Graduation

As online learning students you have a lot on your plate already and that is why we want you to know right from the start what your graduation options are.

Graduation is not just a day when you receive your degree, but also a chance to look back on these years, reflect on your experience as a student and, most importantly, celebrate your achievement. We want you to be able to make the graduation choice that works best for you, and therefore give you plenty of time to prepare for it.

Graduate in person

Wherever in the world you are located during your studies, you are very welcome to come over to Edinburgh for the graduation ceremony – if necessary, we can provide you with visa support and accommodation suggestions.

Graduation ceremonies take place in late November. The date will be announced on the University webpages, and we will also alert you when the date is finalised.

 If you choose to attend the graduation ceremony in person, you will need to fill in an application form (registration for the ceremony closes about 4 weeks before the ceremony). NB: there are no graduation fees at the University of Edinburgh. There is, however, a charge for the hiring of your hood and gown from Ede & Ravenscroft. The wearing of a hood and gown is mandatory.

The application process allows you to select how many guest tickets you require up to 2. These will be available for you to collect when you check in for your ceremony. Those graduating do not require a ticket.

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

Graduate virtually

Virtual graduation ceremony is a new option for Edinburgh University graduands, which enables them to (virtually) attend the graduation ceremony without having to travel to Edinburgh. However, you *MUST* be available to take part in both the ceremony social event (same date as the ceremony for those graduating in person) and the rehearsal (few days prior to that).

What do these entail?

Rehearsal takes place on a weekday few days before your official graduation. The purpose of the rehearsal is to ensure you are able to live stream the graduation ceremony and that you have access to the Collaborate Ultra (via Learn) platform which will be used for the social component of the event. During this session we shall also discuss your preferences for image / video that is to appear on stage during your graduation. We encourage graduands to go for the video option – in this case, we shall video capture part of your presence at the rehearsal and turn it into a short video clip (e.g. you waving) that will be shown to the audience during the Graduation ceremony. If you opt out of the video option, we can help you create a ‘graduate avatar’ which will be used on the day of the graduation.

This preparation is designed to allow you just to sit back and enjoy your graduation day. We are expecting you to have two screens open – one to live stream the graduation that YOU will be part of. The other is to access the Collaborate Ultra chat room with your fellow graduands and a member of staff. You will then be able to share this graduation experience with the others, just like you shared your student experience despite being located in different parts of the globe.

What are the advantages of taking part in the virtual graduation?

• You name will appear on the list of graduands and will be called during the Ceremony – you will be able to hear it during the live stream. The audience at the Graduation ceremony in Edinburgh will hear your name and see your image / video on the screen.
• You will have an opportunity to share this moment with your fellow graduands and a member of staff.

What is required of me to take part in the virtual graduation?

• You MUST commit to take part in the rehearsal and in the ceremony social event.
• You must ensure you have adequate internet bandwidth in order to live stream the event and take part in the Collaborate rehearsal / social event.
• You must agree to either your image or your video be shown during the official ceremony.

Graduate in absentia

If you can neither attend the graduation ceremony in Edinburgh, nor take part in the virtual graduation you will be officially registered as ‘graduating in absentia’. You name will not be called during the ceremony, but your degree certificate will be issued and posted to you shortly after the graduations take place.

NB Your degree certificate will be sent to your home address as held on the student record system. If your home address needs to be updated you should do this via MyEd. Students who live outside the UK/EU will have their degree sent via DHL. Please ensure that your home address, your phone details and your personal email address are up-to-date.

More information is available from the University of Edinburgh Graduations page.