Graduation
The administration for graduation is processed jointly by the University and the College. The process you will need to follow differs depending on when you complete your degree. You don't need to read all of the information on this page; by clicking on the links, you can see the sections that are relevant to you.
After you have checked how to reserve a place at a graduation ceremony (or how to apply to graduate in absentia) you can click here to view information on what happens after you have booked a place.
Students who started their final year of study from October 2012 onwards
These students will automatically be invited to book onto a degree ceremony at the end of their degree course. Undergraduates and most taught Postgraduates will receive the invitation via email in the November of their final year. Research students and 12-month Masters students will receive the invitation shortly after they have completed their degree course. If you would like to graduate in absentia, you will be able to select this option when you receive your email invitation.
The type of degree that you are studying for determines the point at which you will receive an email invitation to book onto a degree ceremony. Further information is available by clicking on the link that matches your status:
- Undergraduate student or a postgraduate student studying on a taught course
- Research student or a postgraduate student on a 12-month Masters course or other taught course, for which the end date cannot be determined at the start of the course.
Students who completed their degree prior to October 2012
These students are regarded as ‘historic graduands’ and are required to contact the College and ask to be added to a waiting list for inclusion in a degree ceremony. Historic graduands can also graduate in absentia at the next degree ceremony, irrespective of availability. Further information is available here.
Master of Arts degrees
Former students holding an Oxford BA degree who wish to receive a Master of Arts degree by entitlement, should click here for further information.
Undergraduates & most taught postgraduates who complete after October 2012
You will receive an email from the University in the November of your final year inviting you to book onto a degree ceremony at the end of your current course. When completing the invitation, you will be given the option to express choices in the following areas:
- The date of your graduation (limited by availability, to a maximum of 40 graduands)
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
You will also be able to provide information on:
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Please work through each of the screens of your invitation carefully as each one will provide some important information. If you have any queries about any of the information being requested, email the Tutorial Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You should ensure that you have all of the details you will need to complete the booking at the time you are responding to the invitation. It will be difficult to make amendments later.
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, the College will contact you to request information about any guests you may wish to invite for tea and to provide you with details of the final arrangements and payments that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Research & 12-month Masters students who complete after October 2012
If you are undertaking a research degree, a 12-month Masters degree or any other degree for which the end date cannot be determined when you start the course (e.g. modular courses), you will receive an email from the University inviting you to book onto a degree ceremony when you have completed your course. For DPhil students this will be after you receive notification that you have been granted leave to supplicate.
When completing the invitation, you will be given the option to express choices in the following areas:
- The date of your graduation (limited by availability, to a maximum of 40 graduands)
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
You will also be able to provide information on:
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Please work through each of the screens of your invitation carefully as each one will provide some important information. If you have any queries about any of the information being requested, email the Tutorial Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You should ensure that you have all of the details you will need to complete the booking at the time you are responding to the invitation. It will be difficult to make amendments later.
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, the College will contact you to request information about any guests you may wish to invite for tea and to provide you with details of the final arrangements and payments that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Please note that your invitation to book onto a ceremony will be limited to the degree that you are currently studying for. Candidates who have completed a degree prior to their current course of study and who have not yet graduated should be aware that it is not possible to have more than one degree conferred in person at a ceremony. The other degree(s) will normally be conferred in absentia at their chosen ceremony. Candidates in this position should contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if they require further information.
All students who completed prior to October 2012
If you completed your degree prior to October 2012 and you have not yet graduated, or if you wish to take an MA degree by entitlement, you will be regarded as a ‘historic graduand’. Candidates in this category must contact the College by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be placed on a waiting list for an available ceremony.
After you have checked how to reserve a place at a graduation ceremony (or how to apply to graduate in absentia) you can click here to view information on what happens after you have booked a place.
Students who started their final year of study from October 2012 onwards
These students will automatically be invited to book onto a degree ceremony at the end of their degree course. Undergraduates and most taught Postgraduates will receive the invitation via email in the November of their final year. Research students and 12-month Masters students will receive the invitation shortly after they have completed their degree course. If you would like to graduate in absentia, you will be able to select this option when you receive your email invitation.
