Graduation

Update in light of COVID-19 pandemic

We are sorry that the College's graduation ceremonies scheduled from July 2020 to March 2021 will not be able to go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that all those who were due to graduate on these days are not too disappointed by the news.

The University has announced that students affected will be able to choose whether to have their degrees conferred in absentia or attend a degree ceremony at a later date. The details of this have yet to be determined, and may mean you do not have much choice over your ceremony date. 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.

Overview

There are two routes to booking a graduation ceremony. If you are a current student, you will be invited to book your ceremony in December of your final year, or after your have received leave to supplicate if you are a research student.

If you are a historic graduand (i.e. you have already completed your course) or an MA candidate, you will need to complete a form and return it to the Registrar (see below).

More information about how to book your ceremony can be found below.  Please also read the section about what to wear to your ceremony, and how your degree certificate will be issued.
 

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. Mansfield usually runs six degree days each year, in March, July and November.  If you are unable to attend the ceremony to which you have been assigned, you may decline the invitation and book in to any future ceremony as a historic candidate (though please note that current students receive priority for ceremony places). Once you have booked a ceremony, you will receive an email with further instructions roughly 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. Graduands have the option of attending drinks and lunch in college either before or after their ceremony (depending on whether it is a morning or afternoon ceremony).  The cost of the drinks and lunch is £32.00 per guest in 2019-20, with graduands eating free.  Payment for all lunch tickets should be made at least one month before the ceremony.  If you have any questions about graduating, please contact registrar@mansfield.ox.ac.uk.
 

MA and historic graduands

MA candidates and historic graduands should complete a degree day form and submit it to the Registrar (registrar@mansfield.ox.ac.uk).  Candidates will then be added to the waiting list for their preferred date. You must send your booking form at least 60 days prior to the ceremony you wish to attend. Places on the ceremony list will be confirmed no later than four weeks before the ceremony, but your place may not be confirmed much in advance of that date, as current students receive priority up until that point.

A list of the available dates can be found below. Future dates will be added as soon as possible. All MA and historic candidates should complete the form linked above.  MA candidates will also need to pay the MA fee of £40 using the Online Shop, but only after they have been confirmed on a ceremony.

The AM ceremonies begin at 11:00, the MM ceremonies at 14.00, and the PM ceremonies at 14:30.  The late PM ceremony begins at 16:30.
 

Sub fusc

Graduands must wear sub fusc when they attend their Degree Ceremony, which includes the following: a dark suit, dark socks and black shoes or boots, a plain white shirt and white collar, and white bow tie; or a white blouse, black tie, dark skirt or trousers, black stockings, black shoes or boots and, if desired, a dark coat, with cap/mortar board.  Any candidates who are not dressed correctly will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, and will receive their degree in absentia.   It is the responsibility of each candidate to hire the correct gown and hood. You should arrive at the ceremony wearing the gown appropriate to your present status (e.g. commoner's, scholar's, BA, senior student's) and change into the relevant degree gown during the ceremony. Candidates should order their gown well in advance of the ceremony, and must collect the gown and hood from the supplier before coming to College and take it with them to the Sheldonian. Candidates supplicating for the MA, who have already taken the BA, will need to hire a BA gown in addition to the MA gown. Candidates will then don the gown appropriate to their new status during the ceremony.
 

Degree Certificates

Only those whose degrees have been conferred at a degree ceremony either in person or 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.  Graduands should note that certificates are now issued automatically and will either be presented to you on the day of the ceremony by the Dean of Degrees, or sent to you after the ceremony using the address you provide when you book your ceremony.  If you graduate in absentia we will forward your certificate to you so please ensure that you provide us with a current address. 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.