Everything about Graduation totally explained
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an
academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called
degree day. The event itself is also called
commencement,
convocation or
invocation. At the University of Cambridge, it's known as
general admission. In the United States and Canada, it's also used to refer to the advancement from a primary or secondary school level. Beginning at the secondary school level in the United States, such ceremonies usually include a procession of the
faculty and candidates. The candidates will almost always wear
academic dress, and increasingly faculty will do the same. At the college and university level, the faculty will usually wear academic dress at the formal ceremonies, as will the
trustees and degree candidates. "Graduation" at the college and university level occurs when the presiding officer confers degrees upon candidates, either individually or en masse, even if graduates physically receive their diploma later at a smaller college or departmental ceremony.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, unlike the United States, students don't usually 'graduate' from school below university level. They will normally leave
secondary school,
high school or
sixth form college (if applicable) with specific qualifications, often
GCSEs and
A-levels respectively (
Standard Grades and
Higher National Courses in
Scotland). However, these are not
diplomas and are not necessarily presented in a formal ceremony.
Many university graduation ceremonies in the United Kingdom begin with a procession of academics, wearing
academic dress. This procession is accompanied by music, and a
ceremonial mace is often carried. After this, an official reads out the names of the graduates one by one, organized by class of degree or by subject. When their names are called, the graduates walk across the stage to shake hands with a senior official, often the university's
Chancellor or the
vice-chancellor. Graduands wear the
academic dress of the degree they're receiving. Serving members of the
armed forces may wear their military
uniform underneath. Member institutions of the
University of Wales hold their graduation ceremonies almost entirely in the
Welsh language. Some of the older universities may hold their graduation ceremonies in
Latin, even though few students understand this language. The Latin section of the ceremony may include a rendition of an
anthem, sometimes called the unofficial anthem of all universities, the
De Brevitate Vitae, also known as
The Gaudeamus.
University of Cambridge
There are, however, a number of variations. At the
University of Cambridge for example, each graduation is a separate act of the university's governing body, the
Regent House, and must be voted on as with any other act. A formal meeting of the Regent House, known as a
Congregation, is held for this purpose.
Graduates receiving an undergraduate degree wear the academical dress that they were entitled to before graduating: for example, most students becoming
Bachelors of Arts wear
undergraduate gowns and not BA gowns. Graduates receiving a postgraduate degree (for example
PhD or
Master's) wear the academical dress that they were entitled to before graduating, only if their first degree was also from the University of Cambridge; if their first degree is from another university, they wear the academical dress of the degree that they're about to receive, the BA gown without the strings if they're under 24 years of age, or the MA gown without strings if they're 24 and over.
In all cases, graduands wear the hood of the degree which they're to receive. Where two or more degrees are being received at once, as is now commonly the case with science graduates, the hood of the higher degree is worn.
The Open University
Due to the large number and geographical dispersion of students, unlike most UK universities, degree ceremonies at the Open University are not the occasion on which degrees are
formally conferred. This happens
in absentia at a joint meeting of the University's Council and Senate ahead of the ceremony. The University's ceremonies –- or "Presentations of Graduates" — occur during the long summer throughout Britain and Ireland, as well as one ceremony in
Versailles.
Japan
In Japan, because the school year begins in April, the graduation ceremony usually occurs in early March. Third-year Senior High School students (equivalent to 12th grade in Canada and America) take their finals in early February, so they're able to pass entrance examinations in universities prior to graduation. This break may contribute to the emotional charge of the event.
Although Japanese schools differ greatly in size (from a mere dozen to thousands of students), the nature of the graduation ceremony itself remains similar. It usually takes place in the school auditorium or agora, or for poorer schools, in the gymnasium. Special drapes, curtains and scrolls are hung to the walls and doors. A certain number of chairs are reserved for parents (usually mothers) to come, as well as local officials. The students don't wear robes or mortarboards. Depending on the school, they might have to buy and wear a one-time only graduation uniform. Most of the time they simply wear their regular school uniform.
At first, all students from the 1st and 2nd grades (equivalent to 10th or 11th grade) wait. Then the graduates march in to the sound of a classical march, often rendered by the school's brass band. A complex series of announcements are made, which cue the students to stand up, bow, sit down. The homeroom teacher for each class calls out the names of his or her students in the usual gender-split alphabetical order. This means that boys are called out in alphabetical order first, then the girls. Upon hearing their names, the students say はい (Hai) or "Yes" and remain at attention until all students have been called. Recently some schools have discontinued splitting the class by gender. Both the national anthem and school song are sung by everyone. The head of the student council reads a short congratulatory address to the graduates. This is different from a valedictorian speech. Unlike a valedictorian's speach, it's somewhat pre-set and heavily edited by the teachers responsible for the ceremony. Afterwards, the principal launches into a long-winded speech as is the tradition in most schools. Perseverance, hard work and patience are the most common themes brought up on the occasion.
The principal might wear a full tuxedo, complete with handkerchief and white gloves. The student’s ID number and name are read out loud, the diploma is handed over in full size (not rolled-up). The student receives it with both hands, raises it up in the air and bows to the principal before leaving the stage. There can be background music playing in the meantime, either from tape or CD, or provided by the school's brass band. Common songs include "Aogeba tōtoshi" and "Hotaru no hikari" (Sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne)
Once the diplomas have been all handed out, a few more announcements and speeches are made, by PTA (parent-teacher association) representatives or someone from the municipal or local government, depending on the school’s status. To the sound of another march, the students leave the auditorium and go back to their class for a final address by their homeroom teacher. During that time, the rest of the school, teachers and students alike, proceed to undress the auditorium, put the chairs away and clean up. A few moments later, the graduates are free to roam around the school, in and out of the teachers’ office, saying their goodbyes to their favorite teachers and reminiscing the good times. Although some tears can be shed at the time, and genuine smiles are seen on all faces, the whole process remains stiff by Western standard. There are no handshakes or hugs to be seen, but instead a lot of bowing and sniffling.
The regular calendar doesn't end with graduation. The next business day after the ceremony (usually a Monday), 1st and 2nd year students all come back to class. For another two to three weeks, the school continues without the 3rd year students present, which makes for lighter schedules (for the teachers), and quieter hallways at break-times.
India
In India, graduations are not practiced as a compulsory custom. But nowadays many universities conduct colourful graduation ceremonies.
Mexico
In Junior High and High School, the graduation ceremony doesn't get much importance, only in a few private schools. However, in college, particularly in UNAM and IPN, the graduation ceremony takes place in a very similar way to the USA
Further Information
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