The ceremony marks the culmination of years of hard work, and is a day to celebrate with friends and family.
Every year, the University confers about 5,000 degrees and 250 diplomas and certificates.
Full details of all our graduation ceremonies are available on our Registry Services website.
Iconic location
All graduation ceremonies take place in the beautiful McEwan Hall.
Presented to the University in 1897 by William McEwan as a ceremonial hall for graduations and as a gift to the people of Edinburgh.
This iconic Grade A listed building was designed by Sir Rowand Anderson, with lavish interiors by William Palin. Construction was completed in 1894, but it took another three years to complete the interior designs, the centrepiece being the 15 beautifully painted mural panels that make up the vast dome.
A painstaking multi-million pound refurbishment has restored much of the intricacy to its original beauty and created a modern, superbly equipped space, with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and accessible facilities.
Find McEwan Hall on campus maps
The ceremonies
The graduation ceremonies follow time-honoured traditions, some of which can be traced back to the founding of the University in 1583.
From the carrying of the mace in the academic procession, to the ‘bonnet’, with which the Principal doffs the heads of students, it is a solemn but exciting occasion.
