Graduation 2013
Graduation is a very special day for you, your family and your friends. It is a chance to celebrate all that you have achieved throughout your university career and to reflect on the years you have spent with us.
We want to make the day a very special one. These pages are here to inform of you how the day works and what you need to do to ensure your graduation is a truly memorable occasion. Graduation is one of the most important days in the Royal Veterinary College calendar and we have made some changes this year, based on the 2012 Graduate Survey which we hope will make it even better.
The Freemasons’ Hall and the Grand Connaught Rooms are in a great location both for transport connections and all the entertainment and leisure facilities in the surrounding area. There are two stages to Graduation, the first being the official ceremony in the impressive surroundings of the Temple in Freemasons’ Hall where you will graduate. The second stage will be a celebration reception in the Grand Connaught Rooms, next door to Freemasons’ Hall.
Ceremonies
What to expect from graduation
Graduation Checklist
Eligibility to Graduate
Registration to RCVS
Photography
Gown Hire
Dress Code
Refreshments
Getting there and Travel Arrangements
RVC4Life
Contact for further information
Ceremonies
There will be two ceremonies on Thursday 18th July:
Ceremony One – Foundation, BSc and Postgraduate Graduation
Time |
Action |
Location |
|---|---|---|
07.30 – 18.00 |
Cloakroom and toilets available for Graduands and guests |
Grand Connaught Rooms |
08.00 – 09.15 |
Graduands arrive, register and collect gowns |
Freemasons’ Hall |
09.15 |
Graduands to congregate at Temple entrance |
Freemasons’ Hall |
09.30 |
Doors open for guests to walk directly to Temple entrance |
Freemasons’ Hall |
09.15 – 09.30 |
Graduands take their seats |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
09.30 – 09.35 |
Graduand briefing |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
09.35 – 09.55 |
Guests take seats |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
10.00 – 11.30 |
Graduation ceremony |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
11.45 – 13.45 |
Celebration reception |
Grand Connaught Rooms |
| 11.45- 15.00 | Photography & Gown Returns | Grand Connaught Rooms |
Ceremony Two – BVetMed Graduation
Time |
Action |
Location |
|---|---|---|
07.30 – 18.00 |
Cloakroom and toilets available for Graduands and guests |
Grand Connaught Rooms |
12.00 – 13.15 |
Graduands arrive, register and collect gowns |
Freemasons’ Hall |
13.15 |
Graduands to congregate at Temple entrance |
Freemasons’ Hall |
13.15 – 13.30 |
Graduands take their seats |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
13.30 – 13.35 |
Graduand briefing |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
13.15 |
Doors open for guests to walk directly to Temple entrance |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
13.35 – 13.55 |
Guests take seats |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
14.00 – 15.45 |
Graduation ceremony |
Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall |
16.00– 17.45 |
Celebration reception, photography, gown return |
Grand Connaught Rooms |
| 16.00 - 18.00 | Photography & Gown Returns | Grand Connaught Rooms |
N.B. the timings are subject to slight changes. Please check the website regularly for updates and please ensure you are on time as it will not be possible to enter once the ceremony has started.
What to expect from Graduation
If you have any bags or coats, you will need to leave these in the cloakroom in the Grand Connaught Rooms before going through to the Freemasons’ Hall as you will not return to the Freemasons’ Hall after your ceremony and you will enter the Grand Connaught Rooms through an internal route.
You will arrive at Freemasons’ Hall independently from your guests so you can collect your gown, register, take your seat and receive a briefing. There are numerous coffee shops in the vicinity where your guests can enjoy a coffee whilst you are collecting your gown and registering. In addition, they will have access to the Grand Connaught Rooms cloakroom and toilets during this time. However, your guests will not be granted access to the Freemasons’ Hall until the stated time in the above schedule. Due to the high number of people, crowds have to be managed very carefully to keep everyone safe and to ensure everyone has an enjoyable day. Once you are seated, your guests will be able to make their way to their seats so the ceremony can begin.
You will be seated in order and you will receive a briefing on what you are required to do. There will also be marshals within the Temple who will direct you to the correct place as and when you are required to move.
At the end of the ceremony, you will be led (via the staff procession), out of the hall, along a corridor and into the Grand Connaught Rooms for your Graduation celebration reception (in the Grand Hall). A drinks reception, tea, coffee and light bites will be provided. There will also be a pay-for bar and entertainment from a string quartet. Photography will take place in the Balmoral Suite, right next to the Grand Hall in the Grand Connaught Rooms. Once you have celebrated and had your photos taken by Success Photography, you will be able to drop your gowns off in the Empire Suite in the Grand Connaught Rooms and vacate the venue to continue your celebrations either at home, or in the amazing West End of London.
Graduation checklist
In order that we can look after every detail of your special day, we need everyone to complete the following please:
- Student booking form by Friday 14th June 2013 at the latest. The booking form will be removed from the site after this date.
