Degree Days
Welcome to the St Anne's degree days information page
Below you should find all the information you need to prepare for your degree conferral
Please read all the information and ensure you complete all the steps in the 'Before the Day' section
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us
Before the Day
A link to a booking form will be emailed to each graduand approximately six weeks before the ceremony. Please complete the form to confirm your attendance and to book College events.
If you would like to purchase tickets for the afternoon tea in College after the ceremony, please use the link in the next section
If you would like to attend the afternoon tea in the College after the degree conferral ceremony, please purchase the required number of guest tickets using the link below for your ceremony date.
Links will be added approximately six weeks before the ceremony date.
Please make your own arrangements to hire or purchase your academic dress. The College will not do this for you. You will need suitable sub fusc and the correct gown and hood for your degree. Further information about where to order your academic dress and which gown and hood you will need can be found in the section below
Please be aware that those incorrectly attired will not be able to take part in the ceremony.
On the Day
11:15 – 12:00 Report to St Anne’s College Lodge to sign the degree list and collect guest tickets
11:30 – 12:30 Tea, coffee and pastries served at the morning reception
12:10 – 12:30 Speeches followed by the Dean of Degrees' briefing (to be attended by all graduands and guests)
12:30 – Graduands assemble and proceed to the Sheldonian Theatre (guests to make their own way there)
13:00 – Assemble at the Sheldonian Theatre
13:15 – Ceremony screening in College
13:30 – Ceremony (lasts approx. 80 minutes)
15:10 – Return to College for official photographers and to collect degree certificate
15:10 – Afternoon tea in College (if booked)
Each graduand will be allocated two ceremony guest tickets for the Sheldonian Theatre and two guest tickets for the events in College. It might be possible to bring additional guests to the College events (capacity permitting). Tickets can be collected on the day of the ceremony when you sign in.
We are unable to allocate additional ceremony tickets as the University provides colleges with enough tickets for two per graduand.
All graduands will assemble at College and then proceed as a group to the Sheldonian Theatre. Graduands then assemble in the Divinity School where there will be a member of St Anne’s staff available to assist with robes. Please remember to take your gown(s) and hood with you to the Sheldonian. We encourage you to give any coats and bags to your guests to look after, but if necessary a member of St Anne's staff can look after bags and personal belongings during the ceremony. However, personal belongings must be collected from Divinity School immediately after the ceremony as the building is locked to prepare for the next ceremony.
The University has produced a short film and FAQs about the ceremony, which can be found here
When you arrive in College, tea, coffee and pastries will be served for all guests before speeches and a briefing from the Dean of Degrees.
The graduands will then make their way to the Sheldonian Theatre as a group. Guests are to make their own way there.
Guests should arrive at the Sheldonian Theatre from 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
If you are planning to take a taxi from St Anne's College to the Sheldonian Theatre, please ensure this has been arranged in advance. There will not be an opportunity to arrange a taxi once the speeches have started.
Important: Guests will not be allowed to enter the Sheldonian Theatre without a guest ticket. Graduands are entitled to two guest tickets. Additional guests or guests who lose their tickets will be denied entry.
There is no formal dress code for guests. However, most guests dress for a formal occasion.
The ceremony will be live streamed in College for guests who don't have a ticket to the Sheldonian Theatre. Details will be available on the day
The University has produced a digital Degree Ceremony Brochure, which provides a detailed explanation of the ceremony.
Children may attend the ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre. It is important to note that, as a Grade 1 listed building, certain areas of the Sheldonian’s seating spaces are not suitable for children under the age of six. Also, please follow the instructions of the Theatre's Stewards on the day as the following restrictions will apply:
- - Babies and children under the age of two do not need their own ticket if they are able to be seated on a guest’s lap.
- - Children aged two and over will require their own seat and a guest ticket.
- - Guests with young children will be seated in the Stewards Gallery and away from the front row. This area has easy access to toilet facilities as well as the family-friendly Cecil Jackson room
The Cecil Jackson room is a family-friendly, safer and more comfortable room, where live streaming of the ceremony is broadcast. Please note that guest tickets are still required to use this room.
In College, we kindly ask that parents supervise their children and ensure they do not run around College.
The ceremony will be live streamed in College (details of the location of the screening will be available on the day)
The live stream of the ceremony can also be found at: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/odc-livestream; it will start a few moments before the ceremony begins
Parking in College will not be possible, except for guests with a disability by prior arrangement with the Lodge (01865 274800). We recommend that guests use the Park & Ride
Professional photographers will be in College after the ceremony (see timetable)
It's not essential to book, but it will save time on the day if you could pre-register and bring a printed copy of the form (please let us know if you would like us to print your booking confirmation for you to collect on arrival).
