Entry of Names

Please complete the application form as fully as possible and return it no fewer than 15 days before the relevant degree ceremony. The University charges a fee for late entry.

Ceremony Guest Tickets for 2012 and 2013 (*to June 2013 only) 
*please see separate note below about important changes from July 2013 onwards
At certain ceremonies in 2012 and 2013 a maximum of only two guest tickets may be reserved per graduand (rather than three).  Please refer to the 'Dates and Availability of Spaces' section to see which dates this applies to.  


*IMPORTANT CHANGE*

Degree Ceremonies from July 2013 onwards
With effect from July 2013, the process for booking candidates on to a degree ceremony will change.  For these ceremonies, the colleges will no longer be dealing with entering candidates, and the administration will be taken over by the University by a process which will involve entering students as they complete their course in 2013 and allocating them to specific graduation dates as arranged by the University.  Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students will be provisionally allocated to a ceremony at the start of their final year. Once a research student has been given leave to supplicate (an earlier date may be more appropriate and may be arranged with the University), the student will be informed of the next available graduation dates.   Alumni who wish to graduate on a date prior to June 2013 should contact the College and book in the normal way as is currently the process.   Alumni who wish to graduate after July 2013 should contact the College for details on how to apply.  Candidates will still be invited to their College to participate in the college graduation events with the Dean of Degrees, such as important meetings with the Dean of Degrees, lunch, drinks, tea and to collect their degree certificates.
Further details about these changes will be posted by the University nearer the time, when the colleges will also have more details.    Please also see the following link http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/graduation/ceremonies/

In the meantime, candidates should continue to contact Wadham College for booking on to degree ceremonies prior to July 2013.   


Presentation for a Single Degree
It is no longer possible for a candidate to have more than one degree conferred in person at a ceremony. If you wish to have two or more degrees conferred at the same ceremony, you must choose which degree you would like to have conferred in person - this will normally be the more superior of the degrees for which a candidate has been given leave to supplicate. The other degree(s) will then be conferred in absentia at that same ceremony. Please indicate this clearly on your application form.

Since the Proctors have limited the number of candidates that may be presented at any one ceremony, we sometimes have to refuse applications and ask candidates to come on an alternative date. Applications will be dealt with as they are received, so early application is advised. We are unable to make provisional bookings and cannot reserve places until the completed form has been received.

If you wish to attend a ceremony in Trinity Term or the Long Vacation you are advised to apply during the previous year or sooner. All places are usually filled by the end of December or even earlier. The quota system does not affect those taking degrees in absentia.


Degree Certificates
For graduands taking their degree(s) in person, degree certificates will be available for collection from the Dean of Degrees in College on the day of graduation. This will take place back in College following the degree ceremony, and just prior to afternoon tea.  
For graduands taking their degrees in absentia, the degree certificates will be sent to you from College via Recorded Delivery, when it will be important to confirm beforehand that we have your correct postal address.

Non-Christian Formula
Candidates for the MA, DD, DCL, DM and MCh are to note at the time of booking their graduation, that they will have to kneel in front of the Vice-Chancellor, who touches each person on the head with a Testament, admitting them 'In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost' .  Please see the Degree Ceremony brochure link below for further information
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/global/wwwoxacuk/localsites/studentgateway/documents/Degree_Ceremony_Brochure.pdf
Candidates taking these degrees may request at the time when their names are being submitted to the Degree Conferrals Office, to have the option of the non-Christian formula at the degree ceremony.   It will not be permitted to request the non-Christian formula on the day of the degree ceremony.


Cancellations
A candidate who is unable to attend a degree ceremony for which he or she is entered should inform the college by contacting the Tutorial Office Administrator (Degrees) in the Tutorial Office in writing (e-mail is acceptable: theo.rnjak@wadh.ox.ac.uk) as soon as possible, and no less than 15 days prior to the graduation, as once the college has submitted the list of graduands to the University, it is not possible to withdraw from the ceremony without the Vice-Chancellor's permission. It would be very much appreciated if the College could be notified of a cancellation as early as possible, so that others are not unnecessarily excluded.

Fees

For the degree of MA (Master of Arts) a fee of £20.00 is payable (overseas applicants should send a sterling cheque). Please send a cheque payable to Wadham College with your application. For other degrees, with the exception of a few higher degrees, there is no fee. Please see notes below on the entitlement to the Master of Arts degree.

Debts (Important!)

Candidates must pay any outstanding battels or other debts to the College and University, including repayment of outstanding loans, and the return of any College library books and University faculty library books at the time of entering their name. It is a University and College rule that no candidate may be presented at a degree ceremony if still in debt or has books/library fines outstanding to the College and University.  PLEASE MAKE SURE!

D.Phil Students (including research students of other higher degrees)

It is important that graduate students who book their place on a degree day well in advance keep the Tutorial Office Administrator informed as to whether or not they anticipate completing their degree in time for the ceremony of their choice. If it seems unlikely that you will complete in time for the degree day, please ensure the Tutorial Office Administrator is notified in writing (e-mail acceptable) of the wish to cancel no less than 4 weeks prior to the ceremony. If the College has not been informed of the completion of graduate work at this time, their name will be removed from the graduation list so that others are given the opportunity to graduate.

Theses (Important!)

