Diploma Ceremonies
Diploma ceremonies are one of the most popular events in the College calendar. We understand the significance of coming together with your friends and family to celebrate your Diploma after the hard work, commitment, and dedication that you have put into getting to this stage of your career.
You will find full details of how to attend a ceremony and what the day itself looks like below. It may be your second visit (after the examination); we hope it will be less nerve-wracking than the first and that you are persuaded to come back and see us many more times thereafter!
Please note, we are currently experiencing very high demand for our Diploma ceremonies. If you do wish to attend, we will initially place your name on the waiting list, and you will be contacted with date options in due course.
The Ceremony
Fellows and Members travel from all over the world to attend our Diploma ceremonies, which take place in our unique Playfair Hall.
During the ceremony, you will be presented with your Diploma scroll on stage by the President or Dean of the Dental Faculty. Other special medals, Diplomas and awards, such as Honorary Fellowships, Fellowship ad hominem, and medals for candidates with outstanding examination results, are often also presented.
Each Diploma is personally signed by the President or Dean of the Dental Faculty, and Honorary Secretary, and embossed with the College seal.
We will take a photograph of you receiving your Diploma scroll on stage and will post it on our Facebook site which you can share with family and friends.
The Ceremony is a proud and memorable occasion for our esteemed Diplomates, and a special day to share with friends and family. After the ceremony, Diplomates and guests are welcome to come along to the drinks reception where refreshments will be served. It also provides a perfect opportunity to mingle with The President, Dental Dean, and members of the College Council.
I thoroughly enjoyed the diploma ceremony at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. It was a suitable end to the examination process. It was good to meet up with fellow graduates from all over the country.
Ben Stutchfield MRCSEd, Specialty Registrar in General Surgery
Drinks Reception
Our Diploma ceremonies generally take place on Fridays at either 2:30pm or 4pm and are followed by a drinks reception. During the drinks reception you will be served some light refreshments and canapes, and you will have the opportunity to meet the President, Dental Dean, College Council members, and fellow Diplomates from all over the world.
Tickets to the ceremony and drinks reception are £10.00 for diplomates and £25.00 for guests. Each diplomate will be allowed two guests in the ceremony hall. Any additional guests will be accommodated in our screening room. Children are welcome to attend the ceremony, however due to the formality of the occasion, children under the age of 8 years will be required to view the ceremony in our family screening room and must be supervised by an adult.
A link to purchase ceremony tickets will be sent out a couple of months prior to the event date.
Other Activities
There will be a professional photographer available before and after the ceremony, offering a great variety of photography packages.
You can walk around our campus, visit the library, or browse the items at our College shop, which offers a fantastic variety of College branded items and gifts.
Library Services
On the day of your Diploma ceremony, staff from the College Library and Archive Team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and to give you an introduction to the extensive free services available to you as a Member or Fellow. You will also have a chance to view some of the College’s rare books and treasured items on display and have an opportunity to sign up for the NHS Scotland Knowledge Network. This invaluable resource, kindly provided by NHS Scotland to our Membership, allows for access to thousands of journals, databases and other titles for free anywhere in the world via OpenAthens.
Museums
The award-winning Surgeons’ Hall Museums will also be open from 10am – 5pm on the day of your Diploma ceremony and over the weekend. Entry is free of charge to the Museum for Diplomates attending the ceremony and their guests for the entire weekend. The Museums are home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom and are well worth a visit while you are at the College.
Click here for a step-by-step account of how to attend a Diploma ceremony.
Click here for our Ceremonial FAQs.
For any other queries relating to the ceremony, please contact ceremonial@rcsed.ac.uk or 0131 527 1655
