Booking a place at a degree ceremony
In order to secure a place on any ceremony an application form (downloable format) must be completed and payment received by the College at least three weeks before the degree day (even when examinations will not be completed until near the date of the ceremony). Graduands may elect to have their degrees awarded either in person or ‘in absentia’ at any ceremony.They should indicate this clearly on the application form. St Peter's are allocated a fixed quota of graduands by the university for forthcoming degree ceremony dates.
The Oxford MA
Graduands who are eligible to take the degree of BA, or who have already done so, may apply to take the degree of MA in or after the 21st term from their matriculation. (Please note that this does not apply to those who take undergraduate Masters degrees.) They can be conferred at the same ceremony provided that sufficient time has elapsed since the graduand matriculated.
Charges
All degrees (except the MA) £10.00 college administrative charge.
MA £20.00 (£10 college administrative charge plus £10.00 University fee).
These charges are also payable for degrees in absence.
Payment can be made by cash, cheque (made payable to St Peter's College) or by electronic transfer.
Battels
All battels and any other debts to the College and the University (including library fines and books)must be cleared before the ceremony. If a graduand has any outstanding debts or overdue books to the University or the College they will not be allowed to graduate.
Guests
Guest tickets are limited to two or three per candidate depending on which ceremony you attend (listed on degree dates) Guest tickets are collected from the College lodge on the degree day. Graduands and their guests are invited to lunch in College before the ceremony. There will be a charge of £15 for each guest, but no charge for the graduand. Names of guests must be given to the College in advance. Graduands and their guests are asked to arrive at 11.45 am for 12 noon so that lunch can be served promptly at 12.30 pm. If you are not taking lunch in College, you should meet the Dean of Degrees in College at 1.30 p.m. At approximately 1.50pm graduands will leave in procession to the Sheldonian Theatre.
Dress for graduands
At the ceremony candidates must wear full academic dress (i.e. men: dark suit, socks, and shoes, white bow tie, shirt and collar or clerical collar in the case of clergy; women: dark skirt of at least knee length or full length trousers, white blouse, black tie, black shoes and black stockings/tights, and if desired a black coat) with a cap or mortarboard. Women are allowed to wear or carry a square cap, or wear a soft cap. Ankle length trousers, bare legs or legs in skin coloured tights are deemed unacceptable. Members of the University serving in H.M. Forces are permitted to wear uniform together with a gown.
The Vice-Chancellor has asked that candidates should be warned that they may be refused admission to the degree ceremony if they are not properly dressed.
Candidates also need their undergraduate gown (or gown of their previous degree for graduate students), and the gown and hood of the degree to be taken, which they should arrange to be provided in advance. They can be hired from Shepherd and Woodward, or Ede and Ravenscroft
Degree Certificates
Once you have your degree conferred at a degree ceremony either in person or in absentia, you will automatically receive a Degree Certificate. This will be presented to you on the day of the graduation ceremony, or sent to you by recorded delivery.
Withdrawing from a degree ceremony
A candidate will not normally be permitted to withdraw from a ceremony after the deadline for submitting names to the ceremony has passed (12 noon 15 days before). If you are unable to attend, your degree will be conferred in absence.
Further information about Oxford University Degree Ceremonies, including a pdf version of the brochure and details of how to order a DVD of your ceremony can be viewed here student gateway