Canterbury Christ Church University has announced it is holding its graduation ceremonies online, in a move branded "an insult" by disappointed former students.

The university says it has reached a limit in "being able to postpone graduation events" and ceremonies to mark the completion of degrees will now be held over Zoom free of charge.

Once it is safe to do so, graduates will be invited for a drinks reception at university where they can meet fellow graduates and staff.

But some feel the formal ceremony should still take place in the future, and have launched a petition calling for the move to be revoked.

A statement on the petition site reads: "After overcoming all the challenges that we had to face and completing our degree during a global pandemic to be told our graduation would be via Zoom is frankly an insult.

"For us graduates, not having a graduation in person is a massive blow.

"Our university experience ended on a random day in March. We, as a class, deserve to say goodbye to not only our friends and lecturers but also to the city and university that we dedicated three year of our lives to in person.

"All we are asking is for Canterbury Christ Church University to reciprocate the time and effort that we put into their uni, into us."

Among those disappointed by the news is law graduate Olivia Grigg, who described the decision - which she says was made without any consultation with graduates - as "heartbreaking".

She said: "After working so hard to complete my degree during these unprecedented circumstances, I hoped I would at least have my graduation.

"However, to then be told our ceremony, our last chance to say goodbye and close an important chapter in our lives, would be a Zoom call leaves us wondering if the university considered our thoughts, experience, time, and blood, sweat and tears poured into our degrees."

Miss Grigg has called for the ceremonies to be postponed, adding: "I would happily wait for a year, two, or even five to be able to celebrate my degree, surrounded by my fellow students, lecturers and my family.

"It is worth waiting for after our time at university ended on a random Tuesday in March. I never got to say goodbye, thank my lecturers for their support and continued belief in me, or congratulate my peers on their successes despite our bumpy road to completion.

"A whole aspect of getting a degree is this chance to celebrate together at the end, a grand ceremony in the world-renowned Canterbury Cathedral hall, dressed in our gowns ready to collect our final degree certificate we worked tirelessly for.

"We deserve to be treated with better consideration and to be provided the chance to at least voice our preference."

An announcement on the university website says: "Due to current government restrictions and the safety of our community we are unable to hold any large scale in-person events for the foreseeable future. The university has reached a limit in terms of being able to postpone graduation events and due to student numbers we are no longer able to facilitate a usual event in the future.

"We also recognise that it has been a long time since you have achieved your award and many of you wish for this success to be celebrated.

"We are therefore moving to virtual celebratory events, which are free of charge, at which you and your guests can celebrate in the safety of your own homes."

"I would happily wait for a year, two, or even five to be able to celebrate my degree" - Olivia Grigg

The virtual graduations which would have taken place at Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals are now scheduled for May 10-12 this year.

The Augustine House Award Ceremony will take place on May 24-26 this year.

The statement added: "Most of the filmed event will feature Canterbury Cathedral and we will try to adhere as much as possible to the usual format for a graduation ceremony."

To read the petition, click here.

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