Letters supporting visitor visa applications for Graduation

If you or your guests are travelling from overseas and will need to apply for entry clearance to come to the UK as visitors, a letter of invitation from the University may be required.

Firstly you or your visitors should check if the Entry Clearance Post overseas requires a letter of invitation from the University to support a visitor visa application as it may not be necessary.

1. If a letter of invitation is required for you or your guests to apply for a visitor visa to attend Graduation, please complete an online request form.  (Please note that students who are on 12 month programmes and finish in September 2012 cannot apply for invitation letters until Spring 2013).
2. We aim to provide the invitation letter in 5 working days from submission of the request. The letter will either be posted to the address that you detail on the online request form, or be available to collect from the Graduation Office (Room 6.101). Opening hours 10-1 and 2-4.
3. An invitation letter confirms that you are eligible to graduate or have already graduated and that you are invited to attend Graduation 2012.  It will also list the name(s) of your guest(s).
4. An e-mail will be sent to you to confirm when the letter has been posted or when it is ready to collect.

Further information about visas

Information regarding applying for entry clearance as a visitor is available from the UK Border Agency website. The final decision to issue a visa remains with the Entry Clearance Officer and not the University.

If you left the UK when your studies finished and wish to attend your graduation ceremony in person, you should be able to apply to enter the UK as a visitor. To find out more about coming to the UK as a visitor and how to apply for entry clearance please visit the UKBA website. Please note that the University is not able to sponsor students under Tier 4 who have finished their studies and who wish to return to the UK to attend their graduation ceremony.

If you are still studying and wish to invite friends or family to visit a formal letter from the University is not required, further details can be found on the Student Support website.

Further information about graduation

Eligible students will be able to purchase three guest tickets.  Additional guests can visit the University but will not be able to enter the ceremony or departmental reception (unless you have been able to purchase surplus guest tickets which may be available in the second phase of the ticket booking process). 

If you have more questions about Graduation, please contact the Graduation Office using the contact details provided below.  Please note that the Graduation Office receives a very high volume of e-mails so please allow 5 working days to receive a response.