Cambridge University degree ceremonies are known as Congregations of the Regent House and are one of the University’s oldest traditions. Their origin dates back around 800 years and they have taken place in the historic Senate House since the Eighteenth Century.  

A Cambridge University degree candidate is awarded their degree when it is conferred upon them, either in person or in absence, at a Congregation of the Regent House. Those about to receive a degree are called graduands. They are presented at the Senate House by the college Praelector, by college and not by faculty or department. 

Information on Robinson’s graduation arrangements and on how to apply to graduate are provided below. For further graduation-related enquiries, please contact the Praelector’s Secretary at ljh65@robinson.cam.ac.uk

Congregation Dates
There are degree ceremonies throughout the year. Robinson will participate in the following degree ceremonies during the 2025-2026 academic year but please see the restrictions below regarding who may attend General Admission and the MA Ceremony:

Michaelmas Term 2025
Saturday 25 October 2025

Lent Term 2026
Saturday 28 February 2026

Easter Term 2026
Saturday 2 May 2026
Saturday 23 May 2026 (Robinson’s MA Ceremony, primarily for newly-eligible MA graduands – see below *)
Saturday 4 July 2026 (General Admission – see below **)

Long Vacation
Saturday 25 July 2026
 

* MA refers to Master of Arts graduands and not to graduands due to receive other Master degrees such as MPhil, MSt, MASt degrees, etc. Further information on the MA Ceremony is available here.      

** General Admission is the degree ceremony specifically for undergraduates who have just completed one of the following degree courses: BTh, BA, VetMB and BA with MEng or MMath or MSci. No other degrees can be awarded at General Admission. Further information on General Admission is available here.    

• Former undergraduate students who are yet to receive their degree may apply to have it conferred at one of the degree ceremonies listed above, apart from General Admission, subject to availability of places.
• Current postgraduate students who will complete their course soon may apply to graduate at one of the degree ceremonies listed above, apart from General Admission, subject to availability of places, provided it is likely that their degree will be approved in time for their chosen ceremony.
• Former postgraduate students who have received formal approval to take their degree may apply to receive it at one of the degree ceremonies listed above, apart from General Admission, subject to availability of places.