Graduation
Degree Ceremony Updates
Having taken the difficult decision to postpone degree ceremonies between May 2020 and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University resumed ceremonies during September 2021. These will continue subject to government guidelines.
Invitations for ceremonies scheduled up until June 2022 have been issued to all graduands eligible to attend. Please contact the College if you have any queries relating to this.
If you would prefer not to wait for a ceremony, you may have your degree conferred in absentia; this means that you do not need to attend an in-person ceremony and you will receive your certificate in the post. Please be aware that once a degree is conferred in absentia, it is not possible for you to subsequently attend a ceremony.
You can also order a digital degree confirmation letter in advance of your ceremony at no additional charge.
We want to reassure you that, if you decide you want your degree conferred in person, we will do all we can to make sure you have the celebration you deserve.
Please visit 'Degree ceremonies' on the University website for the latest updates.
Dates of Mansfield Ceremonies
There are seven Degree Days for Mansfield College students and alumni in 2022:
- Saturday 26 February
- Saturday 21 May
- Tuesday 26 July
- Friday 29 July
- Saturday 6 August
- Saturday 24 September
- Saturday 5 November
Please be aware that all ceremonies are currently full and operating waiting lists, so it is not possible to book directly onto a ceremony.
Note also that these dates are allocated by the central Degree Conferrals Team, so may not align with dates allocated to students from other Colleges. It may therefore not be possible for you to graduate on the same day as students in your cohort from other Colleges.
On-Course Students
Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students will be notified of the date for their degree ceremony in December of their final year. Research students will be offered dates once they have been granted leave to supplicate. The Degree Conferrals team will send an email with instructions on how to book a ceremony, and students will be able to book their ceremony via eVision.
If you are unable to attend the ceremony dates available to you, you may leave the invitation unused until the end of that ceremony cycle (ending in July). You could then request to book onto a future ceremony as a historic candidate, but please note that current students receive priority for ceremony places.
Once you have booked a ceremony, you will receive an email with further instructions approximately six weeks before the ceremony date. Please note that students will not be able to attend a ceremony if they have not paid all of their University fees or have outstanding College battels.
Graduands have the option of attending drinks and a meal in College on the day of their ceremony. Guest meal tickets cost £34.00 each in 2021-22, with graduands dining free of charge. Payment for all meal tickets should be made at least four weeks before the ceremony.
If you have any questions about graduating, please contact academic.assistant@mansfield.ox.ac.uk.
2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Leavers
If you completed your degree and were due to graduate in 2020 or 2021, but are still waiting to attend a graduation ceremony, please contact academic.assistant@mansfield.ox.ac.uk to discuss the options available to you.
Historic Graduands
If you finished your degree in the academic year 2018-2019, or prior to this, you are classified as a historic graduand. This means that you did not attend a degree ceremony in the cycle matching the year in which your degree was completed. Each year, leavers are given priority access to spaces in their cycles, which means that historic graduands cannot be guaranteed a space after their cycle has passed. However, the College will support historic students to graduate at the earliest possible opportunity.
Please note that current students and those impacted by the suspension of degree ceremonies during 2020-2021 are currently being prioritised for ceremonies in 2022.
MA Awards
Due to the impact of COVID-19, in-person MA conferrals are on pause until July 2023. To arrange to have your MA award conferred in absentia, please contact academic.assistant@mansfield.ox.ac.uk. Note that once you have had your degree conferred in absentia, it is not possible for you to participate in a ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre at a later date.
Sub fusc
Graduands must wear sub fusc when they attend their Degree Ceremony, which includes the following:
- a dark suit, skirt or trousers;
- a plain white shirt or blouse;
- a white or black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon;
- dark socks or stockings;
- black shoes or boots; and
- a mortar board or soft cap.
If you wear a cap, headdress, or scarf for religious reasons, this should be black. Members of HM Armed Forces (UK-only) may wear service dress under their gown in place of sub fusc. Ministers of religion may wear clerical dress, with a gown over, when attending ceremonies.
When wearing sub fusc, your legs, ankles, and feet must be fully covered. Graduands must not wear white socks. Any candidates who are not dressed correctly will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, and will receive their degree in absentia.
