In December 2025, students from the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) at Loughborough University London gathered on the University’s East Midlands campus to celebrate their graduation. Set against the winter backdrop of the Leicestershire campus, the ceremony offered a fitting occasion to recognise their achievement, perseverance, and ambition.

Year after year, Loughborough University ensures that its students graduate in style, and this ceremony reflected an operation refined through decades of experience. Graduates from the London campus spent the day alongside their East Midlands counterparts, accompanied by family and friends, enjoying all that the larger campus has to offer. From the solemnity and pageantry of the ceremony itself to the warmth of the reception afterwards, the day balanced formality with celebration. Informal campus spaces provided the perfect settings for photographs and shared moments, creating lasting memories of an important milestone.

For some students, graduation marked the last opportunity for some time to see classmates with whom they had shared intense periods of study, debate, and mutual support. While there was a note of nostalgia, it was quickly overtaken by excitement and anticipation for the professional and personal opportunities that lie ahead.

The ceremony celebrated the achievements of several outstanding IDIA students, pictured. Anna Ligezowska (pictured with Prof Helen Drake, Director or IDIA and Prof Aidan McGarry, Dean of the Loughborough London), graduating with an MSc in Security, Peace-building and Diplomacy, won both the IDIA 2025 Dissertation Prize and the Dean’s 2025 Dissertation Prize.

Imannur Gül (Left) graduated with an MSc in Diplomacy and International Relations was runner-up for the IDIA 2025 Dissertation Prize. Amadou Bakayo (Right) also graduated with an MSc in International Sustainable Development, joining his peers in marking the successful completion of a demanding programme.

For academic staff, graduation remains a highlight of the teaching year. It is a moment to share in students’ joy and to celebrate the tangible results of their hard work and dedication, reinforcing the collective pride at the heart of the IDIA community