Welcome Ceremony

New students are officially welcomed to the University community on the first day of Welcome Week at McEwan Hall, the University's historic graduation venue. The ceremony features a bagpiper, an academic procession, videos about the University and Edinburgh, speeches from senior University leaders and student presidents, and the presentation of the Sir William Darling Award to students recognised for outstanding achievements in scholarship, leadership, conduct, or sport.

The ceremony will be repeated 3 times at:

• 10:00 - 11:00
• 13:00 - 14:00
• 15:30 - 16:30

No booking is required to attend either of these events. However, it will be first-come, first-served to enter and it is strongly recommended that you start queueing at least 30 minutes before the event start time. 

Event description: 

The university would like to welcome all new students to your new University community on the first day of Welcome Week. 

You will be officially welcomed into McEwan Hall, a beautiful and unique building designed for graduations, where you will witness a bagpiper and an academic procession and watch videos on interesting facts about the University and Edinburgh.

Senior University leaders will be joined by current Student Presidents of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association and the Edinburgh University Sports Union. 

As a special part of each event, current students who have done most to enhance the reputation of the University through their conduct, scholarship, example or pre-eminence in sport will be awarded the Sir William Darling Award. 

Due to a large number of new students expected to be on-campus for Welcome Week, there are two identical versions of this event taking place on Monday 8th September 2025. 

No booking is required to attend either of these events. However, it will be first-come, first-served to enter and it is strongly recommended that you start queuing at least 30 minutes before the event start time. 

Both events will be live-streamed and recorded, in case the event is full to capacity, you are not on-campus or have another activity to attend at the same time.