Degree Ceremonies
Booking your ceremony
How do I book a ceremony?
If you are an undergraduate or a taught masters student, you will be invited to book a ceremony via Student Self Service in Michaelmas Term of your final year. You'll receive emails from the Academic Office and the University with instructions and reminders. There is a booking window that opens partway through Michaelmas Term and stays open until the start of Hilary Term.
In Michaelmas Term 2024, the booking window will open on 26 November 2024 at 10:00 GMT and will close on 31 January 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
If you are a research student or a graduate on a modular masters course, you will automatically receive an email from the University when you are marked has having completed your course. A number of spaces on ceremonies are reserved for students who fall into this category, so that they are not all taken during the booking window for taught students. A list of these courses is below.
Healthcare Innovation (RCUK CDT)
Partial Differential Equations (EPSRC CDT)
Synthesis for Biology and Medicine (EPSRC CDT)
Statistical Science (EPSRC & MRC CDT)
Statistical Science (EPSRC & MRC CDT) Warwick
Gas Turbine Aerodynamics (EPSRC CDT)
Ind Focused Maths Modelling (EPSRC CDT)
Oil and Gas (NERC CDT)
Interdisciplinary Bioscience (BBSRC DTP)
Life Sciences Interface (EPSRC CDT)
Cyber Security (EPSRC CDT)
Systems Approaches to Biomed Sc (EPSRC & MRC CDT)
Systems Biology (EPSRC CDT)
Science & Technology of Fusion Energy (EPSRC CDT)
Environmental Research (NERC DTP)
Biomedical Imaging (EPSRC & MRC CDT)
Biomedical Imaging (EPSRC & MRC CDT) NOTTS
DPhil Ion Channels and Disease
DPhil Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
DPhil Chromosome Biology
DPhil Astrophysics
DPhil AOP Physics
DPhil Condensed Matter Physics
DPhil Particle Physics
DPhil Theoretical Physics
DPhil Atomic and Laser Physics
DPhil Human Anatomy and Genetics
DPhil Architectural History
DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology
DPhil Anthropology
DPhil Anthropology (Part-time)
DPhil Archaeology (Full-time)
DPhil Archaeology (Continuing Education)
DPhil Archaeological Science
DPhil Ancient History (FT)
DPhil Ancient History (PT)
DPhil Biochemistry
DPhil Biochemistry (OU/TSRI)
DPhil Biomedical Sciences: NIH-OU
DPhil Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
DPhil Oncology
DPhil Chemical Biology
DPhil Classical Languages and Literature (FT)
DPhil Classical Languages and Literature (PT)
DPhil Criminology
DPhil Criminology (Part-time)
DPhil Clinical Laboratory Sciences
DPhil Clinical Medicine
DPhil Clinical Medicine (PT)
DPhil Computer Science
DPhil Comp Philology and Gen Linguistics
DPhil Classical Archaeology
DPhil Clinical Neurology
DPhil Clinical Neurosciences
DPhil Cardiovascular Medicine
DPhil Cardiovascular Medicinal Chemistry
DPhil Area Studies (Middle East)
DPhil Area Studies (Russia and East Europe)
DPhil Area Studies (Latin America)
DPhil Area Studies (Africa)
DPhil Area Studies (South Asia)
DPhil Area Studies (Japan)
DPhil Area Studies (China)
DPhil Development Studies
DPhil International Development
DPhil Education (Full-time)
DPhil Educational Studies (Part-time)
DPhil Education (Part-time)
DPhil Earth Sciences (Full-time)
DPhil Earth Sciences (Part-time)
DPhil Evidence Based Health Care
DPhil English Language and Literature
DPhil English (to 1550)
DPhil English
DPhil Engineering Science
DPhil Engineering Science (Part-time)
DPhil Experimental Psychology (Direct Entry)
DPhil Experimental Psychology (1+3)
DPhil Experimental Psychology (PT)
DPhil English Local History
DPhil Geography and the Environment
DPhil Geography and the Environment (PT)
DPhil Social Data Science
DPhil Social Data Science (PT)
DPhil Inorganic Chemistry
DPhil Organic Chemistry
DPhil Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
DPhil Fine Art (Full-Time)
DPhil Fine Art (Part-Time)
DPhil Continuing Education
DPhil Obstetrics and Gynaecology
DPhil History (History of Art)
DPhil History of Art
DPhil History of Art (Part-time)
DPhil History (HSM and ESH)
DPhil History (HSM and ESH) (Part-time)
DPhil Modern History
DPhil History
