Edinburgh Castle hosts graduation celebrations
Recent University of Edinburgh graduates celebrate their achievements at a special event at Edinburgh Castle.
Nearly five thousand graduates from summer and winter 2020 and summer 2021, plus their guests, have taken part in a series of spectacular events at this magnificent setting in the heart of the city.
Organised in conjunction with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Historic Environment Scotland, the four-day series of celebrations began on Thursday 26 August.
View the highlights from the graduate celebrations
- Video: Edinburgh Castle hosts graduation celebrations
- Edinburgh Castle hosts graduation celebrations. Recent University of Edinburgh graduates are celebrating their achievements at a special event at Edinburgh Castle.
Spectacular procession
Attendees were piped over the Castle drawbridge, then led in a procession, by senior University academics, walking up through the Portcullis Gate and past the cannons, through Foog’s Gate then into Castle Square.
Tattoo dancers, pipers, drummers and fiddlers provided entertainment along the way.
Graduates and their guests then entered the magnificent Great Hall, where they were capped by the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Mathieson.
The first group were joined in their procession by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.
Over the last 18 months, our students have faced challenges like no others before them, so it was fantastic to offer them such a special event to celebrate not only their achievements, but their resilience and commitment shown throughout the pandemic. It was a truly memorable moment to see our former students complete their University journey at such a spectacular and iconic setting and we are very grateful to the teams at the Tattoo and Castle for working with us to make it possible.
We’re committed to supporting the people and organisations of Edinburgh as we slowly start to open the city again. It’s been a privilege to offer this unique opportunity to the University of Edinburgh students and give them a chance to celebrate all that they have achieved over the past four years. We were proud to play our small part and team up with a fellow Edinburgh institution to wish the graduates every success in the future – this is only the beginning for them.
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Related links
Graduation celebrations at Edinburgh Castle: information for attendees