Student Gateway

Degree ceremonies

Degrees are conferred at degree ceremonies, which usually take place in the Sheldonian Theatre, but may take place at the Examination Schools if the Sheldonian is not available. You can graduate straight after you've finished your degree, or many years later, in person by attending a ceremony, or in absence.

Taught course students will receive an email invitation in November of their final year inviting them to log into the eVision degree ceremonies booking system to book a place at a degree ceremony.
Research students granted leave to supplicate will receive an email invitation with information about booking a degree ceremony.

Places that have not been taken up by students to graduate in person will be available to students who have not had their degree(s) conferred and candidates for the MA - please contact your college to be placed on a waiting list for a degree ceremony; the days available will depend on when your college is presenting (112kb). Bookings for graduation ceremonies are made according to the following Terms and Conditions (54kb).

What to wear to a degree ceremony

Full academic dress must be worn at degree ceremonies. You should wear a mortar board or soft-cap, and your preferred sub fusc from the following list:

1. One of: dark suit with dark socks, or dark skirt with black tights or stockings, or dark trousers with dark socks

2. Dark coat if required

3. Black shoes

4. Plain white collared shirt or blouse

5. White bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon.

Members of the University serving in H.M. Forces are permitted to wear uniform together with a gown.

For all degrees you must also wear the gown of your existing status (and the hood if there is one) during the first part of the ceremony. You will change into the gown (and hood) of your new degree at the appropriate time during the ceremony. Your college will let you know which gowns and hoods you will need. Please be aware that you may be refused admission to the degree ceremony if you are not properly dressed.

Degree certificates

One degree certificate will be automatically issued following graduation regardless of whether you have graduated in person or in absence. Your degree certificate will be posted to you within 8 weeks of your ceremony date to the address you provide when you book your ceremony.

Degree Ceremony FAQs

How do I book a place at a ceremony?

You will automatically be emailed an invitation to book onto a ceremony using the eVision student system. If you are due to graduate and you have not received an email invitation, please contact the Student Systems Support team via degree.conferrals@admin.ox.ac.uk.

Do I have to have my degree conferred at a ceremony?

No, but your degree certificate will only become available once you have graduated either in person by attending a ceremony or in absence. Please be aware that there may be very few places available at future ceremonies if you decline your invitation and it is highly recommended to have your degree conferred as soon as possible.

Am I able to attend a ceremony with my friends?

Once you have received your invitation, we advise that you liaise with your friends regarding the dates you have all been given before making your booking. The University cannot arrange for groups to attend together due to the limitations with degree spaces and when each college attends.

What if I cannot attend a degree ceremony on the dates I have been given?

You may choose either to graduate in absence or to decline your invitation using eVision. If you choose to decline, please contact your college for future ceremony dates and their availability.

Will I be able to change my ceremony date once I’ve chosen it?

Once you've chosen the date, you won't be able to change it, though you will be able to change your attendance mode to in absentia, or decline. For this reason, you might wish to consider what your preferred date is, and liaise with your potential guests, before booking a ceremony.

Do I need to pay anything for graduation?

The University does not charge a fee for the graduation ceremony but if you are wishing to have your MA conferred, the University charges a fee of £10. Please contact your college to enquire about how to pay the MA fee and if they require a payment for gowns, lunch, admin fees etc.

What happens during the ceremony? Do I have to say anything in Latin?

A guide to the degree ceremony can be found in the Useful Documents section on the Degree Ceremonies page.

How do I request the Non-Christian Formula?

If you are attending a degree ceremony to confer your MA (or DD, DCL, DM or MCh), you will be required to kneel in front of the VC, 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 for further information. If you would like to have the Non-Christian formula at the degree ceremony, please notify your college at the time of booking. It will not be permitted to request the Non-Christian formula on the day of the degree ceremony.

How many guests am I allowed?

Guest tickets are limited to two or three per candidate and are collected from your college on the degree day; the number of guest tickets allowed will depend on which ceremony you attend. Only ticket holders will be admitted to the Sheldonian Theatre.

Are children allowed as guests at graduation?

The ceremony is not suitable for children under the age of seven. If children attend the ceremony and require their own seat, they will need a ticket.

Is there a dress code for guests?

Guests at degree ceremonies do not need to wear gowns or robes. Guests do usually dress smartly, but there is no formal dress code for them.

What do I do if my guests or I have special requirements for seating?

Please indicate at the time of your booking if you have special requirements (for example due to a disability), and get in touch with your college to discuss your guests’ accessibility requirements, so that the University and college event organisers can plan where to accommodate you most comfortably and conveniently.

Can/will photographs be taken of the graduation ceremony?

Guests are allowed to take photographs or use a video camera inside the Sheldonian (but the flash must be turned off). Photographers will be based at the Sheldonian Theatre (or at the Examination Schools). Please note that photographers who operate outside the railings of the Bodleian quadrangle (and Examination Schools) do so without the permission of the University authorities. You can also purchase a DVD of the ceremony.

I've not yet graduated but need proof that I have completed my degree. What should I do?

You can order a Degree Confirmation Letter via the University online shop. Please refer to the Degree Certificates and Confirmation Letters section.

Is there anything that can prevent me from graduating?

The conferral of your degree is conditional on the passing of all required examinations. If you have any debts or dues (e.g. library fines) outstanding to your college or the University, they must be paid 15 days before the degree ceremony or you will not be permitted to graduate. If you are a research student, you must also submit a library copy (and an electronic copy for students admitted on to their course on or after 1 October 2007) of your thesis at least 15 days before the degree ceremony. Please refer to the Regulations for Degrees, Certificates and Diplomas for more information.

Can more than one degree be conferred at the same ceremony?

If you wish to collect more than one degree at the same ceremony, this is possible but only one degree will be conferred in person. The other(s) will have to be taken in absentia. If you would like to attend a ceremony in person for each of your degrees, you must decline the invitation for your most recent degree to be conferred and contact your college. They will arrange for you to be added to a waiting list in order for your previous degree(s) to be conferred in person first.

When do graduates become eligible for the MA (The Oxford Master of Arts)?

The status of Master of Arts is a mark of seniority within the University which may be conferred twenty-one terms after matriculation. This is not an automatic process and to obtain your MA you must apply to graduate at a degree ceremony (either in person or in absentia). You must have had your BA or BFA conferred in order to take your MA. They can be conferred at the same ceremony provided that sufficient time has elapsed since you matriculated. You should book for a Degree Day through your college. You are not eligible to take an MA if your undergraduate degree is an Oxford integrated Masters degree. The Oxford MA is about reaching a new status within the University and not an upgrade of your BA or an additional qualification. It therefore has no subject or class. We do not issue Degree Confirmation letters or ECTS statements as proof of your MA. Please use your Degree Certificate as evidence of this award.