Inspiring career changes and lifelong dreams to be celebrated at UEA Graduation 2026
By: Communications
Inspiring career changes, lifelong ambitions fulfilled, and a range of honorary graduates – from rugby star Ben Youngs to TV presenter Maddie Moate – will be celebrated at this year’s UEA graduation week.
This July, more than 4,400 students will be returning to the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus to celebrate with their loved ones.
Hosted at the UEA Sportspark, from Monday 13 to Friday 17 July, undergraduate and postgraduate students will be celebrating their hard work and success, as they receive their degrees across 11 ceremonies.
Among them is Della Mantle, who spent 18 years as a nurse before retraining as a doctor – balancing life as a mother, nurse and now medic – and will graduate on Monday 13 July, with support from her family.
Other inspiring graduates throughout the week include:
- Kerry Barr and Jodie Cloud, a mother and daughter celebrating side by side as they collect Master’s degrees at the same ceremony
- Mature history students, Mike Marshall and Tony Pearse, who have both battled challenges to fulfil their dreams of higher education
- Ellie Harris, a doctorate holder whose PhD project was an innovative app to support real-world giraffe conservation.
Honorary graduates
UEA will be awarding honorary degrees to five individuals for outstanding accomplishments in their field, or for exceptional contributions to the community.
Those honoured this year include conservationist Jake Fiennes, who manages the Holkham Estate and is related to actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes; TV presenter, YouTuber and STEM advocate Maddie Moate; and former England rugby player Ben Youngs.
The full ceremony list can be found below:
Monday 13 July
Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb (Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb), who is the first Asian woman to serve as a High Court judge in the UK, will receive the Honorary Doctor of Law award.
Tuesday 14 July
Maddie Moate is a BAFTA-winning television presenter, YouTuber and children's author, with a focus on introducing and enthusing young people to STEM subjects.
She will receive the Honorary Doctor of Science award.
Wednesday 15 July
Jake Fiennes is the director of conservation at the Holkham Estate, which covers 25,000 acres in north Norfolk – one of the country's largest historic country estates. He has had a 30-year career in conservation, game-keeping and land management.
He will receive the Honorary Doctor of Science award.
Thursday 16 July
Nigel Cooper will receive the Honorary Doctor of Law award.
Nigel is a former Senior Partner of KPMG LLP. He holds an undergraduate degree from UEA and also obtained a degree from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Friday 17 July
Ben Youngs is a former professional England rugby union player, who played as a scrum-half for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers. Hailing from Aylsham, Youngs is a quintuple Premiership Rugby champion and has earned 127 caps for the England national rugby union team – making him the most-capped men's player in English history.
He will receive the Honorary Doctor of Civil Law award.
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