Candidates for higher degrees must ensure that a bound copy of their thesis, where appropriate, is deposited with the Research Degrees Office (which is based at the Examination Schools, Room 5, High Street) at least 1 week before the degree ceremony, otherwise the University will not allow them to take their degree.  The contact at the Research Degrees  Office is Ms Margaret Hames on margaret.hames@admin.ox.ac.uk or tel (0)1865-(2)86384.

Oxford University Research Archive for Theses
In addition to the deposit of a hardbound copy of your thesis in the Bodleian (or other appropriate University library), you are invited to deposit an electronic copy of your thesis in the Oxford University Research Archive (ORA).  Deposit in the Oxford University Archive is entirely voluntary and will mean the thesis is more visible.  Deposit requires the Oxford username and password - details at https://webauth.ox.ac.uk/  Please ensure you deposit the final version of your thesis, including any applicable corrections.  To deposit the digital copy of the thesis, go to http://ora.ouls.ox.ac.uk and click on 'Contribute'.  Full instructions can be found at www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/ora and help is available by contacting ORA@ouls.ox.ac.uk


College Specific Degree Days in 2012  and 2013   **2 guest tickets only per graduand** 
The 2012 and 2013 College-Specific degree days will be on 5 May 2012 and 4 May 2013.  The following degrees only will be conferred on these dates: **BA degrees and Undergraduate Masters degrees ONLY, excluding the MA (Master of Arts) degree  (see below for MA entitlement)**

Lunch 
*Please note the cost of a lunch guest will increase with effect from November 2012 (see below)
It is very important that you ensure you attend lunch in College on all degree days, as this is very much a part of the ceremony, and the Dean of Degrees expects graduands to attend.  The time spent over lunch and pre-lunch drinks is an opportunity for the Dean of Degrees to brief graduands of the procedure in advance of the ceremony, and to ask graduands to sign the register of attendance.  Graduands are automatically booked in to the graduation lunch in advance.
Guests are invited to join graduands for the graduation lunch in College at a cost of £20.00 per guest. 

*The cost of a guest lunch will increase to £23.00 per guest with effect from November 2012 degree days

Each graduand may invite a maximum of 3 guests each to the lunch, except not on the College-Specific day, when a maximum of 2 guests per graduand may be invited. Please notify if you have any special dietary requirements. You should wear academic dress, but not gowns.

Tea
Tea is provided in College following the afternoon degree ceremony for candidates and their guests between 4 and 5pm in Hall.  If you wish, you may bring more guests to tea than the three allowed to attend the ceremony, but do please notify of the number of guests to tea.  PLEASE NOTE:  Tea is not provided on the College-Specific degree day. 

Please see webpage showing 'Dates & Availability of Spaces' for details of schedule of events and timings.

Dressing and Robing

Sub-fusc must be worn. It is important that candidates should observe this regulation as it would be embarrassing if it were necessary for the Proctors to turn them away once they had arrived at the ceremony. Men must wear a dark suit and socks, black shoes, white shirt and white bow tie. Women must wear a black skirt (or trousers), white blouse (no t-shirts/bodies), black tie, plain dark stockings, and dark shoes and, if desired, a dark coat. All candidates require robes (gowns, caps and hoods) appropriate to their initial status, in addition to the robes for each degree they propose to take.

The Head Porter (acting as Degree Scout) will automatically hire a gown and hood for you (at current rates), unless you inform him that you are making your own arrangements.   Please notify the Head Porter of your height so that he can order the appropriate length of gown for you.   You will be charged for hire costs, unless you notify the Head Porter in advance of your degree day that you will provide your own robing. You must contact the Head Porter to confirm gown and payment arrangements as soon as possible after receiving notification from the college that your name is being entered (no less than 2-3 weeks prior to the degree day). Please note that the money for gowns is to be made directly to the Head Porter before the degree ceremony takes place (please telephone the Head Porter on 01865-277900/277901 or email on lodge@wadh.ox.ac.uk to find out the current rates). In addition, he attends at the degree ceremony to assist candidates in robing - (it is customary to offer him a gratuity of at least £5.00).  

During the degree ceremony both men and women must wear a mortarboard (women also have the choice of a soft black cap).

Guests

**PLEASE NOTE that unfortunately ceremonies are not suitable for children under the age of seven**

Seats for guests:
Your guests may attend the degree ceremony, which takes place at the Sheldonian Theatre, and should arrive at the Sheldonian at least half an hour prior to the ceremony. Seats cannot be reserved.

To overcome a major problem of overcrowding at the Sheldonian Theatre, the Proctors issue tickets for candidates' guests for all the degree ceremonies. Up to 3 guest tickets will be available for each candidate depending upon the number to be presented (except on degree days as specified on the Dates & Availability list when only 2 guest tickets per graduand may be allocated). THESE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION ON THE MORNING OF GRADUATION DAY BY CANDIDATES AT THE COLLEGE LODGE ON THE DAY OF THE CEREMONY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THEIR GUESTS. Guests should be informed accordingly. Please indicate on your form how many tickets you will require.  If you, or any of your guests have any specific access requirements please let the Tutorial Office know.

Notes on the MA (Master of Arts) - Entitlement
Candidates for the MA (Master of Arts) must hold the Oxford Bachelor of Arts degree. If necessary, the two degrees can be taken at the same ceremony, but please note that only one degree may be taken in person, the other degree will then have to be conferred "in absentia" if both degrees are to be taken at the same ceremony. Candidates should normally have entered upon the 21st term from their matriculation, but some may take their MA degrees earlier, as follows:

Candidates who have taken their BA and who: