Names at Graduation
Names at Graduation
Your name will appear on several graduation documents and materials.
Your Primary Name as listed in MyCampus will be used for all official graduation documents, including your degree parchment and HEAR (transcript). It must exactly match your legal identification. Preferred Names cannot be used on these documents. Students are responsible for ensuring their Primary Name is accurate before enrolling to graduate.
You may request a Preferred Name to be used on certain graduation materials, these are listed below. To have your Preferred Name used, you must submit a request directly to the Graduation Team before the published graduation enrolment deadline. Updating it in MyCampus alone will not apply your Preferred Name to graduation materials.
Graduation materials where a Preferred Name can be used:
- Ceremony programme
- Name read aloud at your ceremony (if attending)
- Press announcements (opt-in required)
- Graduation hoodies (opt-in required)
Primary Name will always be used:
- Degree parchment (certificate)
- HEAR / Transcript
- Registration list (when you register on the day of your ceremony)
Important: Inclusion in press announcements and graduation hoodies requires explicit opt-in consent during graduation enrolment. If you do not opt in, your name will not be included, even if you requested a Preferred Name.
Submit a request to use your Preferred Name on your graduation documents
Name Format and Order on Your Parchment
Your parchment will display your Primary Name as recorded in your student record. By default, it will be printed in this order:
First/given name(s) → Middle name(s) → Family name/surname
On your graduation enrolment record, you may choose to display your family name first by selecting the “Print Family Name First” box. This is intended for students whose naming convention places the family name first. Do not select this option if you want the default order above.
Family-name-first format:
Family name/surname → First/given name(s) → Middle name(s)
Example: Wei Li (family name Li) — selecting this option will display your name as Li Wei on your parchment.
The name order you choose during enrolment will be used consistently for your parchment, graduation materials, and ceremony proceedings.
Checking and Updating Your Name
You can view your name in MyCampus. Before enrolling for graduation, check that your name is correct — including spelling, order, and middle names. Students are responsible for ensuring their record is accurate.
To change your Primary Name, contact the Student Services Enquiry Team before the graduation enrolment deadline. Your Primary Name must match your legal documents (for example, passport or national ID), so provide these when submitting your request.
Contact the Student Services Enquiry Team here
To use a Preferred Name for graduation materials, you must notify the Graduation Team by the graduation enrolment deadline.
Name Changes After Graduation
Once your certificate has been issued, names cannot normally be changed.
Exceptions:
- Administrative errors: reported to the Registry Graduation Team within three months of graduation.
- Gender reassignment-related name changes (Equality Act 2010): appropriate identification in the new name is required. Doctoral and library records will be updated unless you request otherwise.
If you change your name after completing your studies (e.g., marriage or deed poll), parchments will not be reissued. Your certificate should be presented alongside official documentation confirming your name change.