Winter Graduations

Last week, the University community celebrated the success of its most recent graduating class. Winter Graduations are mainly for postgraduate students, Masters and Doctoral, unlike the Summer Graduation, which is when most undergraduate students graduate.

Graduations at the University of Aberdeen follow an ancient traditional format, the main events being the academic procession and the graduation ceremony.

Prior to the ceremony, graduating students (graduands) are called to enter the quadrangle of King’s College, from where the academic procession begins. Students then proceed in a line to Elphinstone Hall, where the ceremony takes place.

At the ceremony, the audience stands for the Academic Procession entering the Hall and sings Gaudeamus. Students are called onto the stage, with their hoods (or gowns for Doctoral graduands) held over their left arm.

A paragraph of Latin is read to confer the degree and then the Chancellor or Pro/Vice-Chancellor touches the head of the graduands with the cap. This is then followed by the Sacrist putting the hood over the head of the student. Trenchers/John Knox caps are only worn by graduates as they process out of the Hall at the end of the ceremony.

Creative Writing

Foundation Date

The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, when Bishop William Elphinstone (1431-1514) went to Rome and was granted a Papul Bull (charter) by Pope Alexander VI, granting permission for the teaching of Arts, Law, Medicine and Theology. Eagle-eyed students may however notice that the date adorning the gate next to the New King’s building (pictured above) is 1494.

Interestingly, the reason for the apparent discrepancy is because at the time the University was founded, New Year fell on 25th March under the Julian calendar, the Fest of the Annunciation. It was only during the 17h and 18th century that the 1st of January was widely adopted across Europe as the date for New Year with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

Due to the change in the calendar system therefore, the date the Papul Bull establishing the University and Kings College of Aberdeen was signed, 1oth February 1494, is today recognised as falling in the year 1495.

The Aberdeen Bestiary

The Aberdeen Bestiary, created in England in around 1200, is one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval illuminated manuscript and has been in the care of the University of Aberdeen for almost four centuries.

The 800-year-old treasure, which is beautifully illustrated with detailed images of animals has recently been digitally enhanced and made available online for the first time in high definition.