Pembroke College Cambridge

Graduation​​

Undergraduate Degrees are conferred at General Admission in June.  See separate pages for information on General Admission and the the MA Degree conferral. Candidates should not sign up here, they will be invited separately.  However, those missing General Admission or their MA weekend may attend one of the Congregation dates listed below:

Postgraduate Degrees 

Degree ceremonies (congregations) for postgraduate degrees in Cambridge are arranged differently to  undergraduate, i.e. there is not one single date on which you graduate, and you do not graduate with your subject cohort - you graduate with your College and you choose any date from those listed below (except General Admission).

Click for 2023-2024 Congregation Dates

Pembroke will be presenting candidates at the Senate House on the following dates: 

  • Friday 20 October 2023 
  • Saturday 25 November 2023 
  • Friday 26 January 2024 - in absence only
  • Saturday 24 February 2024 
  • Saturday 23 March 2024 - MA 2017 + other Degrees (closed to bookings)
  • Saturday 6 April 2024  - MA 2016 cohort only
  • Saturday 27 April 2024
  • Friday 17 May 2024 
  • Weds 26 June 2024 - Undergraduates - General Admission (BA, BA + M.Eng, M.Sci, MMath, & VetMB)
  • Thursday 18 July 2024 
  • Friday 25 October 2024 
  • Saturday 30 November 2024

Guests: All In Person candidates will be guaranteed Senate House tickets for two guests. Please note that even children and babies require a ticket to enter the Senate House.  

Lunch: Following the ceremony, the College will provide Lunch for the candidate and up to three guests free of charge.  Additionally, eligible candidates are invited to dine at High Table (no guests) on the Friday evening.

Graduation Information

Booking your ceremony

 

Congratulations on completing your degree.  To book your place at a degree ceremony at the Senate House you may:

  • Have your degree conferred In Person 
  • Have your degree conferred In Absence  
  • Celebrate your degree In Person at the Senate House - (for degrees conferred in absence March 2020 - March 2022)Celebrants and graduands attend the ceremony together so the experience is the same. nb. This  is not a permanent option, the University is  currently deciding on an end date for celebration of degrees.

Congregation Booking form (in person)

Congregation Booking form (in absence) 

Kindly complete and submit the appropriate online booking form at least two weeks before the intended Congregation. You will receive an email confirming the details of your booking from the Praelector's Secretary. It should not be assumed that simply asking to graduate will secure a place. 

Dress Code, Academic gowns and hoods

 

Graduation at Cambridge has proceeded relatively unchanged for several hundred years, and there are various rules and regulations concerning the dress code. Please pay particular attention to the dress code and to the information concerning gown and hood hire:

See the Dress Code guidelines for graduands. (Guests - no dress code but smart attire is encouraged).

Anyone wishing to wear National Dress should contact the Praelector's Secretary as permission must be sought from the Proctors.

Degree Ceremony and guests

 

Information concerning degree ceremonies is available on the University Degree Ceremonies page.  

Guests - Guests of whatever age must have a ticket to gain entry to the Senate House. Tickets will be issued by the College. Guests with tickets should join the Senate House queue at least 20 minutes before the start of the ceremony and anyone with children/mobility issues should make themselves known to the Marshalls who will ensure them a ground-floor seat.

Dress code - there is no dress code for guests but smart attire is encouraged.

Livestream - All ceremonies will be livestreamed  and available for up to two months.  Guests without tickets can watch the ceremony on their own devices live or at another time at their own convenience. There is no central ceremony livestream viewing space.

Timetable for Graduation Day

Saturday 23rd March 2024 - Graduation Timetable

9.45 am 

Graduands’ Attire check and briefing in the Old Library

 11.20 am

Procession from Pembroke to the Senate House

11.35 am

Arrive at the Senate House.  

11.50 am

Ceremony begins in the Senate House

12.20 pm

Ceremony ends (approx.)

1.15 pm

Lunch in Pembroke - Thomas Gray Room (for other degrees, not MA )

3.00 pm

Lunch ends

Dining at High Table on the Friday  - owing the the MA Dinner, there is no High Table on Friday 22nd March

Drinks 7pm (Senior Parlour) for 7.30pm. Ends 10pm. (smart attire + gown)

The timetable for the forthcoming ceremony is not known until 10-12 days before the ceremony date and will be posted here. Each ceremony timings differ slightly but Pembroke is always timetabled for the morning. Graduands will be emailed the timetable by the Praelector's Secretary.

 

Degree Ceremony Options 

 

See the University Ceremony page for a description of what happens at the Senate House ceremony.

To choose any of the non-standard options below, and to explain name pronunciation, please contact the Praelector's Secretary.

- Degree Ceremony- wording options (spoken in latin)

  • Standard wording is the Christian Trinitiarian wording (in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit). 
  • Alternative options you may choose...
  1. The religious non-denominational wording (in the name of God)
  2. The non-religious option (reference omitted)

- Degree Ceremony - kneeling, offering hands and bowing 

  • At the ceremony graduands kneel, offer their hands to the Vice-Chancellor, who confers the degree, and then rise and bow before exiting.
  • You may opt out of kneeling, offering hands or bowing.

- Pronunciation of your name  

During the ceremony, a Senate House official will read out your first and last names. If your name has an unusual pronunciation or is often mispronounced, then please contact us, indicating phonetically the correct pronunciation. 

Degree Certificates, Transcripts and Photographs

 

Your Degree Certificate and Transcript name  is the Primary Name that we hold for you on CamSis - this will be confirmed when you book your graduation.  If any changes are required, graduands must inform the Praelector's Secretary in the first instance - no later than 3 weeks before the congregation date. 

Degree Certificates will be issued  at the Senate House upon graduation (College will mail certificates and transcripts to those graduating in absence). Certificate frames are available to purchase on the day from the marquee outside the Senate House. 

Academic Transcripts - Printed transcripts will be be sent to College two or three weeks after the ceremony and mailed to you. Further paper copies may be ordered via the University Certificates and Transcripts page. 

Photography 

  • Degree conferral - a professional photograph of your degree conferral will be available to purchase immediately from the marquee outside the Senate House  
  • Studio photography is available on the day in the Combination Room accessed via Senate House lawn (either before or after the ceremony), no need to book.
  • Photos on the Lawn - there will be time to take group photos on Senate House Lawn following the ceremony.  If you have a larger group without tickets, Marshalls may allow them onto the lawn to join in the photos, at their discretion, depending on numbers.

Graduands exit the Senate House before their guests.. it is useful if graduands carry a method of payment with them to be able to purchase any photos/frames while they wait outside for their guests.

Graduation Lunch and dining at High Table

 

Lunch for graduands and up to three guests will be provided free of charge in Pembroke following the ceremony.  Additional lunches may be available (£20.00 in 2023-24) if numbers allow. The lunch will take place in Hall, the Old Library, Thomas Gray Room (or marquee), depending on the size of the group.  This is a seated lunch and your prompt arrival at the time specified will be appreciated by the Catering staff.

Mobility - if you or any of your party have mobility issues kindly let us know.

Children - if there are children among your guests who need a High Chair or child's meal, please notify the Praelector's Secretary

Dining at High Table - Postgraduates (and those of MA standing) are invited to dine at High Table with the Praelector, Fellows and other graduands on the Friday evening. Kindly note that this is not Formal Hall, and guests may not attend.