"Most popular" university to charge for graduation tickets

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), officially the most popular higher education institution in the country in terms of UCAS applications, is not winning many friends among parents after announcing it will charge them to see their child collect their degree.

While most universities offer two free tickets to soon-to-be graduates, MMU said it had "reluctantly" introduced a charge of £11 per seat to cover the cost of hiring the Bridgewater Hall, the Manchester Evening News reports.

A spokesperson for the university told the newspaper that the charges are necessary in order to secure the "best venue in the city" for graduation ceremonies, although the university has used the Bridgewater Hall in the past without family members having to cough up for a ticket.

One parent, Jacqueline Coleman, complained of being "blackmailed" by the university as no proud mum or dad would want to miss their child's graduation. She also pointed out that parents already have to pay to hire graduation robes and for official photographs.

Many would also have shelled out a not insubstantial amount to support their offspring during their studies.

Around 8,000 MMU students are set to pick up their degrees next month.

Manchester and Salford universities, which both offer two free tickets to each student, said they have no plans to introduce charges.

Earlier this year it was revealed that MMU had received 52,750 applications for courses starting in 2011, making it the most popular university for the first time.