Principal's Welcome Ceremony
On the first day of Welcome Week, Principal Peter Mathieson welcomes all new students to the University community. For those who cannot be on-campus, or if you have to attend another activity such as induction with your School or Programme at the same time, the event will be live-streamed and recorded.
Wherever you are from in the world, whether you are an undergraduate student, postgraduate student, or online learner, you are welcome and part of the University community from day one.
The Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Mathieson, would like to officially welcome all new students to your new University community by inviting you to the 'Principal's Welcome Ceremony' on the first day of Welcome Week, Monday 11 September 2023.
Peter will be joined by the current Student Presidents of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association and the Edinburgh University Sports Union amongst other speakers.
Event details
You should choose to attend the ceremony that does not conflict with any of your school/programme induction activities. Please note this is a recommended/optional event.
The event will take place in McEwan Hall on Bristo Square. 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 11th September 2023:
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1st event: 11:30 am (doors open at 11:00 am)
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2nd (repeat) event: 2:30 pm (doors open at 2:00 pm)
No booking is required to attend either of these events. However, it is strongly recommended that you arrive for the 'doors open' time as we would expect queues.
You will be able to watch the second ceremony (2:30pm UK Time) in real-time from the video below.
Where can students watch the 2:30 pm (UK Time) live stream online or on campus
For new students who cannot be on-campus for Welcome Week, you will be able to watch the second ceremony (2:30 UK Time) in real-time from the video below. If you are on campus and want to join your fellow new students to watch the ceremony online, then we have a few options for you to choose from.
If you are based at Kings Building campus, you will also have the option to watch the ceremony in real-time at at the following location:
Nucleus Building, Oak Lecture Theatre
Once we reach full capacity for the indoor seating at McEwan Hall, on central campus we also have two lecture theatres allocated for students to watch the Principal's Welcome Ceremony in real-time, at the following locations:
- Please go to Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre first
- If this Lecture Theatre fills up capacity, you will then be able to enter 40 George Square, Lecture Theatre C.
There will be staff and student ambassadors on the day to guide you.
40 George Square, Lecture Hall C and Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre
You should also keep an eye on your school/programme emails. Many schools will book rooms so that students can get together to watch the ceremony in real-time with their new classmates.
You will be able to watch the second ceremony (2:30 UK Time, Monday 11 September) via a video that will appear on this web-page.
*When the video appears please ensure that you press 'click to unmute' to watch the ceremony with sound.