You should arrive at the ceremony wearing the gown instructed by the College Office staff. For 2021-22, this should be the gown of the degree being conferred (e.g. BA, MSt) except DPhil candidates, who must wear the gown of their current status and bring their doctoral gown to the ceremony. Candidates will don the hood appropriate to their new status during the ceremony; DPhil candidates will change into their doctoral gown. It is the responsibility of each candidate to hire the correct gown and hood directly from their chosen supplier well in advance of the ceremony.
Degree Certificates
Only those whose degrees have been conferred at a degree ceremony either in person or in absentia may receive a degree certificate, although a degree confirmation letter is available for those who have passed their final exams but have not yet attended a ceremony.
Certificates will either be presented by the Dean of Degrees on the day of the ceremony, or sent afterwards if you graduate in absentia. Please ensure that you provide us with a current address when you book your ceremony.
The name which you held when you completed your degree (granted 'leave to supplicate') will be the name on your degree certificate and degree confirmation letter. The only retrospective changes that can be made are where an administrative error has occurred or where the University is required to make a retrospective change under the provisions of the Gender Recognition Act 2004.
Planning your Degree Day visit
Click the dropdown boxes below for further information to help you plan your visit to College on the day of your ceremony.
Mansfield College is ideally situated between the bustling heart of historic Oxford and the quiet calm of the University Parks and the River Cherwell. The nineteenth-century buildings are set in picturesque grounds, and the range of modern facilities make excellent provision for the College community and guests. With a welcoming atmosphere and a beautiful environment, a warm reception awaits you at Mansfield.
Located close to the city centre, Mansfield College is well-connected to public transport networks. The College is within walking distance of both Oxford train station and the Gloucester Green coach station. The city’s extensive Park & Ride system also offers a regular and accessible service from the designated car parks to central Oxford.
On-street parking on Mansfield Road is provided by the City Council; guests are advised to read the street signage and payment point information carefully. Please note that onsite parking at the College is not available to the public.
Parking can very occasionally be requested for individual guests with access needs, but availability is very limited and cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your event organiser to discuss bookings.
At the front of the site, the Lodge is the first point of call for visitors to the College. The friendly Porters are a key source of information and help, and are also responsible for site security and first aid. Speak to the Porters if you need directions, assistance with ordering a taxi, or to contact another College department.
The majority of key areas within the College are fully accessible to visitors, with either step-free or lift access to the dining areas, bathroom facilities, and event spaces. Further details are below.
- Refreshment and dining areas
The Crypt Café, terrace area, and Chapel Hall all have level access. The Old Hall on the first floor is accessible via a lift which is suitable for electric and manual wheelchair users.
- Main bathroom facilities
There is level access to the unisex toilets in the Crypt Café, including a designated accessible bathroom with a wide doorway, and also step-free access to the ladies’ toilets by the Crypt Café. The men’s toilets on the first floor are accessible via a lift which is suitable for electric and manual wheelchair users.
- Event spaces
There is step-free access to the Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium, with space for wheelchair users and guests with pushchairs. A fully accessible bathroom is available on lower ground level.
The Seminar Rooms in the Garden Building are also accessible via a ramp; there are several bathrooms on the ground floor of the building, including an accessible bathroom with a wide doorway.
Access to a quiet room is available on request, e.g., for prayer or breastfeeding, should a separate private area enable guests to feel more comfortable. Contact the event organiser and/or the Porters’ Lodge if you wish to use a space, ideally in advance of your visit to the College. Please note that access is based on room availability as these are not designated permanent areas.
Mansfield has an outstanding reputation for providing food of the highest quality, using fresh ingredients and cooked onsite by the skilled College catering team. Our staff pride themselves on their attention to detail and work hard to ensure every guest has the best possible experience. If you are dining at the College, please contact your event organiser a minimum of one week before the event to notify them of any allergies and/or intolerances.
Drinks and light refreshments are also available from the Crypt Café during regular opening hours.
You are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor spaces. Face coverings are not required when dining or taking refreshments. Hand sanitiser is readily available at a number of points around the College site.
Guests are also encouraged to take lateral flow tests in the 24 hours before attending an event at Mansfield, for the enhanced safety of all visitors and members of the College community.
In addition to College and University rules and guidance, you must obey all Government rules in place for the health and safety of yourself and others.