Graduation
Elements of the Cambridge degree ceremony have their origin some eight hundred years ago, amongst the earliest customs of the University. Today, the graduation ceremony is both the occasion on which students are formally admitted to their Cambridge degrees and an opportunity for students to celebrate their time at Caius with family and friends. If you are about to graduate, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and we hope that your graduation at Cambridge proves to be a truly memorable occasion.
There are a number of opportunities each year for eligible candidates to graduate. Candidates who are suitably qualified by examination, residence and having discharged their College accounts may be admitted to their degrees at any Congregation of the Regent House. These are generally held on Saturdays at roughly monthly intervals during term throughout the year. The dates for 2011-12 are:
Michaelmas Term: 22 October, 11am; 26 November, 2pm
Lent Term: 21 January, 2pm; 24 March, 10am
Easter Term: 28 April 11am; 19 May 10am
Long Vacation: 21 July, 10am
The exact timetable is only published a few of days before each ceremony. Details will be available on this website and from the Porters' Lodge near the time. In addition to these Saturday ceremonies, which are open to all qualified graduands, the General Admission ceremony (which is only for LLM, MEng, MMath, MSci, VetMB, MusB, BA and BTh degrees) will take place during the afternoon of Thursday 28 June. This is the biggest and busiest ceremony of the year. You can find out much more about the graduation ceremony, practical matters, and entitlement to proceed to the MA degree here.
If you have recently completed a degree at Caius, you are likely to be contacted directly by the College with details of the graduation process. The process is overseen by the College Praelector. Graduands may be admitted to their degrees either in person or in absence. In either case, a written request should be submitted to the Praelector at least three weeks before the intended degree ceremony (four weeks for the May ceremony). An application form is available for download here (document in word.doc format). Requests can also be submitted by e-mail to the Tutorial Office or by fax to +44 1223 332 456.
No one will have their name put forward for graduation without a specific request. If the result of an examination will only become known less than three weeks before a degree ceremony (and this is often the case where meetings of the Board of Graduate Studies are involved), it is possible to enter a candidate's name provisionally before the result is known. It is important, however, to check that there is sufficient time for a recommendation to have passed through formal meetings of Examiners, a Degree Committee, and the Board of Graduate Studies at least ten days before the proposed ceremony. Please check with your supervisor if there is any doubt.
Rather more notice is required for graduation at the General Admission and eligible candidates will be contacted with details early in the Easter Term. It is necessary for all candidates to confirm explicitly the intention to graduate.
All graduands will receive a letter confirming their date of graduation and explaining the dress required. Details of the ceremony, can be found here. Tickets are required for guests at all ceremonies. Ordinarily, each candidate is entitled to three tickets which will be enclosed with the letter of confirmation. Graduands are only allowed two guests at the annual General Admission and tickets will be issued in advance. Requirements for guest tickets should be given when making a request to graduate.
If you choose to graduate in person at the Senate House, you are required to wear the following Cambridge academical dress at the ceremony:
Undergraduates and affiliated students: undergraduate gown of your college and the hood of the highest degree that you are about to receive.
Postgraduate candidates: either the gown and hood of your highest existing Cambridge degree or, if not already a Cambridge graduate, a BA or MA status gown and the hood of the highest degree you are about to take.
Candidates for degrees by Incorporation or the MA under Statute B.III.6: the gown and hood of the degree that they are about to receive.
You may hire or buy academical dress from any of the following Cambridge suppliers:
Ede & Ravenscroft
70-72 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RJ
website: www.gownhire.co.uk
enquiries: 01223 350048 (shop) or 01223 861854
Ryder & Amies
22 King’s Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SP
website: www.ryderamies.co.uk
email: enquiries@ryderamies.co.uk
A.E. Clothier
5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QY
website: www.aeclothier.co.uk
email: sales@aeclothier.co.uk
As graduation is a formal occasion, an appropriate standard of dress is expected. The dress code below is strictly enforced at ceremonies, and if you do not observe it, you may not be permitted to graduate on a particular occasion. The Praelector is able to offer further advice on dress.
Men
- A black, very dark grey or very dark blue suit. The suit must be dark enough not to contrast obviously with a black gown.
- A plain, long-sleeved, white shirt.
- Formal black shoes. Sandals are not permitted.
- Unpatterned black or very dark grey socks.
- White bow-tie and bands.
Women
- A black, very dark grey or very dark blue suit, or a dark skirt without a jacket or a dark, long-sleeved dress.
- A plain, long-sleeved, white shirt or blouse.
- Formal black shoes. Sandals are not permitted.
- Unpatterned black, nearly-black, or natural coloured hosiery.
- Bands are optional for women. They may only be worn with a properly collared white shirt.
Headdress
The square cap, or 'mortarboard', is optional for graduands at Cambridge. If you do decide to wear one on the day, you should take it off and carry it in your left hand inside the Senate-House.
Jewellery
Conspicuous jewellery and hair-grips are not permitted.
Please address all enquiries to the Praelector (praelector@cai.cam.ac.uk).