After years of hard work, study and inspiration, today is a day to celebrate.

More than 500 graduates of the Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) will receive their degrees from chancellor John Hurt.

Among them will be Katie Whitton, graduating with a BA (Hons) Textiles degree, who last week won the New Designers Tigerprint Award for her lengths of silk with printed designs.

She said: 'NUA has provided an encouraging place in which to develop my work.

'The teachers on my course make sure we are aware of the many opportunities, placements and competitions which can help us to engage with the creative industries. I have already won some competitions including the university's Brainchild student enterprise competition, in which I received professional mentoring from local businesses.'

NUA vice-chancellor John Last said: 'As the graduates cross the stage it is literally a rite of passage, as they leave us to begin the next stage of their lives and careers. At NUA, we have long understood that degrees must be intellectually demanding, challenge old orthodoxies and offer new ideas, but at the same time be vocationally relevant and aligned with the creative industries in which our graduates will work.

'All of this activity supports the employability of our students and gives them that vital edge in gaining their first job.'

To see the full list of students graduating today, click on the link near the top of the story.