Conferments In Absentia
Although most students complete their course of study and have their degree conferred at a degree ceremony immediately following the award, some students will have their degree awarded at a time when no degree ceremonies are scheduled to take place.
The University, therefore, holds in absentia ceremonies to enable students who complete their studies outside the graduation ceremony periods, to have their degree conferred and, therefore, receive their degree certificate without having to wait until the next degree ceremony.
Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Students
Following the conferment of their award in absentia, all candidates will be contacted to advise that their award has been conferred at an in absentia ceremony and to give them the opportunity to have their degree certificate sent to them. At this time candidates can also advise us if they would like to receive an invitation to attend the next Degree Ceremony that they are eligible to attend. Graduation Ceremonies are held in July each year for Undergraduate students and January each year for Taught Postgraduate students. We will contact all candidates conferred in absentia by post at the Correspondence address (if available) or Home address open on the student record. Candidates should, therefore, check their student record to ensure that the address information is correct.
MBChB and BDS Students
After the Final Board of Examiners has met, in absentia conferments are held each July, prior to the Summer Graduation Ceremonies. The University Seal is applied to the lists of students and these are then forwarded to the GMC and GDC in order for them to grant provisional registration for the students to practise. These students are eligible, and will already have been invited, to attend the Summer Graduation Ceremonies in the normal way.
Research Students
Research candidates are eligible to attend graduation ceremonies in January or July each year. Candidates who successfully complete their course of study outside the cut off dates for inclusion in the next ceremonies (end March for July ceremonies and end September for January ceremonies) will have their award conferred in absentia. Students who have awards conferred in absentia will be contacted by post and will be able to receive their certificate following conferment. They can also advise if they wish to receive an invitation to the next available ceremony at this time. Candidates should ensure that they have an up-to-date Correspondence or Home address on their student record as this is the address that we will write to advise that the award has been conferred in absentia.
Scheduled In Absentia Dates for 2013
28 January 2013
8 April 2013
5 August 2013
28 October 2013 (Undergraduate resit candidates)
Scheduled In Absentia Dates for 2014
27 January 2014
Further dates will be scheduled in due course.
Please email graduation@sheffield.ac.uk with any queries regarding in absentia conferment of awards.