Graduation Day 2012
Although by June you may have finished all your work and examinations, you still cannot graduate until you have been awarded a degree at an official ceremony known in Cambridge as a Congregation. This takes place in the Senate House.
The Graduation ceremony is one of the oldest ceremonies in the University. The conferment of each degree is an act of the University, approved by a Grace of the Regent House. Only the following degrees are awarded at General Admission:
- Master of Law: LL.M.
- Master of Engineering: M.Eng.
- Master of Natural Science: M.Sci.
- Master of Mathematics: M.Math.
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine: Vet.M.B.
- Bachelor of Music: Mus.B.
- Bachelor of Arts: BA
- Bachelor of Education: B.Ed.
- Bachelor of Theology for the Ministry: B.Th.
Who can Graduate?
Any member of Clare College who has successfully passed the appropriate examination and residence requirements. This will include settling your College bill and returning all College, Faculty and University Library books, and not forgetting paying all overdue fines!!
What happens next?
By the start of the Easter Term 2012, the Tutorial Office will automatically contact those students that we expect will graduate in the summer.
The Praelector, Mr Tim Brown, will present you at the degree ceremony. He is required by the University to vouch not only for your learning but for your good character!
Students graduating are known as 'Graduands'. Clare graduands will be presented by the Praelector on Thursday 28 June 2012.
Tickets
All Graduands will be allocated three guest tickets for the ceremony in the Senate House, and all graduands will receive their three tickets if this is what they have requested. However, due to an overwhelming demand for extra tickets it will be necessary to allocate spare tickets by ballot.
Any spare tickets will be allocated:
- to graduands who have more than two parents
- to those who are going to great expense to fly their relatives over from abroad
- by ballot system.
Please do not despair if you are not allocated more than three tickets; tickets only apply to the ceremony in the Senate House. The Master invites all guests to attend the drinks and canapés in Old Court and to watch graduands assemble in the Court for dress rehearsal with the Praelector. Guests are also very welcome at lunch (see below). You will be sent all the relevant information relating to ticket ordering and accommodation by the tutorial office.
Graduation (Lady Clare) Dinner
All graduands are invited to the Graduation Dinner, which will be held at College expense, on the evening of Wednesday 27 June.
What happens on Graduation Day?
Graduands should arrive fully robed in the Fellows Garden absolutely no later than 10.30am. The proposed timetable below will give you all the information you require. Please contact Lesley or Shelley in the Tutorial Office if you have any queries.
Don't forget to get your Graduation lunch tickets from the Catering Office
What will happen in the Ceremony?
Once you are in the Senate House and your name has been called Mr Tim Brown will hold you by your right hand and say:
"Dignissime domine, Domine Procancellarie et tota Academia praesento vobis hunc virum (hanc mulierem) quem (quam) scio tam moribus quam doctrina esse idoneum (idoneam) ad gradum assequendum (name of degree); idque tibi fide mea praesto totique Academiae."
"Most worthy Vice-Chancellor and the whole University, I present to you this man (this woman) whom I know to be suitable as much by character as by learning to proceed to the degree of (name of degree); for which I pledge my faith to you and to the whole University."
Your name will be called, you should step forward and kneel. The Vice-Chancellor or her Deputy will clasp your hand and say:
"Auctoritate mihi commissa admitto te ad gradum (name of degree), in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sanctii."
"By the authority committed to me, I admit you to the degree of (name of degree) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
You will then rise, bow to the Vice-Chancellor (or her Deputy), and exit through the Doctor's door of the Senate-House to receive your degree certificate.
After the last graduand has been admitted, one of the Esquire Bedells calls the Congregation to order with the word 'Magistri' (Masters). All stand. The Vice-Chancellor (or her Deputy) dissolves the Congregation with the words 'Nos dissolvimus hanc congregationem' and leaves in procession led by the Esquire Bedells and followed by the Registrary, the Proctors, the Pro-Proctors and the University Marshal. Others present remain standing until the procession has passed out of the House and may then leave.
Don't worry, you will have the opportunity on Graduation Day to rehearse this procedure with the Praelector!
What do I wear?
It is very important that all graduands wear the correct academical dress when they are presented by the Praelector for a degree. The Congregation itself is a very formal occasion and an appropriate standard of dress is expected.
There is a very strict dress code for Graduation and the Praelector oversees that you are dressed correctly. If the Proctors consider you not to be dressed correctly they reserve the right to refuse you entry. Any infringements involve the Praelector in paying a fine of a bottle of Port!
The University's academical costume consists of a gown and a hood. Graduands taking their Cambridge degrees wear appropriate gowns and hoods. You should wear the appropriate gown for Clare College with a BA Hood.
- Master of Law: black and light cherry silk
- Master of Engineering: black cloth lined with bronze silk
- Master of Natural Science: black silk lined with pink and light blue silk
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine: mid cherry silk and more fur
- Bachelor of Music: dark cherry satin and white fur
- Bachelor of Arts: black cloth and white fur
- Bachelor of Education: black cloth, blue silk and white fur
- Bachelor of Theology for Ministry: black cloth, black silk and white fur.
For further details relating to the dress code please click here (document will open in pdf)
Academical Dress Hire
You may hire or buy academical dress from any of the following Cambridge suppliers:
Ede & Ravenscroft
71-72 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RJ
Hire Orders: 01223 861854
Purchase Enquiries: 01223 350048
Ryder & Amies
22 King's Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SP
WWW: www.ryderamies.co.uk
A.E. Clothier
5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QY
WWW: www.aeclothier.co.uk
Photographs
In the Senate House
The University Photography & Illustration Service takes pictures of all graduands whilst the degree is being conferred. The University does not allow any other photography in the Senate House.
Hot off the press!
You will be able to purchase both the formal and/or informal Graduation photograph (taken in the Fellows Garden) in the Latimer Room at 3.30pm. The photographs are £30 mounted, and £45 for mounted with natural frame or black frame. Unfortunately we are unable to accept credit cards.
When must I vacate my room?
Graduands must vacate their room by noon on Friday 29 June. Graduands' guests staying in Memorial Court must vacate by 09.30am on Friday 29 June.