Families to be charged to attend Aberdeen University graduations at P&J Live

The University of Aberdeen is introducing a charge for students to purchase tickets for graduation ceremonies.

Tickets for the ceremonies will cost £13.50, whereas previously graduates received two free tickets for loved ones.

The university said that as ceremonies have grown, it is now unable to continue to fund the cost.

Graduation ceremonies will be held at the city’s P&J Live next month.

Fees for graduating from the university, which cost £45 to graduate in person and £10 in absentia, were previously scrapped in 2019.

A spokesperson for the university said: “As the size of our ceremonies have grown, the challenge of delivering an event fitting of the achievements of our students and to offer a space where they can celebrate in style, has also grown.

“From Winter 2023 a ticket cost in line with the sector average will be applied to guest tickets.

“This will include refreshments, appropriate to the occasion and canapes, providing increased value to guests and graduates. The majority of the cost of the event will still be met by the University and the ceremonies will be live-streamed free of charge for anyone unable to attend in person.”

Children under two and carers attending with those they provide care for will not have to pay to attend.

The spokesperson added: “We understand the financial constraints facing people in the current climate and are continuing our 2019 commitment that students are not charged graduation fees. The initial move to P&J Live, driven by the lack of capacity on campus, came at a time of substantial change and disruption for our students.

“Graduates in those years had the end of their student experience severely disrupted by Covid. The university has absorbed all of the graduation venue costs to this point, in recognition of this unprecedented context and will continue to make a substantial investment in the ceremonies.

“Unfortunately, like many others in the sector, we are unable to absorb all of the costs of graduation celebrations on an ongoing basis.”