The University of Cumbria has begun its summer graduation ceremonies.
Schoolchildren, university staff and students from around the world are in Carlisle from today for three days of summer graduations at the city’s 900-year-old cathedral.
The 1,500 to cross the stage and shake the hand of university vice chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL this week include:
- Student prizes winners such as Ryan McColl and Victoria Ward, who are graduating with BA (Hons) wildlife media degrees. Receiving the industry and entrepreneurship (arts) prize, the pair were award winners at the 2026 Royal Television Awards. Their final-year film covers the rewilding and documents the translocation of Bison from Kent to the 6,000-acre Castletown Estate (Solway Wild Lands project) at Rockcliffe near Carlisle, and reintroduction of Beavers. The film, viewed more than 25,000 times on social media, has already gained a BBC News credit and will be featured in future BBC programming.
- The latest to achieve doctorates – PhDs and DBAs – the highest academic awards that the University of Cumbria can confer (after the Privy Council granted Research Degree Awarding Powers in 2019).
- Professionals from around the world who have completed postgraduate MBAs and other masters level courses via distance learning, offered through the partnership the University of Cumbria has with Robert Kennedy College in Zurich. The Malaysian FAME International College also has graduands attending tomorrow.
- Ceremonies draw to a close on Thursday afternoon when paramedic degree apprentices from seven of England’s ambulance trusts graduate – East of England, London Ambulance Service, North West Ambulance Service, South Central Ambulance Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, South West Ambulance Service and the Isle of Wight.
Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell said: “The University of Cumbria is proud to have recently been recognised as one of the top five universities in the country and again best in the North West for graduate employability outcomes.
“We recognise how graduation is a significant milestone for our students, all of whom can be confident that the skills and knowledge developed during their time with us prepares them well for the world of work and their progressing careers.”
Choirs from Cumbria Education Trust schools, including students from Longtown Primary, Castle Park Primary and Queen Katherine School, Kendal, sang at the ceremonies.
Staff teams from across all areas of university operations worked together to stage the celebrations.
The graduation ceremonies take place every July and November.
After collecting their academic awards, graduates automatically became members of the University of Cumbria Alumni Association.
They joined a global network of more than 75,000 alumni across more than 100 countries to maintain an ongoing connection with the university.
The university said its recognition as one of the UK’s top five universities for graduate employability reinforced its commitment to developing skills, creating opportunities and supporting regional growth.
Special honours will also be conferred during the week.
The university will award an Honorary Doctorate to Cumbrian sheep farmer and author James Rebanks on Thursday, July 16.
It is the highest honorary award the university can confer.
