Graduation Day arrangements
If you book to graduate in person, you will be contacted by the Academic Office via email approximately ten weeks to confirm your attendance. Then seven to eight weeks before the ceremony you will be asked to complete an online form to make arrangements for the day including guest tickets for the ceremony, academic dress hire and booking the post-ceremony event at College. To help you plan for the day, we have provided some guidance with rough timings below, including more detailed information about ceremony tickets, academic dress and the post-ceremony event in College.
Arrival and Registration
On the day you will need to arrive at Kellogg College approximately two hours before the Ceremony. Graduating students will need to sign-in and collect any guest tickets for the ceremony. During the registration period, you will also be able to collect any items of academic dress hired through the College.
Before departing to the Sheldonian, there will be a short talk by the Dean of Degrees who will explain your participation in the Ceremony. Graduating students will then process to the Sheldonian Theatre, which is a 20 minute walk from College. Guests are welcome to join the procession.
If you arrive late, you might not be able to enter the Sheldonian Theatre and your degree will be conferred in absentia.
Guests and Ceremony tickets
Graduating students do not need a ticket to attend and you will be guaranteed two guest tickets for the Ceremony. You will be asked in the booking form if you would like to use both of your guaranteed tickets and given the option to enter a ballot for an exceptional third ticket. Additional tickets are only available through the ballot when other graduands do not use their full allocation. Typically, demand for an additional ticket from the ballot is very high with only a few tickets being available. Around one week before the ceremony we will conduct a ballot to reallocate any spare tickets to those who have requested one.
As guest tickets for the ceremony are issued on the day from College, we strongly recommend at least one of your guests accompanies you to College. Guests should be smartly dressed as graduation is a formal occasion.
Young children
Children may attend the ceremony, however some areas on the seating are not suitable for children under the age of six. Any child aged six and over, or a child who cannot sit on a parent’s/guardian’s lap during the ceremony, will count as a guest and require their own ticket.
Live streaming
For guests unable to attend the ceremony, they can watch the live streaming of the ceremony which will be available via the Live Stream website. The live stream will be shown in College for any guests who are unable to attend the ceremony itself. The names of those graduating in absentia are not read out.
Academic Dress
You should arrive in subfusc and, depending on whether you are hiring items from College, with your mortarboard/soft cap and gown. Exactly what gown you will wear will depend on what degree you are having conferred, more detailed information is available on the Academic Dress for Graduation page. If you are incorrectly dressed, you may not be admitted into the ceremony so make sure you read the guidance on subfusc and gowns carefully.
Kellogg College can arrange the hire of your Master’s Gown and Hood or DPhil Robe from an external company for a nominal charge of around £45. This can be requested in the booking form. Academic dress hired through the College must be returned before the end of the event.
The Ceremony
The Ceremony will take place at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and will be around one and a half hours long. The University has created a short animation to help explain the ceremony: www.ox.ac.uk/students/graduation/ceremonies
Post-Ceremony College Event
You are invited to join the President and Fellows for a drinks reception and buffet meal (lunch following a 10:30 am Ceremony or Afternoon Tea following a 1:30 pm Ceremony) at Kellogg College. Graduands can book a maximum of three guests and will be charged £23.50 per guest (different prices apply for children, please refer to booking form). The cost of the graduand’s meal will be met by the College. Booking is required to attend this event.
Degree Certificates
Degree Certificates are not handed out at the Ceremony. You will be able to collect your certificate from the College after the Ceremony or your Certificate can be posted to you after the Ceremony. If you choose to graduate in absentia, your certificate will be posted out to you after the ceremony.
Photography
Photography is not allowed during the graduation ceremony. Following the ceremony, professional photographers from Ede & Ravenscroft will be available at Kellogg College. You are not required to make a booking in advance.
Other things to consider
Outstanding payments
If you have outstanding course fee payments with the University you will not be able to graduate and will be removed from the ceremony. Please contact the Finance Office financials@kellogg.ox.ac.uk if you have outstanding fees.
Parking
There are no parking facilities at Kellogg College. If you are a Blue Badge holder, or you require assistance or special arrangement to accommodate mobility issues, please contact the Academic Office at academic.office@kellogg.ox.ac.uk.
If you are driving to Oxford, we recommend using the park and ride facilities www.oxford.gov.uk/parkandridesites, as parking in the city centre can be difficult.