What happens on the day?

Typically, you and your guests are invited to meet at a Drinks Reception in the Garden Room where the Master and Praelector (or Vice-Master or Deputy-Praelector) will welcome you. If you are graduating at General Admission the timings might allow for a hot buffet to be served.

After the Drinks Reception, you are required to attend a dress rehearsal in the College chapel where the Praelector (or Deputy-Praelector) will explain the ceremony to you.  There will be staff on hand to help pin hoods and gowns.

Directly after the Dress Rehearsal all graduands will form up in the Platoon Order (the order in which you’ll be presented at the Senate-House)  The Praelector will then lead the graduands in procession to the Senate-House for the ceremony.

You should arrive fully robed. For more information on the dress code, please click here.

Please do not email the Tutorial Office or the Graduation Team asking for exact timings for the events above.  The Student Registry will publish the timetable for each ceremony 2 weeks prior to each ceremony.  From the timetable, we will fine-tune the event schedule and email the event and ceremony timetable to graduands.  This will include the Dress Rehearsal and Procession timings.   Generally, we know that St Edmund’s will usually proceed to the Senate-House in the early to late afternoon of a Saturday congregation.   

For more on the ceremony, see below.

What happens during the ceremony?

The Congregation ceremony is one of the oldest traditions in the University, with its origins dating back to almost 800 years ago

At the Senate-House, each College is called forward in turn by the Bedells.  The Praelector will present each degree separately to the Vice-Chancellor or her Deputy.  The Praelector will do this by extending his right hand to the graduand(s) and who will take his hand (or finger) while he speaks the Latin to present you. Then, each graduand is called up by name and kneeling before the Vice-Chancellor or the Deputy, you will be awarded your appropriate degree.  As you exit, you will receive your degree certificate.

Can I take photographs during the ceremony?

Personal photography is not permitted in Senate House. However, an official photograph of your degree being awarded will be taken; you can purchase it immediately after the ceremony from the lawn marquee. For more information, click here.

When will I receive my degree certificate?

Your degree certificate will be handed to you as you leave the Senate House. If you graduated in absentia, your degree certificate will be posted to you after the ceremony.

You can access digital copies of your official transcript through the University Digitary service. For more information, please click here.

For information regarding COVID-19 updates to certificates and transcripts, see here.

What if I am taking two degrees?

You will be presented for the higher degree first (e.g. PhD), and then after you receive that degree from the Vice-Chancellor (or her deputy), you turn around and walk back to the waiting graduands where you’ll take your place to receive the lower degree (e.g. MPhil) following the formula as above. You must wear the gown and hood appropriate to your highest degree.  If you have any question, please let us know.

For more information on the dress code, please click here.

What does Praelector do?

The College Praelector is responsible for presenting the College’s graduands at a congregation in the Senate-House. Our Praelector is Fr Alban McCoy  and the Deputy-Praelector is Dr Charlotte Kenchington.  You can contact either one at:  (praelector@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk).

Are ‘Congregation’ and ‘graduation’ the same?

Yes, the terms are used interchangeably.  However, strictly speaking a ‘Congregation’ is where and how you’ll  receive your degree and ‘graduation’ the act of graduating to your degree – which is also known as having your degree “conferred”.

What does ‘Trinitarian formula’ mean?

Degrees are awarded by the authority of the Vice-Chancellor (or her Deputy) and according to rite, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.   This is known as the Trinitarian formula.

If you are not Christian or religious, there are some things to keep in mind.

  1.  The vast majority of degrees are conferred using a shortened te etiam (and you also)  formula, which is non-religious.  For instance, only the first person from each degree type is typically conferred using the full formula (other than PhDs, for whom the long formula is always used).  Depending on your place in your degree group, you most likely will not receive the Trinitarian formula.
  2. Therefore, the religious formula operates on an opt-out basis. Graduands can inform the Bedells if they don’t want the Trinity (or any religious reference) to be mentioned by answering those questions during the CamSIS registration.  However, there is no way to “opt in” and guarantee that the religious formula will be used.
  3. Students may choose EITHER a non-religious conferral, or a conferral in the name of God. It’s not possible to do both. If a graduand doesn’t choose either of these, the full religious formula MAY (or may not) be used.
  4. Our Bedells and Deputy-Vice Chancellors are human beings conferring a lot of degrees in front of a lot of people and they may not always be comfortable or confident in speaking Latin. They do their best, but unfortunately sometimes mistakes can happen. However, we’ll always try to accommodate students’ preferences as far as possible.

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