- BVetMed students will need to complete the RCVS online application form and pay the £150.00 by the deadline of Friday 24th May 2013 (please see below for more details)
- Order your gown from Ede and Ravenscroft by Friday 21st June 2013
- Book your photography slot with Success Photography (this facility will be available soon)
- Make travel arrangements www.tfl.gov.uk
Eligibility to graduate - July completers
- All Graduands will be sent E Tickets by Monday 15th July. You will be responsible for printing these off yourself and ensuring that your guests have paper copies to take with them as this will be required to enter the Freemasons’ Hall. Alternatively, if you do have a printer, you can show the email on a phone.
- Please note that any correspondence regarding Graduation is not an indication that you have passed your degree. Graduation has to be organised well in advance and examination and examiners’ decisions will not have been made for most students until July. If you have already received your results, simply tick this box when completing your Student booking form.
Debt
- You are reminded that the degree award may be withheld from any candidate who is in debt to the College or the University (this includes library fines).
RCVS Registration
Applies to both nurses and BVetMed students although the process differs so please make sure you read the relevant sections.
Nurses
The RVC Veterinary Nursing office will post the RCVS registration forms to all final year FdSc / third-year BSc VN students. Once received, please post back the completed form, along with the registration fee cheque of £109 (made payable to the RCVS), direct to Hawkshead Academic Registry by 31st May, 2013.
BVetMed
After the publication of provisional results on 5th July 2013, various steps have to be taken to make a formal pass list. RCVS will only give registration to those people who appear on the formal pass list. Furthermore, RCVS will only register those people who have had their cheques cleared, and filled in the online registration form, by 24th May 2013 for permanent registration. Clearing a cheque can take 3 weeks after it has arrived at the RCVS, however it might be cashed from your account within three days.
Thus, the following applies:
All BVetMeds will need to register with the RCVS
- Fill in the online registration form at www.rcvs.org.uk by 24th May 2013
- Pay the fee of £150.00. This can be done in two ways:
- Either write a cheque to the RCVS and take it to Hawkshead Registry by 24th May 2013.
- Or fill in the RCVS Credit Card form and take it to Hawkshead Registry by 24th May 2013 (There is a 2.4% admin charge of £3.60 with this option)
Please note that it will not be possible to temporarily register this year between results and Graduation as the RCVS require a minimum of 15 days in order to do this and we only have 10. This will mean that all Graduands will have to wait until 19th July 2013 onwards to practise.
The deadline is important because we have received this message from the RCVS:
“Please note that anyone applying for registration after 24th May 2013, may not be able to register on the due date and may have to make an appointment to attend one of the regular registration sessions at the RCVS at a later date.”
N.B. the earliest date you could start work is 19th July 2013.
Photography
Success Photography will be at Graduation to photograph individual presentations during the ceremony and to photograph Graduands and guests. Based on feedback from last year, all photography will take place after the ceremony at the same time as the celebration reception. The Success team will provide a large number of photographers to ensure you have your photographs taken quickly so you have plenty of time to celebrate. All photography appointments will need to be pre-booked this year. You can pre book online now on the photographers site here. Once you have entered ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE as your choice then click on Order Photos in Advance at at the bottom right of the page you will see Book a Time Slot. A video of both ceremonies will be available for download from the RVC website.
Gown Hire
- All Graduands must hire a gown from Ede and Ravenscroft www.edeandravenscroft.com Undergraduates are hooded by the Principal on stage, therefore mortar boards are not worn, but Success Photography will hold a stock for photos. Please consult Ede and Ravenscroft if you have any gown queries as this will differ, dependent on your award.
Dress Code
- You are advised to wear smart clothes, so normally a smart dress or suit. It is normally viewed as inappropriate to wear jeans or trainers to Graduation. Click here to view the some of the outfits from 2012.
Food and drink
- The ceremony itself will last approximately one hour 45 minutes so it is best to have a meal beforehand.
- We will provide you with a complimentary alcoholic or soft drink and light bites upon arrival at the celebration reception. There will then be a paying bar if you wish to purchase any further drinks.
Public Transport and Parking
- We recommend you use www.tfl.gov.uk to make your travel arrangements and that wherever possible, you use public transport as it is likely to be much quicker and significantly cheaper than driving. Parking within the area is limited and the venues are within the congestion charging zone. The nearest tube is Holborn which is on the Piccadilly and Central lines and it is approximately five minutes-walk from the venue.
RVC4Life
- Whilst Graduation may mark the start of a new chapter in your life, it also marks the start of you joining our Alumni family, RVC4Life. There will be a stand at the celebration reception in the Grand Hall where you can register for RVC4Life, collect your free gift and collect pre-ordered official RVC merchandise. Visit http://www.rvc.ac.uk/ACT for merchandise. You will need to enter “Graduation” in the delivery address when ordering online, so we know to bring your purchases to the Grand Connaught Rooms on the day.
Contact
- Graduation is managed overall by Emmeline Beazley, the RVC Events Manager, but she also works in collaboration with a number of different departments, including Academic Registry.
- If you have any questions regarding booking tickets, what happens on the day or if you are worried about anything, then please email graduation@rvc.ac.uk and Emmeline or one of her colleagues will make contact with you within three working days.
- If you have queries regarding exams, results, library fines or outstanding debt, then please contact Polly Bull from Academic Registry directly pbull@rvc.ac.uk and you will receive a response within five working days.
