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Graduations

Graduation Information

How to register to graduate

All students intending to graduate must register by completing an online graduation registration form. The deadline for completion of the form is midnight Sunday 27th May 2012.

Do I have to pay a fee to graduate?

A registration fee of £40 is payable on first graduation from The University of Edinburgh in respect of life membership of the General Council, the statutory body comprising all of the University’s graduates. Students will be required to pay this fee at the same time as they register to graduate.

How can I pay the General Council fee?

Payment is made via the online registration form (via the University's E-Pay facility) by debit/credit card. The fee is not required if you are already a graduate of the University of Edinburgh or you are graduating with one of the following awards: Master of Business Administration (MBA); Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE); Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert); Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip); Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education (UG Cert); Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education (UG Dip).

Who can attend the Graduation Ceremonies

All students due to receive a degree, certificate or diploma can attend the relevant ceremony.

Do I have to graduate in person?

Students who, for any reason, do not wish to attend a ceremony (graduate in absentia) may do so but must still complete an online graduation registration form.

What happens if I have a debt?

Students who owe any debt to the University (this may be for fees, rent, fines, or any other charges) will not be permitted to proceed to graduation until settlement has been made. Students with any debt still outstanding 21 days prior to the day of the graduation ceremony will not be permitted to proceed to graduation.

This means that payment by personal cheque/debit card/credit card must be received 28 days prior to the graduation ceremony.

When are the graduation ceremonies?

See below for a link to the next diet of Graduation ceremonies.

In addition, students who wish to graduate in absentia may do so at the meeting of the Senatus Academicus in February or October; this applies principally to research postgraduates.

How and when do I check in for the ceremony?

Graduation days are very busy so you should arrive in good time for your ceremony to allow time to register and collect your academic robes.

You are asked to check in at the Registry, Old College, 9.30am-4.30pm on the day before your ceremony. If you are unable to do this you must check in at the venue on the day of your graduation. The check in, on the day of graduation, is situated in the basement area of the McEwan Hall.

Ceremonies are normally at 11am and 3pm. For the 11am ceremony students are required to check in between 9.00am and 10.30am at the latest. For the 3pm ceremony students must check in between 1.15pm and 2.30pm at the latest.

Important: No student may take part in a ceremony unless they have checked in and received a seat ticket. Check-in must be completed no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony. You should be seated no later than 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Where are the ceremonies held?

All ceremonies are held in the McEwan Hall.

Is there parking?

Graduands are advised to inform their guests of the difficulties of car parking in Edinburgh.

How many guest tickets will I get?

You will automatically receive, via mail, two guest tickets. Please return any tickets, which you cannot use to the Registry.

How do I apply for extra tickets?

You can apply for extra tickets online. There is a link to the form, below.

What if the extra tickets I received aren't for the same area of the Hall as my original 2 tickets?

We make every effort to match extra tickets to your original allocation. If you however receive tickets for another area of the Hall it may be possible to swap for appropriate tickets at the check in (this depends on the availability of tickets).

How long are the ceremonies?

Ceremonies normally last between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes.

What is the dress code?

Male students are asked to wear a dark suit with a white wing collar shirt and white bow tie. Highland Dress, other National Costume is also acceptable.

Women students are asked to wear a dark suit or dress.

What colour is my hood?

A full list of University of Edinburgh Academic Robes / Hoods is linked below.

How do I order my academic robes?

You will not be able to graduate unless you have the appropriate academic gown and hood.

You must order academic robes in advance in your graduation from Ede and Ravenscroft the official robemakers to The University of Edinburgh. This can be done online or by telephone (01223 861 854 - operating hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday). Facilities for the deaf and hard of hearing or those with speech impairment is available using your Textphone - dial 18001 01223 861 854 to access RNID Type system.

There is a link to their website, below.

Your academic gown and hood will be delivered to the venue for you to collect on the day of graduation.

How do I return my academic robes?

After the ceremony you should return your robes to Ede and Ravenscroft who will be situated at the venue, unless arrangements have been made with Ede and Ravenscroft for additional hiring time.

How do I make special arrangements if my guest(s) are disabled?

The online registration form offers you the opportunity to indicate if any of your guests require special arrangements. If you require extra tickets for assistants/helpers contact Student Services Team directly (the extra ticket ballot should not be used to request these).

How do I make special arrangements if I am disabled?

If you require special arrangements please contact the Student Services Team to discuss your requirements.

Will my name appear in the graduation programme and press?

As a graduand attending a ceremony, your name will automatically appear on the graduation programme, which is the University’s official record of the graduation ceremony. It is also customary for the University to provide graduands’ details (name and degree awarded) of both those attending a ceremony and those graduating in absentia to the press for publication on the day of graduation.

There is the opportunity when registering to indicate that you do not wish your name to appear in the list published in the press.

Who should I contact if I have a query?

This article was published on Feb 23, 2012


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