By Molly Pipe, Student Life Correspondent
An email has confirmed that University of Bristol summer graduation ceremonies, due to be held 17-24 July, will be postponed.
In an email outlining multiple policies on the disruption caused by COVID-19, the University of Bristol notified students that Summer 2020 graduation ceremonies have been postponed.
The University believes that ongoing government restrictions would have prevented the events, due to take place 17 weeks away in July.
In an email to students, Pro Vice-Chancellor Tansy Jessop said that the plan was to ‘schedule alternative gatherings where possible’.
A new date for the ceremonies has not yet been confirmed, but graduating students were told they would receive their degree awards in July or September. The form of receiving them is also not yet known.
Many international students may lose their chance to graduate in person if their delayed ceremony happens after their visas have expired.
Earlier this year, the University cancelled their March graduation ceremony in Shanghai, and arranged refunds for all those who had brought tickets. However, it stated that it could not be held liable for any loss or damage arising from the UK cancellation, including travel or accommodation costs. The Shanghai ceremony may also be arranged for a later date.
Bristol is not the only university to have postponed graduation. Durham, Southampton and Reading universities are among those to have delayed or cancelled outright.
Featured image: University of Bristol
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