Graduation

• Graduating students will be called to enter into King’s College Quad, rooms KCG7 or KCG8, an hour and a quarter before the start of the ceremony (a list will be issued at the door entrances to indicate which room and row to assemble for each degree being conferred at that ceremony) where they will be briefed on the points below. Lists wil also be posted in the MacRobert Building.
• When you enter the room, find your row and take a copy of the Graduation Brochure containing the Graduation List of names and arrange yourself in the same order as the List.  This is the order that names will be called to go across the stage to graduate so it is very important to stay in that order.
• Two members of Registry staff will check each and every student to ensure that all of those expected are present and in the correct order.  
• ‘Comfort Break’ – If possible please wait until your name has been checked off twice before disappearing to the bathroom.  Barring any major problems there should be time to go to the bathroom once the checks have been made.
• As you prepare to go to the Elphinstone Hall take handbags and valuables but don’t take any big bags or coats.  Leave them in the room to collect at the end of the ceremony.  The entrance doors to KCG7/8 will be locked during the ceremony so coats and bags will be safe.  Many guests photograph or video you as you leave your row at the end of the ceremony and you will look much smarter if you are not clutching a large Ede & Ravenscroft carrier bag.  The chewing of gum also does not look good on DVD!  It can be crowded and hot in the Hall and carrying a bottle of water is advisable (especially if you’ve had a late night!).
• You should be wearing your black gown, apart from Doctoral students who should be carrying a red gown.
• You should have the appropriate hood for your degree (see attached).   It should be carried over your left arm as you process to the ceremony and when you go up to the stage to have the degree conferred.   It should be folded with the coloured part inside (this will be demonstrated by a Sacrist (Head Porter) during the briefing session).  Doctoral students should carry their red gown over their left arm.
• The trencher (hat)/John Knox cap is not required until the end of the ceremony.  Carry it with you - put it under your chair until the end of the ceremony.   Trenchers/John Knox caps are only worn by graduates as they process out of the Hall at the end of the ceremony.   When everyone stands up to leave at the end of the ceremony you should put it on.

• When all the checks have been completed students will process to the Hall and will be shown where to sit.  The procession will begin about twenty minutes before the start of the ceremony.   The Sacrists will lead the procession into the Hall and usher you to your seats.

• The audience will stand for the Academic Procession entering the Hall and will sing Gaudeamus (words are located in the Graduation Brochure containing the Graduation List)
• There will a welcome speech, normally followed by an honorary degree conferment and then a classical musical interlude
• The student graduation will then commence and you will be taken out half a row at a time to stand at the left-hand side of the platform (a porter will let each row know when to move to the stage).  A Sacrist will take a final check of your name.
• Once you are standing at the bottom of the stairs onto the stage wait for your name to be called
• You will be called to go up the stairs (6 steps) onto the stage making sure your hood (or gown for Doctoral graduands) is over your left arm (don’t panic if your name is not called.  There is a procedure in place to deal with such cases which will be explained to you at the briefing session).
• The Sacrist will take your hood (or gown for Doctoral students) off your arm as you pass him on the stage – just let him remove it from your arm and don’t try to hand it to him
• Stand and face the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor (whichever one of them is officiating at your ceremony).   He will be sitting in the large chair in the middle of the stage.
• If you are the first student for a particular degree (e.g. first of the MA, or first of the BSc, etc.) there will be a paragraph of Latin read to confer the degree, if you are not the first he will just say ‘Et te creo’.   You should dip your head slightly so he can touch it with the cap (that is you capped)
• Turn right to face the side wall, pause for a second whilst the Sacrist puts the hood over your head (or to be helped into your robe for Doctoral students)
• Turn right again and go down the stairs facing you in the middle of the stage (6 steps)
• At the bottom of the stairs a member of Registry staff will hand you an envelope containing your degree certificate and transcript (Research students do not get a transcript).   Take the envelope - do not open it but wait until after the ceremony.  If you forget to collect your envelope, don’t panic!  As the guests are exiting the Hall go back in and locate a member of staff at the front, or if too late, the Certificate will be taken back to the Registry and can be collected from InfoHub.
• Go down the middle aisle and return to the same row in which you were sitting when the ceremony started.  It may take a few minutes whilst you shuffle along the seats (as students go out of the row to the left), for you to end up back at your own seat.

• At the end of the ceremony you should remain standing as the Academic procession leaves the Hall
• You can now put on your hat/John Knox Cap.
• Make sure you have all your belongings with you – don’t leave anything under the seat or on it – ladies remember handbags!
• You will process out of the Hall a row at a time.   A member of Registry staff will tell you when to go.

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