The type of degree that you are studying for determines the point at which you will receive an email invitation to book onto a degree ceremony. Further information is available by clicking on the link that matches your status:
- Undergraduate student or a postgraduate student studying on a taught course
- Research student or a postgraduate student on a 12-month Masters course or other taught course, for which the end date cannot be determined at the start of the course.
Students who completed their degree prior to October 2012
These students are regarded as ‘historic graduands’ and are required to contact the College and ask to be added to a waiting list for inclusion in a degree ceremony. Historic graduands can also graduate in absentia at the next degree ceremony, irrespective of availability. Further information is available here.
Master of Arts degrees
Former students holding an Oxford BA degree who wish to receive a Master of Arts degree by entitlement, should click here for further information.
Undergraduates & most taught postgraduates who complete after October 2012
You will receive an email from the University in the November of your final year inviting you to book onto a degree ceremony at the end of your current course. When completing the invitation, you will be given the option to express choices in the following areas:
- The date of your graduation (limited by availability, to a maximum of 40 graduands)
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
You will also be able to provide information on:
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Please work through each of the screens of your invitation carefully as each one will provide some important information. If you have any queries about any of the information being requested, email the Tutorial Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You should ensure that you have all of the details you will need to complete the booking at the time you are responding to the invitation. It will be difficult to make amendments later.
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, the College will contact you to request information about any guests you may wish to invite for tea and to provide you with details of the final arrangements and payments that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Research & 12-month Masters students who complete after October 2012
If you are undertaking a research degree, a 12-month Masters degree or any other degree for which the end date cannot be determined when you start the course (e.g. modular courses), you will receive an email from the University inviting you to book onto a degree ceremony when you have completed your course. For DPhil students this will be after you receive notification that you have been granted leave to supplicate.
When completing the invitation, you will be given the option to express choices in the following areas:
- The date of your graduation (limited by availability, to a maximum of 40 graduands)
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
You will also be able to provide information on:
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Please work through each of the screens of your invitation carefully as each one will provide some important information. If you have any queries about any of the information being requested, email the Tutorial Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You should ensure that you have all of the details you will need to complete the booking at the time you are responding to the invitation. It will be difficult to make amendments later.
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, the College will contact you to request information about any guests you may wish to invite for tea and to provide you with details of the final arrangements and payments that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Please note that your invitation to book onto a ceremony will be limited to the degree that you are currently studying for. Candidates who have completed a degree prior to their current course of study and who have not yet graduated should be aware that it is not possible to have more than one degree conferred in person at a ceremony. The other degree(s) will normally be conferred in absentia at their chosen ceremony. Candidates in this position should contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if they require further information.
All students who completed prior to October 2012
If you completed your degree prior to October 2012 and you have not yet graduated, or if you wish to take an MA degree by entitlement, you will be regarded as a ‘historic graduand’. Candidates in this category must contact the College by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be placed on a waiting list for an available ceremony.
The dates under the new system are listed below, whereby you will be added to a waiting list and confirmed at a ceremony only if a place becomes available. Bookings for historic graduands can only be confirmed, by the University, between mid-January and up to 15 days before the date of each ceremony.
- Saturday 13th July 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 27th July 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 3rd August 2013 (afternoon ceremony)
- Saturday 21st September 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 9th November 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 8th March 2014 (afternoon ceremony)
For morning ceremonies you should anticipate events in College starting around 8:00am and concluding after lunch at around 3:30pm. For afternoon ceremonies, we anticipate events in College starting at approximately 11am and concluding around 5pm.
If a space becomes available for a ceremony for which you have been added to a waiting list, the University will confirm this with the College and we will let you know. At the same time we will send you a booking form, which you must complete to provide us with information on:
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, we will contact you again to provide you with details of the final arrangements that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Please note that it is only possible for one degree to be conferred in person at a ceremony. Candidates who have completed one or more degree(s) prior to their current course of study and who have not yet graduated should be aware that the superior of the degrees for which a candidate has been given leave to supplicate will normally be the one conferred in person. The other degree(s) will normally be conferred in absentia at their chosen ceremony. Candidates in this position should contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.