DPhil History (Part-time)
DPhil Literature and Arts
DPhil Law
DPhil Law (Part-time)
DPhil Socio-Legal Studies
DPhil Socio-Legal Studies (PT)
DPhil Medical Sciences
DPhil Management Studies
DPhil Orthopaedic Surgery
DPhil Musculoskeletal Sciences
DPhil Molecular and Cellular Medicine
DPhil Materials
DPhil Mathematics
DPhil Music (FT)
DPhil Music (PT)
DPhil Neuroscience
DPhil Oriental Studies
DPhil Pathology
DPhil Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease
DPhil Population Health
DPhil Population Health (1+3)
DPhil Population Health (PT)
DPhil Paediatrics
DPhil Plant Sciences
DPhil Pharmacology
DPhil Politics
DPhil Public Policy
DPhil Public Policy (Part-time)
DPhil Primary Health Care
DPhil Primary Health Care (PT)
DPhil Public Health
DPhil Psychiatry
DPhil Psychiatry (PT)
DPhil Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
DPhil Medieval and Modern Languages (FT)
DPhil Medieval and Modern Languages (PT)
DPhil Sustainable Urban Development
DPhil Info, Comm, and Soc Sci
DPhil Info, Comm, and Soc Sci (PT)
DPhil Social Policy
DPhil Social Intervention
DPhil Statistics
DPhil Surgery
DPhil Surgical Sciences
DPhil Sociology
DPhil Zoology
DPhil Economics
DPhil Economics (Part-time)
DPhil Radiobiology (Direct Entry)
DPhil Radiobiology (1+3)
DPhil International Relations
DPhil Theology (Full-time)
DPhil Theology and Religion (Full-time)
DPhil Theology (Part-time)
DPhil Theology and Religion (Part-time)
DPhil Philosophy
DPhil Cardiovascular Science (BHF)
DPhil Genomic Medicine and Statistics
DPhil Structural Biology
DPhil Infect, Imm, and Trans Med
MLitt Social and Cultural Anthropology
MLitt Anthropology
MLitt Archaeology
MLitt Ancient History
MLitt Classical Languages and Literature
MLitt Comp Philology and Gen Linguistics
MLitt International Development
MLitt Education (Full-time)
MLitt Education (Part-time)
MLitt English Language and Literature
MLitt Geography and the Environment
MLitt Fine Art (Full-Time)
MLitt Fine Art (Part-Time)
MLitt Modern History
MLitt History
MLitt Law
MLitt Socio-Legal Studies
MLitt Management Studies
MLitt Music
MLitt Oriental Studies
MLitt Politics
MLitt Public Policy
MLitt Medieval and Modern Languages
MLitt Info, Comm, and Soc Sci
MLitt Social Policy
MLitt Social Intervention
MLitt Sociology
MLitt Economics
MLitt International Relations
MLitt Theology (Full-time)
MLitt Theology (Part-time)
MLitt Philosophy
MSc(Res) AOP Physics
MSc(Res) Atomic and Laser Physics
MSc(Res) Biochemistry
MSc(Res) Oncology
MSc(Res) Chemical Biology
MSc(Res) Cardiovascular Science (BHF)
MSc(Res) Clinical Medicine
MSc(Res) Clinical Medicine (Part-time)
MSc(Res) Computer Science
MSc(Res) Clinical Neurosciences
MSc(Res) Education (Full-time)
MSc(Res) Education (Part-time)
MSc(Res) Engineering Science
MSc(Res) Experimental Psychology (Direct Entry)
MSc(Res) Experimental Psychology (PT)
MSc(Res) Geography and the Environment
MSc(Res) Inorganic Chemistry
MSc(Res) Organic Chemistry
MSc(Res) Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
MSc(Res) Obstetrics and Gynaecology
MSc(Res) Medical Sciences
MSc(Res) Musculoskeletal Sciences
MSc(Res) Molecular and Cellular Medicine
MSc(Res) Materials
MSc(Res) Mathematics
MSc(Res) Pathology
MSc(Res) Paediatrics
MSc(Res) Pharmacology
MSc(Res) Primary Health Care
MSc(Res) Psychiatry
MSc(Res) Psychiatry (Part-time)
MSc(Res) Physiology
MSc(Res) Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
MSc(Res) Info, Comm, and Soc Sci
MSc(Res) Social Policy
MSc(Res) Social Intervention
MSc(Res) Statistics
MSc(Res) Surgical Sciences
MSc(Res) Zoology
Synthetic Biology (EPSRC & BBSRC CDT)
Synthetic Biology (EPSRC & BBSRC CDT) Collab
MPhil Law
MPhil Socio-Legal Research
Theory and Modelling in Chem Sciences (EPSRC CDT)
New and Sustainable Photovoltaics (EPSRC CDT)
MSt Legal Research
MSt Socio-Legal Research
Diamond Science and Technology (EPSRC CDT)
Auto Intelligent Machines and Systems (EPSRC CDT)
Renewable Energy Marine Structures (EPSRC CDT)
DEng Renewable Energy Marine Structs (EPSRC CDT)
Science & App Plastic Elec Materials (EPSRC CDT)
Sci Eng Arts Heritage Arch (EPSRC CDT)
MSc In Evidence-Based Health Care (SR)
MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care (MS)
