Graduation Ceremonies

Congratulations on finishing your current course of study at Wolfson! We are delighted to help you celebrate your achievement with your family and friends as you graduate.

Graduating from Oxford

All University graduation ceremonies are held at the Sheldonian Theatre in the City Centre. Every graduand will be entitled to two ceremony tickets at no cost. Additional tickets may be available, information on registering your interest can be found below. More information on the degree ceremony can be found on the University website.

Before you graduate you will need to:

• Book a ceremony place
• Arrange your academic dress hire
• Book places for you and your guests at Wolfson’s celebratory reception
• Attend the formal registration, known as the Signing of the Graces. This is mandatory for all graduands and details of the time and location will be circulated nearer your graduation date.
• If you are a DPhil graduand, you must ensure your DPhil thesis has been deposited with the Bodleian as per University regulations.
• Any outstanding fees must be paid in full before you can graduate.

Graduation Dates 

Degree ceremony bookings close 60 days prior to the ceremony date. It is not usually possible to change or cancel your graduation date after this, and if you decide to withdraw from your chosen ceremony after the booking window has closed your degree will be conferred in absentia.

If you would like to cancel your booking, contact the Academic Office as soon as possible for further guidance.

Booking a ceremony place

All current students will receive an email from the University’s Degree Ceremonies team with instructions on when and how to book a degree ceremony online.

You will be able to amend your details, excluding ceremony date, via the eVision Degree Ceremonies page up to 30 days before your ceremony. After that date, please email the Academic Office for advice.

Research students, please refer to the University website for information regarding depositing your thesis before a degree can be conferred.

Past students who completed their courses without booking a ceremony place, and who now wish to collect their degree (in person or in absentia), should request to have their name added to the waitlist for their preferred ceremony by contacting the Academic Office. 

All graduands will be guaranteed 2 guest tickets for the ceremony in the Sheldonian Theatre, and these will be issued during the registration at Wolfson on the day of the ceremony. Graduands do not need their own ticket for the ceremony.

All graduands are guaranteed two guest tickets to the ceremony in the Sheldonian. The graduand does not require a ticket. If we are sent extra guest tickets, this will happen the day prior to the ceremony. This means that there is no guarantee that we will receive any additional guest tickets so please ensure you have alternative plans in place for any guests you are bringing above the guaranteed allocation of two. The College kindly advises graduands not to make any non-refundable travel arrangements with the expectation of receiving extra guest tickets.

For further information about graduation ceremonies at the University of Oxford, click here.

Wolfson college reception

About a month before the ceremony, the Academic Office will send you an invitation to book places at a celebratory reception in College.

Refreshments including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, canapes and sweet treats will be available at the reception.

The College reception is free for the graduand and up to two guests. Additional guests will incur a charge of £25 per head.

Signing of the Graces

The formal registration, or Signing of the Graces, will be held in the Hall in College before the ceremony. For the Graces, all graduands must report to the Dean of Degrees and sign the register to verify their attendance, otherwise they will not be permitted to graduate. The Dean of Degrees will submit the register (the Graces) to the University before the ceremony starts.