On Saturday 5 July, Professor Chris Young attended his first ‘General Admission’ graduation ceremony as Master of St Edmund’s College.

Cambridge degrees are conferred by the Congregation of the Regent House. ‘General Admission’ is the ceremony where undergraduate degrees are conferred. Acting in the role of Deputy Vice Chancellor for the University, the Master is responsible for granting degrees known as ‘conferring’. Prof Young said:

Having received two degrees in the Senate House, it was a moving experience to take part in the procession, sit in the chair and confer degrees on young people who had worked so hard to get to Cambridge and complete their courses. I could not help but think of my mother, grandmother and other family members who had witnessed exactly the same ceremony, and I knew how significant it was for the families of our own St Edmund’s students who had come from far and wide. It was a real pleasure to meet them and be part of their special day.

Our Vice-Master Dr Gemma Burgess was also in attendance as Deputy Senior Proctor – her favourite thing to do at the University of Cambridge.

The roles of Deputy Vice Chancellor and Deputy Senior Proctor are both important ceremonial roles. Elements of the Cambridge degree ceremony have their origin amongst the earliest customs of the University and are over 800 years old.

You can find out more about the ceremonial significance of Cambridge degrees on the University’s website.

Congratulations to all our students who graduated on Saturday. View a selection of photos from the day below.