Awards & Award Ceremonies - Frequently Asked Questions: Commencements
- What are the general procedures at Commencements Ceremonies?
- How do I make application for conferral?
- What is the closing date for application?
- What is the Commencement Fee?
- I’ve appealed my result, can I proceed with conferring?
- Can I be conferred In Absentia?
- What happens if I fail to present at a commencements ceremony?
- How do I know my application was received?
- What academic dress is required for commencements?
- Can I hire academic / dress wear?
- Is a photography / framing service available on campus?
- Where do commencements take place?
- Is there access for people with a disability?
- How many guests tickets will I be issued?
- Where is the Commencement Reception held?
- Is parking available on the College campus?
- Who qualifies for the degree of M.A.?
- What language will the degree parchment be presented in?
What are the general procedures at Commencements Ceremonies?
Degrees are publicly conferred, in the student’s registered name within degree class, by the Chancellor, or a Pro-Chancellor of the University in the Public Theatre. Front Square, Trinity College at a ceremony known as Commencements conducted in Latin. Each ceremony is normally of an hour in duration. Further information is available here.
How do I make application for conferral?
All candidates for degree must make application for conferral. Application packs, known as Notice of Candidature packs, are issued by post to all undergraduate final year students by the Student and Graduate Records Office; postgraduate students are directed to the Student and Graduate Records Office website to download the Notice of Candidature (PDF) pack in respect of the conferral of higher degrees. Further information is available here.
What is the closing date for application?
Completed Notice of Candidature forms must be returned so as to reach the Student and Graduate Records Office by 5 pm on the appropriate closing date stated below:
- Summer: May 11, 2012
- Autumn : September 21, 2012
- Winter: October 12, 2012
- Spring: March 8, 2013
Candidates are advised that closing dates are very strictly adhered to, and late applicants will not be admitted to the selected ceremony; however, they may be admitted to the next available commencement session.
Provisional application (ie, ‘Conditional Notice’) can be made to the Student and Graduate Records Office prior to the publication of results; however, results must be published no later than 14 days prior to the first date of that group of Commencement ceremonies in order for the applicant to proceed with conferral. Further information is available here.
What is the Commencement Fee?
From the 2012-13 academic year the Commencements fee will be charged as a once-off payment to be levied at the same time as the tuition fee. The Commencements fee will be fully refundable to all students who become ineligible to proceed with conferral.
Please note that all students that will be graduating in 2012/2013 should make payment at the time of application as per guidelines below.
A Commencements fee is applicable to all making application for conferral. Fees for commencements are as follows:
- Primary and Higher Degrees: €114
- Degree of M.A.: €637
Payment of the Commencement Fee must be made at the time of application. The fee can be paid to the Student and Graduate Records Office by credit / debit card. Payments made by credit card require the card holder to provide (in addition to their credit card number, and expiry date) the credit verification value (CVV) which is a three-digit code typically imprinted at the end of signature panel on the reverse of the card.
Payment can also be made by cheque / postal or money order / banker’s draft drawn in favour of TCD No. 1 a/c. Cash payments cannot be accepted.
Candidates will not be permitted to proceed with conferral until all amounts due by them to the College have been paid in full no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of a commencement session (including outstanding library books, and/or debts in respect of Library, accommodation, and fees).
I’ve appealed my result, can I proceed with conferring?
Students with results under appeal are advised not to proceed to Commencements until the appeal is concluded.
Can I be conferred In Absentia?
Graduands may under special circumstances be allowed to proceed to their degrees without presenting personally. Normally such permission is granted only to candidates resident outside Ireland (32 counties) or to candidates resident in Ireland who submit reasons with their application in writing for non-attendance in person which seem to the Senior Proctor sufficiently urgent.
The Student and Graduate Records Office will issue by registered post the parchment(s) to those graduates conferred in absentia. Alternatively, graduates who wish to collect their parchment(s) in person should contact the Student and Graduate Records Office.
What happens if I fail to present at a commencements ceremony?
No degree will be conferred if you fail to present at a commencements ceremony, or withdraw at short notice. Your application will automatically be rolled forward to the next commencement session; the Student and Graduate Records Office will advise you by email of the date and time of ceremony to which you have been assigned.
How do I know my application was received?
The Student and Graduate Records Office will acknowledge by post receipt of all completed Notice of Candidature forms normally within 14 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement card please contact the Student and Graduate Records Office immediately.
What academic dress is required for commencements?
All candidates must rigorously adhere to the following dress code:
- Men must wear dinner jackets or full evening wear (tuxedo), white shirt, black or white bow tie (clergy or military excepted), hood and gown, cap is optional.
