Like thousands of others, I ordered my hat and dress this week to celebrate my graduation.
But as the first member of my immediate family to graduate, I had no idea of the costs involved.
Hat and bathrobe rental for a day? £45. Official photos (that I knew mom would love)? £60. Extra ceremony tickets for my grannies? £20 each. Everything started to add up and felt very expensive.
Cardiff University said it was offering free dresses and photos to some students.
Not including hotel prices or travel expenses for my family to get to Cardiff from my hometown of Lichfield in Staffordshire, it would cost me £145 for the day alone.
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As a recent graduate with no steady income, I asked myself, “Could I justify this cost for just one day?”
In the end, I decided to bite the bullet as I didn’t want to miss an opportunity that my grandmother, Eileen, described as “such a proud day for me with my grandson.”
Turns out I wasn’t alone.
Serenity Davis, 25, is getting her degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University but isn’t going because she can’t afford it.
“I have electricity bills and rent to pay every month and I come from a low income family so I don’t get any support from them, they can’t afford to come to Cardiff for just one day.
“You have to book work-free and cover fuel costs to drive here.
“I fought tooth and nail with my health for three years to take a course and graduate, only to get to the point where it’s so expensive I can’t walk and my family can’t can come.”
Couple Sian Billington and Rhys Churchill, both 23, have missed four graduations together.
After completing their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bangor University, they decided not to attend any of their ceremonies because of the costs involved.
Mr Churchill said he thought many students found the award offensive.
“I worked hard for four years, weathering many difficult times in life, and I did it to get the qualification, not to get fancy photos or ceremonies.”
Miss Billington added: “It’s anticlimactic to get your degree in the mail, but what they ask us to pay for the degree isn’t worth what we get in return.”
Elliot Dollner, 23, graduated from Cardiff University last year and has moved back to his childhood home in Brighton. He has opted not to return to Cardiff for graduation.
“I don’t think the university took into account external costs for people traveling back to Cardiff for the degree.
“Hotel prices are double, sometimes triple, the usual cost of a Cardiff weekend and the cost of petrol is now enough if you’re going a long distance to put anyone off.”
Olivia Morgan, 21, graduated from the University of South Wales last year and attended her graduation ceremony in April.
“I wanted to stay at the hotel that was hosting my graduation for the night.
“It was on a weekday, which is usually less expensive, but they cranked the price up all the way.”
Although many students complain about the cost of graduating, some universities have been praised for their affordable ceremonies.
Emma Blackmore, 22, graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in English in 2021. She now works at Cardiff University where she is working towards a Masters and did not have to pay for her Bachelors degree.
“We also had the opportunity to wear the robes on campus and we were encouraged to take photos for free. It was a nice touch.”
Newcastle University also provided free hats and gowns to its 2021 graduates.
Cardiff University said it recognized the current financial situation was difficult for some but was not aware of any graduate who said they could not attend graduation due to cost.
A spokesman added that it was offering a free package of clothes and photos to students who had been assisted as care leavers, estranged students, young adult carers, military veterans or asylum seekers.
The University of South Wales also offered funds for care leavers, while Aberystwyth University encouraged students to apply for an award from its university hardship fund.
Swansea, Wrexham, Bangor and Cardiff Metropolitan universities have no such support packages on offer, but Cardiff Metropolitan said it encouraged students to contact the student union finance team for support.
The National Union of Students Wales said it was “unfair” that students were making “increasingly difficult choices” because of the cost of living crisis.
It also urged universities to “do what they can” to make degrees more affordable so students don’t miss an opportunity to celebrate their achievements with family and friends.
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