Nottingham Trent University have decided to postpone all summer graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A series of graduation ceremonies for undergraduates were due to take place this July.
However, due to the outbreak of coronavirus, NTU have taken the decision to postpone them until it is safe to do so.
Nottingham Trent University’s Academic Registrar, Mike Ratcliffe, said: “Due to the ongoing situation and restrictions regarding the coronavirus pandemic we have unfortunately had to postpone this year’s summer graduation ceremonies.
“Our ceremonies are one of the highlights of the university year and an important moment for our students to celebrate their hard work and achievements with their families, friends and tutors,” he continued.
“All of our graduating students will be given the opportunity to mark their success and attend a graduation ceremony in our Graduation Hall.
“We are currently planning to hold ceremonies before the end of the year, and as close to the summer ceremony dates as possible.
“The timing of these ceremonies will need to be determined by the latest government advice regarding events and travel and we will be communicating further details to our students in due course.
“We would also like to stress that while ceremonies are being postponed, students’ degrees will still be conferred in July as normal.”
Jessica Croft, 21, a final year French and Linguistics student believes postponing the ceremony is the right thing to do.
“I think the majority of students would be happy to wait slightly longer for their dream graduation ceremony, especially given there is no feasible alternative,” she said.
“It might make things more complicated for those who will be living a considerable distance from Nottingham by the time of the ceremonies, but knowing the date of the ceremony a while in advance will give students and their families the time to prepare financially and book the necessary time off work.”
Final year Spanish and Media student Francesca McKechnie, 22, admits it is hard not to feel disappointed by the news.
“I think as long as we get a graduation I will be happy, but there is part of me that is sad we wont be graduates in July.
“It feels like they are prolonging our next step and we have all been so focused on it happening in july it’s a bit annoying that we now have to wait.
“I am gutted we lose the opportunity to have a glorious summer graduation, but then I know that there are many universities where their normal graduations take place later on in the year so I am trying not to be to down about it,” she said.
Nottingham Trent University informed all of their final year students that rescheduled dates will be announced as soon as possible.
As the University has its own graduation ceremony hall, they endeavour to be able to conduct the ceremonies “rapidly, when the time is right”.
By Faith Pring