- Women must wear black or white (clergy or military excepted), or a combination of both (black and/or white), hood, and gown, cap is optional.
Please note that candidates who do not comply with the above dress code will be normally denied permission to proceed with conferral on the day.
If candidates are to receive more than one degree, the hood and gown of the
senior degree will be worn. Advice on seniority of degrees may be obtained from the Student and Graduate Records Office. Further information is available here.
Can I hire academic / dress wear?
Candidates wishing to hire academicals and/or dress wear may apply online at the:
Armstrong & Oxford website
Academical dress may be collected from Armstrong & Oxford, normally located in the Atrium, (beside the Dining Hall) between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm on the day of Commencements. At least one hour should be allowed for the process of collection of academic dress. Payment for dress hire should be paid at the point of collection.
Any queries regarding the hire and/or collection of academicals should be made directly to Armstrong & Oxford by telephoning +353.1.429.5736 or by emailing. Further details may also be obtained at the Armstrong & Oxford website.
The charges (inclusive of VAT) are as follows:
- Bachelor’s Set (hood, cap and gown) :€30.00
- Master’s Set (hood, cap and gown) : €35.00
- Doctor’s Set (hood, cap and gown) : €35.00
Any queries regarding the hire and/or collection of dress wear should be made directly to Tangos Dress Hire, 5 Upper Fownes Street, Dublin 2 by emailing or by telephoning +353.1.677 3375. Further details may be obtained at the Tangos Dress Hire website.
The charges (inclusive of VAT) are as follows:
- Dress Wear (dress suit and bow tie): €42.00;
- Shirt and Cufflinks €13.00
Academicals and dress wear must be returned after each ceremony to the supplier, unless special arrangements with the supplier have been made. Further information is available here.
Is a photography / framing service available on campus?
The University of Dublin has contracted Lafayette Photography as the official commercial photographer for award ceremonies. Lafayette Photography will have indoor studios on campus, on days of commencements. A brochure for Lafayette Photographers will be included in the information pack sent to graduands prior to conferring. Photographs and frames may be booked in advance by contacting Lafayette.
Please note that freelance photographers on the grounds of the campus are not agents of the College. You are advised not to use any of the unofficial photographers who may be on campus. Each year, some graduates complain of non-delivery of photographs or of poor-quality work by these photographers.
Where do commencements take place?
All commencements ceremonies take place in the Public Theatre, in the Front Square, Trinity College Dublin.
Candidates for all degrees, other than doctorates, take the seat bearing their name in the Public Theatre no later than 30 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. Candidates for doctoral degrees present themselves in the ante-room of the Board Room (entrance through House No. 1, Front Square) at least 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony, and walk in procession to the Public Theatre. Candidates will have their role during the ceremony explained prior to commencement of the ceremony. Candidates who fail to arrive in time may be refused admission to the ceremony.
Is there access for people with a disability?
Candidates are requested to advise the Student and Graduate Records Office in advance if they or their guests require wheelchair access to the Public Theatre on the day of conferral. Sign language interpreting services can be provided for the candidate upon request to the Student and Graduate Records Office; requests should be made at least one month in advance of the ceremony date.
How many guests tickets will I be issued?
A ticket for two guests will be issued by post at least one week prior to the ceremony. Tickets for overseas (excluding the UK) candidates will not be posted, but held in the Student and Graduate Records Office, Regent House, for collection.
Only ticket holders will be admitted to the ceremony in the first instance. No provision can be made for the issue of extra guest tickets.
Where is the Commencement Reception held?
A reception immediately following each Commencement Ceremony is normally held in the Atrium.
Is parking available on the College campus?
Parking is not available on campus, except for candidates or guests with a disability and/or impaired mobility. Those requiring parking on this basis may enter through Lincoln Place Gate and park in the Front Square as directed by College Security Staff.
All other candidates are advised to park in the public parking facilities located in close proximity to the campus. The Park Rite car park in Fleet Street has agreed to provide parking at the special College rate of €2.50 an hour or €10 (max) per day for individuals presenting a 'Commencements Ticket'.
Who qualifies for the degree of M.A.?
A Bachelor of the University of Dublin of at least three years’ standing may proceed to the degree of Master in Arts (M.A.). The appropriate Notice of Candidature form, obtainable directly from the Student and Graduate Records Office, should be completed and returned with the appropriate fee. The fee is waived in the case of graduates of 50 or more years’standing. Further information is available here.
What language will the degree parchment be presented in?
All degree parchments are presented in Latin. Requests for the English translation of degree parchments and/or the verification of photocopies of parchments should be made in writing to the Student and Graduate Records Office.