MSc Evidence-Based Health Care
MSc Mathematical Finance
MSc Experimental Therapeutics
MSc Experimental and Translational Therapeutics
MSc Nanotechnology for Medicine and HC (PGC Ent)
MSc Translational Health Sciences
MSc Translational Health Sciences (PT)
MSc Surgical Science and Practice
MSc Endovascular Neurosurgery (Full-time)
MSc Endovascular Neurosurgery (Part-time)
MSc Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care
MSc Software Engineering
MSc Software and Systems Security
MSc TELUS
MSt Practical Ethics
Do I get a choice of dates?
Sort of! During the booking window, different ceremonies have different places reserved for different courses. This is because some postgraduate courses get their results at different times, so we need to make sure your results will be released before your ceremony date. This means people on different courses will see different dates.
If none of the dates available to you in the booking window suit, you can be added to the waiting list for an alternative date. Once the window closes, if there are spaces, it might be possible to move you onto a ceremony that was originally reserved for other courses. Please note this isn't guaranteed - if you want a guaranteed slot, you need to pick one of the dates given in the booking window. Email graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk to ask about potential dates.
In the unlikely event there are no dates when you open the window, don't panic! Keep checking while the booking window is open as people can move between ceremonies. Alternatively, you can contact graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk to be added to the waiting list for a date that wasn't originally for your degree type.
I missed the window! What do I do?
Email graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk and we'll be able to check if we can add you to a ceremony manually.
Ceremony Tickets
How many guest tickets do I get?
You are guaranteed two guest tickets.
How do I get my tickets
Your tickets will be waiting for you when you arrive in college on the day. They are not issued electronically, and they don't have specific names attached to them. Your guest must collect their tickets from you on the morning before they go to the Sheldonian. They will not be permitted to enter the Clarendon Quad without their tickets.
Can I get any more tickets?
Around six weeks before your ceremony, the Academic Office will be in touch to make arrangements for your degree day. This will include a chance for you to request extra tickets but please note that additional tickets are in no way guaranteed. Extra tickets only become available if other graduands do not require both of their guaranteed tickets.
Those that ask for extra tickets will go on a waiting list in the order they respond to the email from the Academic Office. It is not possible to be added to the waiting list before then.
How does the waiting list work?
If any extra tickets are available, the person at the top of the list will be given one extra ticket, then the next person will be given one, then so on. If there are still spare tickets once everyone who wants extra tickets has been given one, the person at the top of the list is given a second, and so on.
What if I don't get all the tickets I want?
We host a livestream of the ceremony in College, so guests without tickets can still watch you graduate from here. You can also access the livestream anywhere in the world.
I've booked, now what?
What happens on the day?
The timings vary depending on what time your ceremony is, but there is always a lunch, a group photograph, the opportunity for professional photographs of you and your family, a briefing from the Dean of Degrees, and the ceremony itself at the Sheldonian.
What deadlines are there ahead of the day?
60 days beforehand - this is the deadline to withdraw from the ceremony.
1 month beforehand - this will be the deadline to confirm your arrangements to the Academic Office (more details will be sent to you six weeks beforehand).
2 weeks beforehand - this is the deadline to pay any guest lunches. If you miss this deadline, your guest lunches will be cancelled!
