Thought tuition fees were bad? Just wait for graduation costs

As if tuition fees weren't high enough, the increasing cost of enjoying a full graduation ceremony is another financial headache for students once they have completed their studies.

Some young graduates who have spent at least three years studying, attending lectures and writing essays are now staying away from the ceremonies, forced out by fees for everything from hiring gowns for the day, fees for professional photographs and DVDs and tickets for their parents.

Currently, most students in the UK will be charged around £9,000 a year in tuition fees, paid directly to their university, while living off a maintenance loan of up to £5,555 a year to cover rent, food, books, bills and general living costs.

Traditionally a student would enjoy a graduation ceremony after passing their exams, where they don a cap and gown to collect their degree in front of their parents.

The average cost of a graduation ceremony, excluding photographs and other optional extras, is £68 and students from Scotland or Northern Ireland will be charged a fee to graduate even if they can't attend the ceremony.

Those who are set to graduate from the University of Wolverhampton this September will have to fork out £15 per guest to attend the ceremony and pay £44 to hire the required gown, hood and mortarboard from recommended suppliers J Wippell and Co, with students told that those not wearing the correct academic attire will not be presented with their award.

On top of this, should a graduate want official photographs of the day they will be charged anything from £15 to £60, with a USB stick containing one image priced at £25.

Graduation DVDs will set students back another £45 while a ticket to this year's graduation ball is£25.

In total, out of pocket students would have to find around £140 to enjoy their special day with their family.

[related_posts title="More university stories"]

Wolverhampton resident Shanaz Kali, a single parent who graduated from her legal practice course at Staffordshire University in July, felt she was priced out of the ceremony and eventually decided not to attend.

She would have had to pay £25 per ticket for any guests to attend, plus £41 for the correct gowns and £18 per person in train tickets just to get there.

The cost of photographs and other charges on top of this meant she stayed at home when she should have been celebrating a great achievement.

She said: "As a single parent I struggled to pay the fees just to study at university and then I was unable to attend the graduation with my daughter.

"I felt this was unfair on her and personally I did not want to tell her the truth or disappoint her.

"The amounts they charged were absurd considering the university fees are so high, I think everything should be included."

"My younger sister has just received a first class honours at Birmingham University but she will not be attending her graduation in September.

"My parents are on pension credit and she only works part time.

"Her fees were a staggering £30,000, it is really bad how these universities operate."

[Interruptor]

Bosses at Staffordshire University said that they believe the cost of graduation tickets represents 'great value for money' and that organisers aim to keep ceremony costs as low as they can.

Dr Noel Morrison, Director of Student Experience, said: "We understand that graduating can be expensive and aim to keep ceremony costs as low as we can so that as many graduating students as possible can attend with their families. Students attend for free and guest tickets are £25 each.

"The charge of £25 per guest covers entry to Trentham Gardens, seating in the ceremony hall, post ceremony refreshments and a celebratory programme.

"We believe that the cost of graduation tickets represents great value for money.

"Family members who can't afford a ticket can watch each ceremony broadcast live on several screens outside the ceremony hall.

"This year we also offered 50 free guest tickets to students who had accessed the hardship fund during their studies."

The University of Wolverhampton was unavailable for comment.

[comments_cta header="Was your graduation expensive?" text="Share your university stories"]