Graduation

Any member of Trinity Hall who has fulfilled the appropriate examination and residence requirements may have their degree conferred at a Congregation of the Regent House. Degrees can be conferred in person or in absence.

Any degree may be conferred at the Ordinary Congregations, which are held two or three times per term (Trinity Hall does not present students in person at all congregations, please check the available dates below). The Congregation at the end of June is known as General Admission and is for the BTh, BA, VetMB and BA with MEng or MMath or MSci degrees only.

A degree is not officially awarded until it has been conferred either in person or in absence at a Congregation of the Regent House. Degree certificates will only be issued after the degree has been conferred.

The College Praelector, Dr Cristiano Ristuccia, is responsible for presenting students at Congregations when they receive their degrees. The conferment of each degree is an act of the whole University, approved by the “Grace of the Regent House”, that is by a resolution of the governing body. Graduands are presented one by one to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, or their deputy, in the presence of the Proctors who are the elected representatives of the Regent House.

More information on Cambridge Degree Ceremonies can be found on the University website.

On the day

The Praelector will line all graduands up in Front Court before the ceremony and the group will process to Senate House. All graduands must wear the correct academical dress (see below), which can be hired or purchased and will be checked by the Praelector.

Please note that the timings for the ceremony are only announced a week before the event so the programme will only be finalised close to the date.

Academical Dress

As graduation is a formal occasion, an appropriate standard of dress is expected. The dress code is strictly enforced at ceremonies and if you do not observe it, you may not be permitted to graduate on a particular occasion. Details of the dress requirements can be found on the University website and in the guide below.

• Academical Dress Guide

Gowns, hoods and other items of academical dress may be hired from either of the following Cambridge suppliers:

• Ryder & Amies
• Ede & Ravenscroft

We would advise graduands to book their gown and/or hood rental early as demand can be high. 

Ceremony Tickets

Graduands may request a maximum of two guest tickets for the Senate House (graduands themselves do not require a ticket), and these tickets are free of charge. Children can attend the Senate House ceremony, but will require a ticket.

College Lunch

There is normally a buffet lunch in College either before or after the ceremony for graduands and their guests. Graduands’ tickets are free of charge. Guest tickets are £22.50 per person (applies to academic year 2024-25) and each graduand may bring up to two guests. Payment for guest tickets must be made at least two weeks in advance. Children are welcome to attend the buffet lunch but will require a guest ticket. Children under 12 years of age will be charged at 50% of the normal guest rate. Please note there is no separate catering provision for infants under 2 years.

Cancellations

We regret that we are unable to offer refunds for lunch bookings cancelled less than 5 working days before an event. Please email tutorial@trinhall.cam.ac.uk or contact +44 (0)1223 760985 at the earliest opportunity, if you need to cancel your booking.

Please be aware that all these arrangements are subject to change or cancellation depending on government guidelines and regulations at the time. Please note that any travel arrangements or bookings you make will be at your own risk and the College will not be liable to compensate you if the events on the day have to be cancelled. The College will refund any lunch tickets if the event cannot go ahead due to COVID-19 restrictions.