Your certificate will be available for collection from the Lodge after the ceremony.
Academic Dress
You are required to wear your preference from the following as sub fusc:
1. One of:
- dark suit with dark socks, or
- dark skirt with black tights or stockings, or
- dark trousers with dark socks or dark hosiery
Socks, tights and stockings must cover the ankle entirely. Where socks or stockings are worn, there should be no gap between the bottom of the trouser leg or skirt and the top of the socks or stockings.
2. Dark jacket, if required - worn underneath the gown
3. Black shoes
4. Plain white collared shirt or blouse with sleeves
5. White bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie, or black ribbon.
You will also need a mortar board or soft cap.
Note:
• ‘Dark’ in this context means dark grey, dark blue or black (with no stripes or pattern).
• When wearing sub fusc, your clothing must not leave any part of your legs, ankles, or feet uncovered.
• The mortar board may be worn out of doors but must be removed and carried indoors.
• Ministers of religion may wear clerical dress, with a gown over, when attending ceremonies.
• If you wear a head dress/scarf for religious reasons, a black scarf should be worn.
• Members of the armed forces may wear service dress under their gown, in place of sub fusc. This is only applicable to members of The British Armed Forces in the UK. Uniform caps should be removed when indoors
Please be aware that those incorrectly attired will not be able to take part in the ceremony
If you are having a DPhil conferred you will require two gowns. You will start the ceremony in the gown and hood of your current status within the university. For most this will be the postgraduate gown (or advanced student gown), which is the same as worn for matriculation. The postgraduate gown is a black cotton sleeveless gown, with streamers that hang behind.
If you already hold a degree from Oxford University you can start the ceremony wearing the gown and hood of that degree
Part way through the ceremony you will change into your DPhil gown. This gown is red with blue facings down the front of the gown and blue sleeves. This gown does not have a hood (listed as the full dress gown)
The links below are for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below
You will only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and will add the hood at the appropriate time. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
For all of the degrees listed below, the gown is a black heavy gown with black lace around the collar, the lower part of the back and down the sleeves. The colour of the hood then varies depending on the degree
Master of Studies (MSt) - dark green hood, lined with white satin
Magister Juris (MJur) / Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) - mid blue hood, trimmed with white faux fur
Master of Public Policy (MPP) - navy blue hood, lined with silver satin
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - red hood, lined with dark grey satin
Master of Science (MSc) - mid blue hood, lined with dark grey satin
Master of Philosophy / Bachelor of Philosophy (MPhil / BPhil) - navy hood, lined with white satin
Master of Fine Art (MFA) - yellow hood, lined with white satin
The links below are for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below.
Master of Studies (MSt) - Magister Juris (MJur) - Master of Public Policy (MPP) - Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Master of Science (MSc) -
Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) - Master of Philosophy / Bachelor of Philosophy (MPhil / BPhil) - Master of Fine Art (MFA)
You will only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and will add the hood at the appropriate time. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
For all of the degrees listed below, the gown is a black heavy gown with black lace around the collar, the lower part of the back and down the sleeves. The hood is black, lined with sand-coloured satin.
The undergraduate masters status covers the following degrees:
- Master of Biochemistry (MBiochem)
- Master of Chemistry (MChem)
- Master of Computer (MCompSci)
- Master of Computer Science and Philosophy (MCompPhil)
- Master of Earth Sciences (MEarthSci)
- Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Master of Mathematics and Computer Science (MMathComSci)
- Master of Physics (MPhys)
- Master of Mathematics (MMath)
- Master of Mathematics and Philosophy (MMathPhil)
- Master of Mathematical and Theoretical Science (MMathPhys)
- Master of Physics and Philosophy (MPhysPhil)
Details of the gown and hood can be found here. The link is for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below.
You will only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and will add the hood at the appropriate time. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
For the degrees listed below, the gown is black, with a full gathered yoke behind, with long, open fronted full sleeves The colour of the hood then varies depending on the degree you are having conferred
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - black hood, trimmed with white faux fur
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) - black hood, trimmed with a narrow band of gold satin
The links below are for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA)
You will only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and will add the hood at the appropriate time. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
The gown is black with black lace around the collar, the lower part of the back and down the sleeves. For Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, the hood is mid blue, trimmed with white faux fur.
