes - 10.40am
• Gowned and seated by 10.50am
• Refreshments and photographs - 12.15pm (approx)

If you have booked a seat on the bus:

• Bus departs from Kilmarnock and Kilwinning Campus – 9.20am 
• Bus returns to Kilmarnock and Kilwinning Campus – 1.30pm

Ceremony two - 2.30pm

• Registration and gown collection in the Ayrshire Suite – 1.30pm
• Registration closes – 2.10pm
• Gowned and seated by 2.20pm
• Refreshments and photographs – 3.45pm (approx)

If you have booked a seat on the bus:

• Bus departs from Kilmarnock and Kilwinning Campus – 12.50pm
• Bus returns to Kilmarnock and Kilwinning Campus – 5.00pm

Registration

All graduands must register in the Ayrshire Suite on arrival at the Racecourse. Please do not enter via the front door, you should make your way to the entrance at the right side of the Racecourse, which will bring you to the lower level.

Parking and buses

There is plenty of parking at the Racecourse for those who bring their own vehicles. If the car park at the front is full there are additional spaces between the Racecourse and Tesco.

We are providing buses for those who have issues with transportation, see times above. The buses will depart on time, so please do not be late. Only those who have pre-booked will be allocated seats on the bus.

Gowns

You should collect your gown directly after you have registered. You may require two safety pins to secure your gown.

You are responsible for ensuring that your gown and hood are returned to Ede an Ravenscroft after the ceremony. There will be a drop off area upstairs in the Princess Royal Suite.

Photography

The first people to arrive may have time to have their official photograph taken before the ceremony in the Ayrshire Suite. Ede and Ravenscroft will close this studio early to allow people to be seated for the ceremony. Those who do not have time to be photographed before the ceremony will have theirs taken afterwards, upstairs in the Princess Royal Suite. 

Tickets

Guests should present printed or electronic tickets to a member of staff on arrival.

Personal belongings

Please do not bring personal belongings to your seat. We suggest leaving them with your guests, as you may not return to the same seat after receiving your award. Unfortunately there is no cloakroom.

The ceremony

After you have collected your gown you should make your way to the seat number allocated to you. Staff will be there to direct you.

Graduands and guests will not be seated together.

Graduands are seated in the same order as the programme. It is therefore very important that you do not change seats as this could result in disruption of the ceremony and graduates receiving the wrong certificate.

During the ceremony staff will ask you to leave your seat and form a queue. When your name is announced, walk onto the stage, shake hands with the person presenting your certificate and stop to have a photograph taken. You should then leave by the stairs on the opposite side of the stage.

You'll be able to purchase your presentation photograph from Ede and Ravenscroft after the event.

Anyone requiring support to access the stage should have made this clear at the time of booking and made appropriate arrangements with the Events Team.

After you receive your award

College staff will direct you to a seat, where you should stay until the ceremony has finished. As mentioned, the seat you are allocated after the presentation of your award may not be the same one you had initially, so please do not leave any personal belongings.

Making a Difference in the Community, Outstanding Achievement and Student of the Year award winners will be allocated a second seat to allow them easily access the stage to receive their additional award. Details will be given to the recipients at registration.

Certificates

In the unlikely event that you receive an incorrect certificate, please accept the certificate presented to you and leave the stage as detailed above. At the end of the ceremony please notify a member of college staff.

After the ceremony / Refreshments

When the ceremony finishes the piper will start piping and everyone will be directed upstairs to the Princess Royal Suite, where graduates can reunite with guests and have photographs taken. Cakes and juice will be provided but the bar will be closed and no alcohol will be served. Please note there will be no refreshments available before the ceremony.