Last updated 01/12/2023 

The Student Registry has limited Senate-House guest tickets to 2 per graduand.  Every guest entering the Senate-House requires a ticket, no matter the age of the individual.  Extra tickets may become available, however please use the Senate-House waitlist during your CamSIS registration to ask for any extra tickets.  Requesting extra tickets does not guarantee that you will receive extra tickets.  Extra tickets numbers build up during the registration phase for a graduation.  These tickets are placed in an Extra Ticket Pool which will be distributed at the Dress Rehearsal at the College on the day of the ceremony.    The College is not responsible or required to provide tickets to extra guests that you have invited over the limit of 2 per graduand.

If you need to request tickets for an accompanying carer for a guest that needs assistance or minor children, please email the Graduation Team.

Please ensure that you are confirmed as registered for your chosen graduation before making any other arrangements. This includes travel plans for yourself or your family.  CamSIS does not send confirmation emails after registering for a graduation.  You can email the Graduation Team to confirm. 

Please note that graduands must have a clear College account with no debt and we will be running financial checks prior to graduation.    If you wish to confirm the clearance of any College debt, please email the Finance Team at student.finance@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk.

Please be aware that some in person graduations are subject to a cap on in person attendance.  Once a cap is reached, we will close the CamSIS registration.

Degree Celebration information for those who had to graduate in absence or at no-guest ceremonies during the Covid impacted congregations, can find information on the ‘Celebrating a degree’ section on the Graduation Information page.

Graduation Date

CamSIS registration opens

Registration Deadline/Cap

In Person / In Absence

Saturday, 21 October 2023

1/08/2023

Completed

In Person and In Absence

Saturday, 25 November 2023

01/09/2023

Completed

In Absence only

Friday, 26 January 2023

01/12/2023

Completed

In Absence only

Saturday, 24 February 2024

01/12/2023

Completed

In Person and In Absence

Saturday, 6 April 2024

01/01/2024

 Completed

In Absence only

Saturday, 27 April 2024

01/01/2024

Wednesday,  10 April 2024

Cap = 70

Registration will close when cap is reached.

In Person and In Absence

Friday, 17 May 2024

01/01/2024

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Cap = 70

Registration will close when cap is reached.

In Person and In Absence

 

Saturday, 29 June 2024

General Admission (Undergraduates)

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

08/01/2024

10 May 2024

In Person and In Absence

Saturday, 20 July 2024

Registration is Closed.

Cap has been reached.

Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Cap = 70

Registration will close when cap is reached.

 

In Person and In Absence

 

We will keep this page updated as soon as details for each of the ceremonies become clear. In the meantime, please see the FAQs below for more information.

I have already signed up to graduate

Will I be able to invite guests?

Graduands will be able to invite up to 2 guests to an event in College.  The approximate timings received from the Student Registry for our presence at the Senate-House will determine whether we’ll be having a buffet lunch or drinks reception .  Please see note above regarding Senate-House tickets.

Please ensure that you are confirmed as registered for your chosen graduation before making any other arrangements. This includes travel plans for yourself or your family.  The College is not responsible for any travel plans that may be impacted if you cannot register for your preferred ceremony.

CamSIS does not send confirmation emails after registering for a graduation.  You can email the Graduation Team to confirm. 

Please note that all graduands must be cleared with our Finance Office prior to any graduation.  If you wish to confirm the clearance of any College debt prior to our finance checks, please email accountant@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk.

Please check the Graduation Hub for any changes to College guidance as your ceremony gets nearer, for any updates on the ceremony.

How do I pay for my guest tickets?

If we are holding a paid event, we will include this information to you in plenty of time before the ceremony date, tickets will need to be paid before the ceremony. Payments can be made at the College Reception in person or by phoning +44 (0)1223 336250.  Bank transfers can also be used for payments.  Please see the information here:  https://my.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/finance-office/paying-your-bill/

When will I know my timetable for the day?

Please do not email the Tutorial Office or the Graduation Team asking for timings.   We know that St Edmund’s will usually proceed to the Senate-House in the early to late afternoon of a Saturday congregation.  The Student Registry will publish the timetable for each ceremony 2 weeks prior to each ceremony. We will then fine-tune the event schedule and email the event and ceremony timetable to graduands which will include your dress rehearsal and dining in College timings. 

What will happen during the ceremony?

During the ceremony, you will proceed through the Senate-House in your degree groups and you will stand to receive your degree. Fr Alban McCoy (College Praelector) will present his hand to the graduand(s), give the customary speech to present you and your degree will be conferred individually by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Once conferred, bow to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and proceed on your right through the Doctors Door, collecting your degree certificate on the way.  From the Doctors Door, you’ll be shown the way back into the Senate-House Yard where you’ll find Tempest Photography and the Alumni Relations representatives.  You’ll be able to meet your guests on the Senate-House lawn when your session is completed.

What is the dress code at graduation?

For information on the dress code at graduation, please see the ‘what to wear‘ page in the graduation hub.

What are the rules about face coverings during the ceremony?

Masks are not required at the Senate-House, but if you feel that you’d like to wear one, please feel free to do so.  However, you should remove the face covering as you step up to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor as a photo is taken at this time.  You can then replace the face covering if you desire as you walk out of the Senate-House.

It is not necessary for face coverings to conform to the normal ‘dark clothes’ dress code, but they should be plain (not patterned), or can be the College-branded version if preferred and should be appropriate for a formal occasion.

More details on dress code can be found on the ‘what to wear‘ page on the Graduate Hub

Will the in person ceremony be live-streamed?

