What happens to my access to facilities once I have been awarded?
- Email address and associated Microsoft products (e.g., OneDrive) - you will lose access roughly 6 months (180 days) after being awarded. You will receive automated emails to your student inbox to confirm when it will close.
- Library - you can register to continue using the Library after you have been awarded. More information about this service can be found here.
- IT access (moodle, cloud space) - you will lose access roughly 6 months after graduation.
- Departmental space - please check with your academic School admin team if there's anything you need to do at this point.
If you graduated in 2018 or before, your old student email address has a new format (@alumni.rhul.ac.uk).
Please be made aware that from 21 June 2023, all alumni email accounts will no longer have access to the service; accounts and all associated data will be deleted, and you will be unable to retrieve your accounts. You can still log in to your account before this date to make sure you get all the data you want to keep. Find how to do this here.
After 180 days from your completion date you will lose your Royal Holloway email address. We suggest you start to build your professional profile prior to this. You can attend one of our live training sessions on Social Media for Academics and Raising your Profile Online. Throughout the year the Researcher Development Programme offers bitesize sessions on building your LinkedIn profile and you can contact Laura.Christie@rhul.ac.uk for advice on developing your external profile.
When should I receive my certificate?
You should receive your degree certificate within 3-6 months. Your award will be sent to the Diploma Production Office (DPO) in Central London on a monthly basis and this is where the certificate will be produced. The certificate will confirm that you have received a Doctor of Philosophy (or Master of Philosophy) from Royal Holloway, University of London.
If you have any debts outstanding with the University, this will delay the production of your certificate so we would recommend ensuring that all debts are paid by the time you submit your finalised thesis.
It's been over 6 months since I was awarded, but I haven't received my certificate yet. What should I do?
If you have not received your certificate within 6 months from your award, please contact the Student Services Centre in the first instance.
If you need to contact the Diploma Production Office, please do so copying in the Doctoral School and providing the following information:
- Full name
- College Attended
- Date of Award
- Title of thesis
- Qualification
- Date of Birth
- Student number
- Mailing address
Can I attend graduation?
Receiving an invitation to attend the next graduation ceremony from the Graduation team does not make you eligible automatically. You can book your attendance / gown, but please do not make travel arrangements until both your corrections have been approved by your examiner(s) and your award has been officially confirmed to you by the Doctoral School.
In order to be eligible to attend the graduation ceremony in July, you must have an award date of 1 June or earlier and you must have submitted your finalised thesis by 30 June.
In order to be eligible to attend the graduation ceremony in December, you must have an award date of 1 November or earlier and you must have submitted your finalised thesis by 30 November.
Graduation webpages
I'd like to remain informed of University news after being awarded. Is this possible?
Please update your details and communication preferences with the Alumni team by completing this form: this way you will be kept up-to-date with the latest University and alumni news, events and ways you can get involved. If you have any questions, please email Alumni@royalholloway.ac.uk.
I have been awarded, but I need a proof of studies letter. How do I get one?
Once you have finished your course we offer a variety of documents to verify your achievement and/or studies at Royal Holloway. These can be purchased from our online store.