Candidates for the MA, DD, DCL, DM and MCh are asked to note that, upon conferring the degree, they will normally be required to kneel in front of the Vice-Chancellor, who touches them on the head with a Testament, admitting them to the degree ‘In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost’. Further information is available in the Degree Ceremony Brochure. When completing the booking form, you have the option to indicate that you wish the non-Christian formula to be used at the ceremony. It will not be permitted to request the non-Christian formula on the day of the degree ceremony.
Former students wishing to take an MA degree by entitlement
Candidates for the MA (Master of Arts) must hold the Oxford Bachelor of Arts degree. 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:
- Matriculated as Senior Status students, become eligible in their 18th term
- Have taken either a BM or BCL, become eligible in their 19th erm
- Have taken a D.Phil. are then eligible at any time
For the degree of Master of Arts, a fee of £20 is payable (overseas applicants should ensure that they are able to provide payment in Sterling). You should make payment after you have been confirmed on a degree ceremony by returning a cheque (or making arrangements to pay using a credit or debit card) with your booking form.
Candidates wishing to take an MA degree by entitlement will then be regarded as ‘historic graduands’ for the purpose of booking onto a ceremony. Further details about how to do this are available here.
- Saturday 13th July 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 27th July 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 3rd August 2013 (afternoon ceremony)
- Saturday 21st September 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 9th November 2013 (morning ceremony)
- Saturday 8th March 2014 (afternoon ceremony)
For morning ceremonies you should anticipate events in College starting around 8:00am and concluding after lunch at around 3:30pm. For afternoon ceremonies, we anticipate events in College starting at approximately 11am and concluding around 5pm.
If a space becomes available for a ceremony for which you have been added to a waiting list, the University will confirm this with the College and we will let you know. At the same time we will send you a booking form, which you must complete to provide us with information on:
- The number of guest tickets you wish to receive (to a maximum of 3)
- The number of lunch guests you wish to invite (to a maximum of 3)
- Any dietary requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
- Any access requirements that you and/or any of your guests might have
Around one month before the date of the degree ceremony that you have booked onto, we will contact you again to provide you with details of the final arrangements that will need to be made.
Further details are available by clicking here.
Please note that it is only possible for one degree to be conferred in person at a ceremony. Candidates who have completed one or more degree(s) prior to their current course of study and who have not yet graduated should be aware that the superior of the degrees for which a candidate has been given leave to supplicate will normally be the one conferred in person. The other degree(s) will normally be conferred in absentia at their chosen ceremony. Candidates in this position should contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.
Candidates for the MA, DD, DCL, DM and MCh are asked to note that, upon conferring the degree, they will normally be required to kneel in front of the Vice-Chancellor, who touches them on the head with a Testament, admitting them to the degree ‘In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost’. Further information is available in the Degree Ceremony Brochure. When completing the booking form, you have the option to indicate that you wish the non-Christian formula to be used at the ceremony. It will not be permitted to request the non-Christian formula on the day of the degree ceremony.
Former students wishing to take an MA degree by entitlement
Candidates for the MA (Master of Arts) must hold the Oxford Bachelor of Arts degree. 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:
- Matriculated as Senior Status students, become eligible in their 18th term
- Have taken either a BM or BCL, become eligible in their 19th erm
- Have taken a D.Phil. are then eligible at any time
For the degree of Master of Arts, a fee of £20 is payable (overseas applicants should ensure that they are able to provide payment in Sterling). You should make payment after you have been confirmed on a degree ceremony by returning a cheque (or making arrangements to pay using a credit or debit card) with your booking form.
Candidates wishing to take an MA degree by entitlement will then be regarded as ‘historic graduands’ for the purpose of booking onto a ceremony. Further details about how to do this are available here.