A live-stream of the event will be posted at:  https://cambridge.graduations-live.co.uk/

Please note: by attending graduation in person, you are giving your consent to be included in the live-stream. It will not be possible to take part in the ceremony and not be part of the recording.  The link for each congregation will remain active for 3 months before being removed.  The video is not downloadable or sharable and we do not archive any of the videos.

Is photography allowed during the Senate-House ceremony?

Photography is not allowed in the Senate-House.

However, the University’s official photographer (Tempest), will offer studio photography and certificate framing services on the day, as well as photographing you inside the Senate-House as your degree is conferred.  The photos are available from Tempest Photography in the Senate-House Yard after you exit the Senate-House.

Is there anything I should bring with me the ceremony?

We highly recommend that you should bring a payment method, if you wish to buy photographs. Preferred payment methods (for hygiene reasons) are card or phone payments. Cash is also accepted.

Ideally, you should not bring bags, as they will have to be left on the lawn for collection after the ceremony. If the weather is wet, umbrellas can be left on the lawn for collection after the ceremony.

 

I have not yet signed up to graduate

How do I register to graduate?

Registration is via CamSIS. If your Raven account has expired, you can register by choosing CamSIS Extended Self-Service option.

Please check that your contact details (email, telephone and mailing address) are up to date. Your CRSid email address will deactivate shortly after you course completion, so please ensure that you’ve provided an EXTERNAL email address AND marked this as your Preferred email. These details will be used for correspondence before and after you graduate, including mailing your official transcript to you after graduation.

Please note:  If you are a celebrant from one of the Covid restricted congregations, the CamSIS registration process will not work for you. Please see the information below in the section entitled ‘I received my degree in absence during the pandemic and wish to have it celebrated’.

When is the registration deadline for my graduation?

Ceremony dates with registration open/close dates along with caps are listed above.  Please be aware that some in person graduations are subject to a cap on in person attendance.  Once a cap is reached, we will close the CamSIS registration.

Can I still defer graduation until normal in-person graduation with guests resumes?

Normal congregations have resumed.  Further information, including dates of future ceremonies, can be found on the University website.

Can I still opt to graduate in absence and celebrate my degree at a later date?

No.  Only those graduates who had their degree conferred in absence during Covid lockdown  and graduations with Covid restrictions – the period from March 2020 to April 2022 – can return to have their degree celebrated at the Senate-House. 

If you choose to graduate in absence now that normal congregations have resumed, you will not be able to return to celebrate your degree. 

Further information, including dates of future ceremonies, can be found on the University website.  However, please note that St Edmund’s does not present graduands at all congregations.

Can I provide advice on how to pronounce my name?

Please email Graduations with pronunciation advice no later than one week before a congregations.  This is so that your details can be passed on to Student Registry in time for your ceremony.  No pronunciations will be accepted on the day of the ceremony.

Will I be able to invite guests?

Graduands will be able to invite up to 2 guests for entry at the Senate-House.  Extra tickets may become available, however please use the Senate-House waitlist during registration to ask for any extra tickets.  We cannot guarantee that any request for extra tickets will be successful.

Graduands will be able to invite up to 2 guests to a buffet Reception in College. Up to 2 extra tickets may become available, however please use the Senate-House waitlist during registration to ask for any extra tickets.  We cannot guarantee that any request for extra tickets will be successful.

Are there any Covid restrictions on current graduations?

The nature of the Covid pandemic is continually unfolding and therefore we must all remain flexible in order to comply with Covid safety regulations. Please check the Graduation webpage for any changes to College guidance as your ceremony gets nearer, to ensure that your guests will be able to safely visit us on the day.

Will the in person ceremony be live-streamed?

The live-stream link is available at:  https://cambridge.graduations-live.co.uk/will also be made accessible for family and friends around the world to view the ceremony from their own devices. The live-stream will remain accessible for 2 months after your ceremony, it is not downloadable and we do not archive past congregation videos.

Please note: by attending graduation in person, you are giving your consent to be included in the live-stream. It will not be possible to take part in the ceremony and not be part of the recording.

 

I received my degree in absence during the pandemic and wish to have it celebrated

What will happen during the ceremony to celebrate degrees awarded in absence during the pandemic?

If you were awarded your degree in absence during the pandemic and before guests were allowed back to congregations (March 2020 to April 2022) and decide to have it celebrated this academic year, you will join each graduation ceremony in the Senate House as normal. You will not be awarded your degree again, as it has been awarded in absence already, but you and your guests will be able to experience a graduation day as close to normal as is possible at this time.

As Congregations have returned to normal operations, those opting to graduate in absence would no longer be able to attend a later occasion to have their degree ‘celebrated’.

How do I register to have my in absence degree celebrated at graduation ceremonies this summer?

To celebrate your in-absence degree any of the following dates, please complete the relevant google form below.  Please note however, that the Student Registry is now limiting the number of celebrants who can attend a congregation.  This means a celebrant google form may close sooner than expected when we reach our limit.

Registration for degree celebration can be found on the main Graduation webpage in the ‘Celebrating a degree’ section.

Will I be able to invite guests?

Celebrating graduates will be able to invite up to 2 guests for Senate-House entry.

Celebrating graduates will be able to invite up to 2 guests to a buffet Reception in College.  

Will the in person ceremony be live-streamed?

The live-stream link is available at:  https://cambridge.graduations-live.co.uk/will also be made accessible for family and friends around the world to view the ceremony from their own devices. The live-stream will remain accessible for 2 months after your ceremony, it is not downloadable and we do not archive past congregation videos.

Please note: by attending graduation in person, you are giving your consent to be included in the live-stream. It will not be possible to take part in the ceremony and not be part of the recording.