Thousands of University of Warwick students will descend on its campus over the next three weeks for the biggest graduation celebration the University has ever seen – as ceremonies return for the first time in two years.

Organisers are expecting to see almost 40,000 graduates and guests attend celebrations at Warwick during July.

Students gaining their degrees in 2020 and 2021 were forced to miss out on the pride and tradition of graduations as the pandemic meant ceremonies could not take place.

They were replaced with online-only events but the university promised to host in-person 'catch up' ceremonies once it was safe to do so.

And now Warwick has invited those graduates back to campus with their family and friends to formally mark their achievements and celebrate the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

Formal ceremonies take place in Butterworth Hall, with a presiding officer, mortar boards, gowns and the traditional awarding of degree certificates.

Organisers are expecting to see almost 40,000 graduates and guests attend celebrations at Warwick during July (image via UoW)

And to recognise the disruption and hardships, graduates went through during lockdown, Warwick has pulled out the stops to make it an extra special celebration.

A 'festival' style' site on has been created on Windmill Hill with fairground rides, food and drink stalls and music.

And the university piazza has been transformed to welcome students with a big screen broadcasting the ceremonies live from the 'igloo' for any additional guests who could not get tickets for the ceremony itself.

Ceremonies for 2020 and 2021 graduates will take place over two weeks between 5 and 15 July, and those for 2022 graduates will take place between 18-27 July.

Economics graduate Joshua Rawcliffe graduated in 2020 and has since gone on to start his career.

A 'festival' style' site on has been created on Windmill Hill with fairground rides, food and drink stalls and music

He said: "I'm really excited to come back to Warwick and celebrate with the people I did my degree with, and to come back to campus after a couple of years away."

The Vice Chancellor of Warwick University, Prof Stuart Croft said: "After two years without graduation ceremonies, it is wonderful to welcome our graduates back to campus to be awarded their degree certificates in person.

"Those students who graduated in 2020 and 2021 went through a difficult and challenging time, missing out on many aspects of university life, including of course the traditional graduation ceremony.

"That's why it was so important to recognise their achievements and give them opportunity to come back and celebrate in style with their family and friends.

"This will be the biggest graduation celebration event we have ever hosted at Warwick – and I have already seen the joy it has brought to so many people as they enjoy each other's company, share memories and catch up on future plans."