Degree ceremonies
Everything you need to know about your degree ceremony – from booking the date to what you need to wear.
How do I book a ceremony?
If you are an undergraduate or a taught masters student, you will be invited to book a ceremony via Student Self Service in Michaelmas Term of your final year. You'll receive emails from the Academic Office and the University with instructions and reminders. There is a booking window that opens partway through Michaelmas Term and stays open until the start of Hilary Term.
In Michaelmas Term 2025, the booking window will open on 25 November 2025 at 10:00 GMT and will close on 31 January 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
If you are a research student or a graduate on a modular masters course, you will automatically receive an email from the University when you are marked has having completed your course. A number of spaces on ceremonies are reserved for students who fall into this category, so that they are not all taken during the booking window for taught students. A list of these courses is below.
Do I get a choice of dates?
Sort of! During the booking window, different ceremonies have different places reserved for different courses. This is because some postgraduate courses get their results at different times, so we need to make sure your results will be released before your ceremony date. This means people on different courses will see different dates.
If none of the dates available to you in the booking window suit, you can be added to the waiting list for an alternative date. Once the window closes, if there are spaces, it might be possible to move you onto a ceremony that was originally reserved for other courses. Please note this isn't guaranteed - if you want a guaranteed slot, you need to pick one of the dates given in the booking window. Email graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk to ask about potential dates.
In the unlikely event there are no dates when you open the window, don't panic! Keep checking while the booking window is open as people can move between ceremonies. Alternatively, you can contact graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk to be added to the waiting list for a date that wasn't originally for your degree type.
I missed the window! What do I do?
Email graduation@hmc.ox.ac.uk and we'll be able to check if we can add you to a ceremony manually.