How do I confirm my arrangements?
6 weeks before your ceremony, the Academic Office will send you a form to complete. This will include (among other details):
- How many guest ceremony tickets you would like
- Whether you want to attend the lunch on the day, how many guests you would like to bring, and any dietary requirements
- How you would like to hire your gown and hood
How do gowns work?
Please see the 'Arrangements Form and Next Steps' section.
How can I get visa letters for my guests?
Email graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk and include
- Your guests' full names and relations to you (e.g. Billy Bloggs, father, Susan Smith, sister)
- How many physical copies you need (if any)
- Any other information you need including (e.g. passport numbers).
Arrangements Form and Next Steps
When do I get the form?
The Academic Office will email you around six weeks ahead of your ceremony with the link to the form and the deadline for completing it, which will be four weeks before the ceremony.
If you submit your form after the deadline, you will not be permitted to request extra ceremony tickets or guest lunch places. The waiting list for extra tickets is based on the order that completed forms are received, so the quicker you complete your form, the higher up on the waiting list you will be.
Ceremony Tickets
In this section you indicate how many of your guaranteed tickets you want, and whether you would like to be added to the waiting list for any extras. You do not need to book a ticket for yourself.
Lunch Arrangements
In this section, you indicate whether you want to attend the lunch in college, and how many guests you want to bring. Please list all dietary requirements, including for all your guests!
You are guaranteed a place for your and two guests, and can be added to the waiting list for extra guest lunch places.
Paying for Lunches
Once your number of lunches is confirmed, you will be asked to pay via Flywire. We will send you an email with full instructions.
The deadline for paying is two weeks before the ceremony. If you have not paid by this point, your guest lunches will be cancelled. This is a hard deadline.
After you have paid, we are unable to issue refunds if a guest can no longer make it, as the food will already have been purchased.
Address
Usually you are given your certificate on the day, but we need an up-to-date address in case we need to post your certificate to you. If you address changes after you complete the form, please let us know.
Gown hire
John Carter, the Porter at HMC, is able to provide gowns, hood and academic caps (mortar boards), often at a cheaper rate than other gowners (£50 to be paid in cash on the day).
We strongly recommend you hire your gown through John as he will have everything ready for you in College when you arrive, which means that you do not need to collect your gown from elsewhere beforehand (we sometimes have issues where gowners do not open in time and people have not been able to collect their gown and/or issues where people have been given the wrong gown). However, you can hire your gown from elsewhere if you wish. In the form, you will be asked to indicate which option you choose. If you choose to hire through John, you will also need to pick the right size.
On the day
What's the programme?
The programme for the the day varies depending on what time your ceremony is. The three variations are:
10:30 Ceremonies
08:45: Arrival, refreshments and gowning
09:15: Briefing by Dean of Degrees in the chapel
10:00: Leave for the Sheldonian
10:30: The ceremony begins
11:50: Ceremony finishes (approximate)
12:00: Return to college for the group photograph
13:00: Lunch in the Arlosh Hall
13:30 Ceremonies
10:00: Arrival, refreshments, gowning and photography
11:00: Group photograph
11:15: Briefing by Dean of Degrees in the chapel
11:45: Lunch in the Arlosh Hall
13:00: Leave for the Sheldonian
13:30: The ceremony begins
14:50: Ceremony finishes (approximate)
16:15 Ceremonies
12:30: Arrival, refreshments, gowning and photography
13:30: Group Photograph
13:45: Briefing by Dean of Degrees in the chapel
14:15: Lunch in the Arlosh Hall
15:45: Leave for the Sheldonian
16:15: The ceremony begins
17:35: Ceremony finishes (approximate)
Arrival, refreshments and gowning
When you arrive, you'll need to sign in and collect your guest ceremony tickets. Don't forget to give your tickets to your guests before they go to the Sheldonian! John will then help you get into your gown. There will be refreshments for you and your guests.
Briefing from the Dean of Degrees
This is where you'll be given a run through of the ceremony. Your guests are welcome to come as well.
Group photograph and individual/family photographs
We have a mandatory group photograph of all the graduands, and then you will have chance to have professional shots of you and your family and friends.
Livestream
A livestream of ceremonies can be accessed by clicking below.
The Ceremony
You'll get a full briefing on the day but the University has produced the below video which gives you a good idea of what to expect.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/9E2RmVkgxLA
