Ordinary Graduation Ceremonies, Information and Booking

On the Ordinary Congregation dates (not the GA ceremony or for MA graduands) you may bring up to two guests to the ceremony in the Senate-House. Additional Senate-House tickets are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed. There are strict limits on the number of graduands and guests who can attend owing to Fire and Safety Regulations. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for additional tickets please apply for this when making your booking.

Arrangements for attending the Senate-House, booking of tickets for your guests can be made via your self-service page on CamSIS or ESS. The deadline for submission, and payment for lunches, is three weeks before the date of any Congregation at which you wish to receive the degree.

A lunch is held in college for the graduand and up to four guests at a cost of £25 per head. Children under 7 years are at a cost of £6.25, children aged between 7 and 15 years are at a cost of £12.50. Your total party size cannot exceed five including yourself.

Payment should be made by bank transfer; you will find the payment details here.

Remember that all guests, including children and babies, require admission tickets for entry to the Senate-House. Please notify the College if you have any guests attending who are under the age of 16 by emailing graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk

You will be sent a confirmation email once bookings have closed and your payment (if applicable) has been confirmed. Please ensure you have updated your preferred email address on CamSIS self-service or your ESS page. Your place is NOT confirmed until you have received this email.

If you do not wish to attend the ceremony and would rather graduate in absence this is also booked via your self-service page on CamSIS or ESS. 

Typical timetable for Ordinary Congregations

Collect your academic dress from the outfitters hire shop or designated collection/return point that they will have notified you of.

12 noon - Assemble for a drinks reception with your guests in a venue to be confirmed, dressed ready for the ceremony, to register and collect Senate-House tickets and for a talk by the Praelector about Senate-House procedures

12.30pm - Lunch with your guests

2.30pm - Graduands to assemble for procession to the Senate-House

2.40pm - Guests to arrive at the Senate-House

3.05pm - Graduands to arrive at the Senate-House

4.15pm - Approximate finish time at the Senate-House. Meet guests on Senate-House lawn.

Return your academic dress to the outfitters hire shop or designated collection/return point that they will have notified you of.

The actual timetable for the day of your graduation cannot be confirmed until a week before the ceremony when the College receives the information from the Student Registry.

Congregation enquiries should be made by email to graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk or telephone +44 01223 334811.