Details of the gown and hood can be found here. The link is for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below.
You will only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and will add the hood at the appropriate time. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
The gown is black with a full gathered yoke behind, closed sleeves with a crescent-shaped cut at the bottom and opening at the elbow. The hood is black, lined with red satin
Details of the gown and hood can be found here. The link below is for reference only. Details of the various hire shops can be found in the tab below.
Gowns and hoods can be purchased or hired from Shepherd and Woodward, Walters, Castell & Son or Ede and Ravenscroft. Most hire shops offer a service to have your gown delivered to College a day or so before the ceremony. We recommend that you use this service as we can then check in advance that the correct gown and hood have been ordered and delivered. Please note: you will need to return the gown to the hire shop as they don't collect from College. If you collect your own gown, we will check that you have the correct gown when you sign in on the day of the ceremony. Alternatively, if you would like to bring your gown to the Academic Office in the days before the ceremony, we will be happy to check it for you.
For those receiving a DPhil, two gowns are required - the gown and hood of your current status within the University and your DPhil gown. For all other graduands, you only need the gown and hood of the degree you are having conferred. You will start the ceremony in the gown and then the hood is added half-way through the ceremony. Some hire shops will insist you need two gowns. In this case, please explain that St Anne's is a one-gown college.
109-113 High Street
Oxford
(Tel. 01865-249491)
13 Broad Street
Oxford
(Tel. 01865-244000)
10 The Turl
Oxford
(Tel. 01865 241848)
We cannot stress enough that it is important that you wear the correct academic dress. Please refer to the guidance above about what to wear. Unfortunately, if you are not wearing suitable sub fusc or the correct gown/hood you will not be able to take part in the ceremony. Graduands have been turned away at the Sheldonian Theatre for being incorrectly dressed. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unsure if something is suitable or not, you can always send us a picture of the item! Below is a brief guide to what is permitted
Allowed
Shoes must be plain black, with an enclosed toe and back. They may have small embellishments
The dark suit, skirt or trousers can be black, dark navy (almost black) or very dark charcoal grey
The shirt/blouse should be plain white, with a collar, sleeves and white buttons
Socks must be black. If wearing a skirt, you must wear black tights of 40 denier or higher. The whole leg must be covered
One of the following must be worn: white bow tie, black bow tie, black full-length tie or black ribbon
Not allowed
Open-toed or backless shoes are not allowed. Shoes should not have any large metal buckles or chains. Boots are not permitted
Light grey material, pinstripes, checks or other decoration on the suit, skirt or trousers are not allowed
Beige or off-white shirts/blouses are not allowed. The collar must be a standard collar so that a tie or ribbon can go underneath. Collarless blouses or blouses with a mandarin collar are not permitted. Coloured buttons are not allowed
White, colourful or patterned socks are not permitted (we will check!). No bare legs or ankles
Colourful or patterned ties and bow ties are not permitted
Other useful information
Many carers are family members and therefore can be covered by one of your two assigned guest tickets. In this case you do not need to contact us, unless your guest has additional accessibility requirements (e.g. wheelchair or mobility scooter). More information about the accessibility of the Sheldonian Theatre can be found here
The University can provide a carer ticket for guests with registered carers. Please contact us if you have any queries/requests relating to carer tickets and accessibility requirements. We will then forward them to the University’s Degree Conferrals Office (DCO).
Examples of registered carer status are those people who are in receipt of:
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
All of the above are valid proof of carer status and will need to be provided to College ahead of the ceremony day, in order to confirm arrangements.
If you or your guests are travelling from outside the UK, please check to see whether you will require a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. Most visitors travelling to the UK will now need a visa or an ETA. You will usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you're from Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada (and certain other countries). More information can be found here.
College can provide a letter to support a visa application. If you would like a letter, please send the full names and passport numbers of those requiring a visa to degree.days@st-annes.ox.ac.uk. Please note: you do not need a letter for an ETA.
University policy does not permit cancellations within 60 days of the ceremony (as per the T&Cs). Please let us know if you are unable to attend so that your booking can be changed to 'in absence'. The only exception will be in the case of exceptional circumstances. No changes can be made within five days of the ceremony. Please see here for details.
Please note
If you have any debts or dues outstanding to College or the University you may not be permitted to graduate. Please therefore contact the College Accounts Office as soon as possible to make any necessary payments: battels@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
If you are a research student, you must also submit an electronic copy of your thesis at least five days before the degree ceremony.
