MA Graduation

(MAs for Downing 2017 and earlier matriculands)

Getting your MA

If you hold a Cambridge BA, you may proceed to the MA not less than six years from the end of your first term of residence, providing that you have held your BA degree for at least two years.

Why collect your MA?

Not only will it enhance your CV, but, as an MA of the College, you will be welcome to dine at High Table twice per term, the first time being free of charge, the second at a small cost. Dinner takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday provided two Fellows are present. Please give at least two days’ notice to the College Office (ht@dow.cam.ac.uk) whenever it is your intention to dine.

The Careers Service can help you work out what you want to do, apply for jobs, career change and more. More information here. 

Dates of Congregations to be held in 2024:

MA Graduation: Saturday 18 May (conferment of MAs for Downing 2017 Matriculands)

Graduation Day 

On the May Degree day, due to the numbers involved, MA graduands may bring one guest to lunch and only one guest to the Senate-House. Additional tickets may be available depending on the number of graduands attending, but extra tickets cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for additional tickets please apply for this when making your booking.

Arrangements for graduating in person or in absence are made via your Extended self-service page on CamSIS. Registration will open on 1 January 2024. Please log into CamSIS Extended Self-Service. If you have not already registered please follow the onscreen instructions on the log in page. 

Bookings for MA Graduation

A buffet lunch is held in college for the graduand (free of charge) and one adult guest at a cost of £29.50. Your total party size cannot exceed two including yourself. We regret that children cannot attend the MA Graduation this year as they need to be supervised at all times.

Please note, for students who matriculated before 1980 you will not be able to register for Extended Self Service. Please contact graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk and request a booking form.

Payment should be made by bank transfer; you will find payment details here.

Please note, all guests require admission tickets for entry to the Senate-House. 

You will be sent a confirmation email once bookings have closed and your payment (if applicable) has been confirmed. Please ensure you have updated your preferred email address on CamSIS self-service or your ESS page. Your place is NOT confirmed until you have received this email.

Academical dress

Those graduating wear formal clothes, following the strict dress code, with the correct gown and hood. For further information please see the academical dress page on our website.

Photography

Whilst personal photography is not permitted in Senate House, all graduands attending their ceremony in person will be photographed at the moment that their degree is conferred. For further information please see the photography page on our website.

Please note: There is no accommodation available in College in May.

Typical Timetable for MA Graduation Day

10:30: Registration and collection of Senate-House Admission tickets outside B staircase (Graduands should be dressed ready for the ceremony)

11:45: Group photograph of all MA Graduands outside the Hall

12:10: Talk given by the Praelector outside the Hall

12:20: Group photograph of all MBA Graduands outside the Hall

12:30: Reception and Lunch in the Grace Howard and Howard Building

14:15: Graduands to assemble outside the Howard Building for procession to the Senate House

14:40: Procession to the Senate House

15:00: Graduands and their guests to arrive at the Senate-House

15:50: Expected finish time at the Senate House

If you have any questions about the day, please email graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk

The MA Dinner

A dinner will be held in the Hall for all those collecting their MA. This is a chance to catch up with your contemporaries and reminisce about college days!

In 2024 this dinner will take place on Friday 17 May. A drinks reception will commence at 7pm in the Grace Howard Room, and will be followed by a three-course dinner with wine in the Hall. The cost is £65.00 per person. All 2017 graduands are welcome to attend, including those who chose to graduate in absence and you are welcome to book in a guest. Please see Book Events Online - Downing College (downingcambridge.com) for more details.

If you have any questions about the MA dinner, please email the Development office (alumni.events@dow.cam.ac.uk)

EMBA Graduands

As an EMBA graduand you may bring up to two guests to the ceremony in the Senate-House. Additional Senate-House tickets are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed. There are strict limits on the number of graduands and guests who can attend owing to Fire and Safety Regulations. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list for additional tickets please apply for this when making your booking.

Arrangements for attending the Senate-House, booking of tickets for your guests can be made via your self-service page on CamSIS. The deadline for submission, and payment is to be confirmed .

A buffet lunch is held in college for the graduand (free of charge) and up to four guests at a cost of £25 per head. Children under 7 years are at a cost of £6.25, children aged between 7 and 15 years are at a cost of £12.50. Your total party size cannot exceed five including yourself.

Payment should be made by bank transfer; you will find payment details here.

Remember that all guests, including children and babies, require admission tickets for entry to the Senate-House. Please notify the College if you have any guests attending who are under the age of 16 by emailing graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk

You will be sent a confirmation email once bookings have closed and your payment (if applicable) has been confirmed. Please ensure you have updated your preferred email address on CamSIS self-service or your ESS page. Your place is NOT confirmed until you have received this email.

If you do not wish to attend the ceremony and would rather graduate in absence this is also booked via your self-service page on CamSIS. 

Academical dress

Those graduating wear formal clothes, following the strict dress code, with the correct gown and hood. For further information please see the academical dress page on our website.

Photography

Whilst personal photography is not permitted in Senate House, all graduands attending their ceremony in person will be photographed at the moment that their degree is conferred. For further information please see the photography page on our website.

Please note: There is no accommodation available in College in May.

Typical Timetable for May Graduation Day

09:45-10:45: Registration and collection of Senate-House Admission tickets in a location to be confirmed (Graduands should be dressed ready for the ceremony)

11:15-11:55: Talk given by the Master and the Praelector in the Howard Theatre: Graduands only, Guests to wait in the Sunken Garden or Howard Building (First Floor)

12:00: Reception and Lunch in the Grace Howard and Howard Building

13:35: Graduands to assemble outside the Howard Building for procession to the Senate House

14:00: Procession to the Senate House

14:25: Graduands and their guests to arrive at the Senate-House

15:30: Expected finish time at the Senate House

The actual timetable for the day of your graduation cannot be confirmed until a week before the ceremony when the College receives the information from the Student Registry.

If you have any questions about the day, please email graduation@dow.cam.ac.uk