Graduation

The following schedule is provisional. Dates and format of the graduation ceremonies and associated college events are subject to change or cancellation, dependant on the latest government advice regarding COVID-19. Please, bear this in mind when booking travel and accommodation. The College cannot accept claims for cost of cancellations, e.g. lost deposits.

• Friday 21 October 2022 (In person, followed by Graduation High Tea) Booking open on CamSIS. Closing date 04/10/2022
• Saturday 26 November 2022 (In absence only) Booking open on CamSIS. Closing date 10/11/2022
• Saturday 28 January 2023 (In person, followed by Graduation High Tea) To book contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Closing date 10/01/2023
• Saturday 25 February 2023 (In person, followed by Graduation High Tea) To book contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Closing date 07/02/2023
• Saturday 1 April 2023 (In person, followed by Graduation Dinner) To book contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Closing date 14/03/2023
• Friday 28 April 2023 - (In person, followed by Graduation High Tea) To book contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Closing date 11/04/2023
• Saturday 20 May 2023 - MA (2016 matriculation) graduation and reunion dinner only. Eligible graduands will be invited to attend. Closing date 23/04/2023   
• Friday 30 June 2023 (General Admission) - This Congregation is reserved as a day of General Admission for the presentation of candidates for 'first' degrees; BTh, BA, VetMB and BA with MEng or MMath or MSci degrees only.
• Friday 21 July 2023 (In person, followed by Graduation High Tea).To book contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Closing date 03/07/2023

Students who had a degree conferred in absence during the pandemic and wish to celebrate their degree should contact graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk

For further information on graduation please see the University of Cambridge Graduation web page.

Postgraduate Students

Graduands (those about to be admitted to a degree) should arrange their graduation by contacting graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk at least three weeks before the intended ceremony date.

If you completed your course a while ago and cannot access CamSIS self-service, follow this link to the Extended Self-Service (ESS).

• MPhil students must have received confirmation on CamSIS of Faculty Degree approval.
• PhD students must have received confirmation on CamSIS of approval by the Board of Graduate Studies. Students on other courses will need to confirm their eligibility with the Student Registry before booking.

Please be aware that a condition for graduation is that all University bills must have been paid in full.

When booking please state your preference for the following:

• Christian Trinitarian formula. The degree ceremony incorporates the Christian Trinitarian formula, meaning that degrees are conferred 'In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit'.
• ‘In Nomine Dei’ (In the name of God), can be used instead of the Trinitarian formula.
• Kneeling. Those who do not wish to kneel may opt out.
• In person or in absence. If you decide to take your degree in absence, you still need to make a formal application to GraduateOffice@sid.cam.ac.uk. Everyone who graduates will receive an official degree transcript, normally within six weeks of the Congregation.

Undergraduate students (BTh, BA, VetMB and BA with MEng or MMath or MSci degrees only)

You will generally collect your degree at the end of your final year, at General Admission. This takes place near the end of June, and details are circulated to eligible students by the Tutorial Assistant during Lent Term.  If you decide not to graduate at General Admission and you would like to take part in an alternative congregation listed above, please contact the Postgraduate Office Administrator for details on how to apply.

Please see the list of dates for details.

Graduation High Tea

Whats included:

• a glass of sparkling wine
• sandwiches
• cakes and scones
• various other items
• tea and coffee

Charge to graduands: No Charge

Guests: £21.00 per head

The time and venue of the High Tea will vary according to the day's timetable, but is likely to be at 3.00pm.

Graduation Dinner

Three courses, with tea and coffee.

Wine for the dinner may be purchased by graduands from the College Buttery, from 6.00 p.m.

No wine or other alcohol may be brought in from outside the College.

Graduation Dinner is at 7.00 pm in Hall.  Bookings can only be taken when eligibility to graduate has been confirmed, and are taken on a 'first come, first served' basis, until the Hall limit is reached.

Graduands and Guest: £36 per head.

Dress for Graduation Dinner (graduands and their guests) is 'smart casual', gowns optional; however, it would nonetheless be entirely appropriate, and welcome, if a graduand wishes to attend in their graduation academical dress.

Guests

Please indicate the number of guest (with dietary requirements) when you book.

Payment instructions for guests will be sent once your ceremony booking is received.

If you need to cancel any guest bookings, please inform the Praelector's Secretary graduateoffice@sid.cam.ac.uk at least 72 hours before the event.

Dress requirements

There are strict University Regulations concerning correct dress at graduation. The regulations cover both formal academical dress (gowns and hoods) and the clothing suitable to wear with it.

These are strict university regulations concerning correct dress at graduation. The regulations cover both academical dress (gowns and hoods) and the clothing suitable to wear with it. Please refer to the University guidelines on Academical Dress.

Please pay close attention to the dress code, including the instruction that those wearing trousers must wear plain black, very dark grey or very dark blue socks and those wearing skirts or dresses must wear plain black, nearly-black or natural coloured tights. Footwear should be smart and practical as the procession to Senate House is along Green Street which has cobbles. The University is very strict in refusing to allow inappropriately attired graduands to be presented for degrees and there will be no time to rectify errors on the day. Please take into consideration that you will be kneeling before the Vice-Chancellor when selecting your dress. 

Schedule

The schedule for each Congregation is finalised by the University a week before the event, exact timings are circulated to graduands in the week preceding the Saturday Congregation.

Rehearsal

This is held in Chapel in the morning (guests are welcome when there is space). Graduands should attend the rehearsal fully dressed for the degree ceremony.  Dress will be checked by the Praelector, and any errors will need to be corrected before graduands may proceed to the Senate-House.

Ceremony

The Praelector will lead a small procession of graduands from the Porters' Lodge to their degrees. The time varies for each Congregation but usually falls between 12pm and 4pm.

Each new graduate leaves by the Doctors' Door (leading down into Senate-House Passage), receiving their degree certificate en route, and then awaits their fellow graduates and guests on the Senate House lawn.  Guests will need to remain in the Senate House until the end of the session.  Photographs and other memorabilia may be purchased at marquees hosted by University staff.

New graduates and their guests may then attend the Graduation High Tea or Dinner at the College.

Photography

Guests are not permitted to take photographs inside the Senate-House. The moment of graduation is captured in a photograph which may be purchased after the ceremony.

Senate House Ceremony Photographs

If you have any queries, please contact Postgraduate Office Administrator.

Guests at Graduation

You  may bring up to two guests to the Senate-House, and tickets should be requested at the time of booking. It is sometimes possible to provide a small number of extra tickets, although this can only be confirmed a week before the ceremony.

Guest tickets for the ceremony must be collected from the Tutorial Office on the day of graduation. Guests need to leave Sidney, to take their places in the Senate-House before the procession leaves College.

There is very little shelter near the Senate House, guests are advised to make adequate provision for wet weather.  The ceremony is not suitable for children under seven due to noise and safety regulations.  Noisy children will be required to be removed from the Senate-House during the ceremony.

Guests who are members of the University may wish to wear a gown, although academic caps or bonnets should not be worn inside the Senate House.  Smart dress for a formal occasion is recommended.

Further details can be found on the University website.