Britpick Question

[amberfocus]

At the University level, what is the graduation ceremony like?  Do you have a valedictorian or key note speaker?

Comments

[solarflar3.livejournal.com]

If you attend one of the more prestigious uni's then you will have a 'influential' speaker, such as the Princess Royal who did one this year at a London uni, speeches are made though at all grad ceremonies. The uni chancellor makes a speech too.

It is generally called 'conferment' of degrees rather than 'award'. After you have finished your degree but not yet received your conferment, you are known as a graduand. Then a graduate when you have got your conferment.

hth

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Do graduating students speak at all?

[solarflar3.livejournal.com]

Not really, a post-grad student might, if they were being awarded phD or something along those lines. But speeches are generally restricted to invited speakers and the uni chancellor.

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks.

[lostwolfchats.livejournal.com]

Yeah - perfect question for me! I work in a University and help with graduation.

Everyone processes across a stage, to shake the hand of the Chancellor of the University. It's quite quick, - there name is announced (and is listed in the programme of proceedings), they walk, shake and then return to their seat.

At the end, generally, there will be an honourary graduand or alumni who will give a speech. They tend to be well known in the area of the subkect graduating - we had Helen Mirram last year, for our literature and drama ceremony.

Email me if you need more detail.

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Thank you. So if Rose is top of her class might she be one who would give a speech?

[lostwolfchats.livejournal.com]

Not really ... current granduands don't normally get to speak. As a major prize winner, she might get a seperate presentation, but UK Uni's don't like to make any one graduand stick out. OUr speakers tend to be previous students who've gone on to do great things, or honorary granduands, who the University has honoured with a title.

Lumin or Jonanthan might speak, if they were awarded an honorary doctorate, for example, but Rose wouldn't.

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks!

[crimedoc1.livejournal.com]

Um.. I went through graduation at Cambridge University. It's a bit different - very formal, all in Latin - but I can give you the details if you want.

[amberfocus.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This won't be quite that formal and definitely will be in English.