HUNDREDS of students at the University of Bradford have celebrated their graduations, and one received a marriage proposal as well as her diploma.

Over the past three days, the graduating class of 2017 have been attending their ceremonies in the University’s Great Hall.

And yesterday morning’s ceremony proved particularly memorable for one graduate.

Emma Charlotte Ellis was in her cap and gown after having collected her first class degree in social work when, at the end of the ceremony, her partner Daniel Depass was introduced by Chancellor Kate Swann. He then came to the front of the hall, got down on one knee and proposed.

Much to Mr Depass’ relief, she said yes, and after the ceremony they had their two children present and met with the Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor.

It is thought to be the first proposal at a University of Bradford graduation ceremony.

The three days have seen students congregating in the university atrium before the ceremonies begin to meet friends and take photos in their gowns with their families.

Tuesday saw graduates from the Faculties of Engineering and Informatics and Management and Law come together to collect their degrees.

On Wednesday, students from the Faculties of Social Sciences and Health Studies collected their degrees, and yesterday it was the turn of students from the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

As well as the students, this year's honorary degrees were handed out to seven people from the world of politics, science and business.

Professor Alok Dhawan, Sir David Behan, Professor Jacqui Taylor, Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Paul Jagger MBE, Sapheih Ashtiany, and Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar were handed their degrees by Chancellor Kate Swann and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor.

Professor Dhawan is the director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow, India. He started the area of nanomaterial toxicology in India, and has published a guide on the safe use of nanomaterials. His work has won him international accolades and he has been elected to several national academies of science globally.

University alumnus Sir David Behan is the chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, and was awarded his knighthood for services to health and care in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list.

He has previously worked as the director general of social care, local government and care partnerships at the Department of Health, the presidents of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and was the first chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Web scientist, entrepreneur and Government advisor Professor Jacqui Taylor co-founded FlyingBinary, one of the original 250 Tech City companies, and is also a high profile mentor at Tech City, the world’s best digital hub. She is recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 most powerful entrepreneurs.

Dame Pamela Shaw is Professor of Neurology and Vice-President and Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health at the University of Sheffield, and founding director of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, one of the world leading centres for motor neurone disease research.

She has taken part in more than 15 MND clinical trials, and has worked as UK chief investigator and sat on steering committees, including in several academic led studies.

Former Pro Chancellor of the University of Bradford, Paul Jagger, is also a former TUC regional secretary, and former board member of Yorkshire Forward. With 40 years of experience in regional and local work through formal and informal institutions, he is a key economic, skills, and social policy figure in Yorkshire.

He was regional secretary of the TUC from 1987 to 2006.

Last week, primary school pupils got to experience a graduation ceremony as part of an awards scheme organised by the University of Bradford.

Over 70 children from both Killinghall Primary in Bradford and Fulneck Primary in Pudsey graduated after completing hours of extra-curricular activities as part of the Children’s University initiative.

The children received either bronze, silver or gold awards at the ceremony, depending on how many hours they have clocked up over the year.