14 November 2011

Hundreds of students to receive degrees at Winter Graduation

Photo opportunities - 2 pm on Wednesday, 16h November at Robing Rooms, Dundee City Chambers with Honourary Graduate Professor Sir John Bell.

The University of Dundee will this week mark the academic achievements of almost 750 students at its Winter Graduation celebrations.

Two ceremonies will be held at the Caird Hall on Wednesday, 16th November to allow students whose courses finished after the traditional summer graduation in late June to receive their awards as soon as possible after successfully completing their studies.

A total of 744 graduands spanning a wide range of disciplines will receive the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas. They will be joined by family and friends for their big day.

Professor Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, congratulated all graduating students on their achievements.

'It is always a source of pride and delight to welcome students and their families here for graduation,' he said. 'This is a major milestone in anyone’s life, and I am sure that everyone attending graduation will have wonderful time and enjoy a day to remember for the rest of their lives.

'The University's first Winter Graduation was held last year and it proved to be a great success with students enjoying the opportunity to mark this special occasion with their families shortly after the confirmation of their award.

'The very special atmosphere surrounding graduation in Dundee will not be lost on our current students. This is the first opportunity they will have had to see the unique combination of ceremony and celebration with friends and family, and I am sure this will spur them on to excel in their own studies.'

The first ceremony will take place at 10.00am, and will see students receive their awards gained from the College of Arts and Social Sciences and College of Art, Science and Engineering. This includes students from subjects as diverse as accounting, architecture, design, humanities and computing.

The afternoon ceremony, which begins at 2.30pm, will see students from the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, College of Life Sciences, and education and psychology students from the College of Arts and Social Sciences graduate.

Professor Sir John Bell, a Canadian immunologist and geneticist who is President of the Academy of Medical Sciences and who holds the Regius Chair of Medicine at the University of Oxford, will receive an honorary degree during the afternoon ceremony.

Following the conclusion of the ceremonies, graduates and their families will then be able to celebrate their achievements at a host of event organised at Dundee University Students Association (DUSA). Tickets are free for graduates and cost £10 for their guests.

More information is available by visiting www.dundee.ac.uk/graduation.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277