Like last year, graduates and their families will have to sort out their own travel to the ceremonies, held five miles from city centre
By Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
The Gaudie can reveal that the University has declined to organise transportation for graduates and their families ahead of ceremonies later this month.
For the second consecutive year, summer graduations will be held at P&J Live, also known as The Events Centre Aberdeen (TECA), four miles northwest of the University’s Old Aberdeen campus.
Final year students find themselves in an similar situation to last year’s graduates, a number of whom raised concerns over the University’s decision not to arrange for shuttle buses from the city centre or Old Aberdeen campus- with one graduate slamming the lack of transport as 'a massive oversight.'
However, as a Freedom of Information request later revealed, the University paid four coach and cab companies over 5,300 pounds for ‘staff transport.’
University say ‘accessibility’ a key concern (in repeat statement from last year):
In a near-identical statement to our query in June 2022, a University spokesperson said:
‘Accessibility for all was an important factor in our choice of location. TECA not only offers enhanced transportation links for attendees travelling by air or rail but as the major events venue for Aberdeen it is well serviced by both Stagecoach and First, with buses running every 10 minutes from the city centre.’
The spokesperson added that last year’s celebrations had been well-received by students.
They said: ‘Feedback from last year’s graduations was very positive from a large majority of Summer and Winter graduates. We constantly strive to further improve the graduation experience.’
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, graduations had been hosted across a number of facilities across the city, ranging from Marischal College to marquees set up on campus.
So how to get to TECA?
Departing from the city centre, graduates and their guests can take the 727 ‘airport bus’ to TECA, which leaves Union Square every fifteen minutes. Be prepared for a long ride however, as timetables suggest the journey can take over 40 minutes.
Three single tickets (assuming all attendees are over 22) would cost £12, with a period return costing £22.80. An Aberdeen City Day Rider ticket would cost £14.70 for the group.
Driving to the events venue would be less expensive. However, drivers will still have to pay tariffs to park at TECA. £4.50 for two hours, or £8.00 for three.
Attendees could take a northbound train from Union Square, alighting in Dyce (£3.90 for a return)- but would have to walk 33 minutes in cap and gown before arriving at P&J.
Graduations will be held from the 26th to the 30th of June. Over 4,000 students attended graduation ceremonies last year, although concern surrounding the recent marking and assessment boycott may lead to a decreased number of attendees this time around.
