About Sheffield graduation ceremonies
Additional information about University of Sheffield graduation for guests and supporters.
The University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield was founded with the amalgamation of the School of Medicine, Sheffield Technical School and Firth College. In 1905, we received a Royal Charter and Firth Court was officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. At that time, there were 363 students reading for degrees in arts, pure science, medicine and applied science.
By the time of our centenary, there were over 25,000 students from more than 100 countries, across 70 academic departments.
The first ever graduate of the University was its first Chancellor, the 15th Duke of Norfolk, who was awarded an Honorary Degree in 1908 prior to the first ever graduation ceremony. This graduation ceremony took place in the historic setting of Firth Hall on 2 July 1908 at 5pm - three years after the University had been opened by King Edward VII. At this inaugural ceremony, 81 graduates were present, 10 of whom were female. There were also 4 honorary graduates. The first female student to cross the stage was Winifred Parker with the first male student being William Watson. The first international student to graduate on this day was Zung Tse Kien Woo from China.
Today, a degree from Sheffield is recognised all over the world as a hallmark of academic excellence. We are proud of our graduates and we are confident that they will make a difference wherever they choose to build their future. With every generation of graduates, our university goes from strength to strength.
Our governance, history and heritage
Officers of the University of Sheffield
The University is an independent corporation whose legal status derives from a Royal Charter granted in 1905. Alongside the Council, Senate and Faculties, the University Officers, the Charter requires a number of specific officers.
- Officers of the University of Sheffield
Chancellor
The Rt Hon Dame Anne Rafferty, DBE
Pro-Chancellors
Martin J. Temple, CBE, BSc
Claire Brownlie, BSc, MA
Adrian J. Stone, BSc, ACA
President and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Koen Lamberts, PhD
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor Robert Mokaya, OBE, FRS
Vice-Presidents
Professor Ruth J. Blakeley, BA, MSc, MSc, PhD
Professor John Derrick, BSc, DPhil
Professor Susan Fitzmaurice, BA, MPhil, PhD, FRSA
Professor Susan E. Hartley, OBE, BA, DPhil, FRES
Professor Tracey Moore, BSc, MSc, DMedSci, RN
Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh FREng, FRSE
Professor Mary T. Vincent, MA, DPhil (Oxon.), FRHistS
Treasurer
Robert W. Memmott, BSc, FCA
University Secretary
David Swinn, LLB, ACG
The Chancellor
The Right Honourable Lady Justice Anne Rafferty DBE, is the Senior Lay Officer of the University of Sheffield. Dame Anne is the eighth Chancellor of the University of Sheffield.
A graduate of our University and a Lord Justice of Appeal, her individual qualities and professional achievements fit her for this unique ambassadorial role.
Arms of the University of Sheffield
The University Arms, whose background colour is azure, contains a gold-edged open book at its centre, on which is inscribed Disce Doce (Learn and Teach). On either side of the book is a sheaf of eight silver arrows, which is derived from the shield of old Sheffield. The gold crown is the Crown of Success and the White Rose of York denotes the University’s home county. The scroll carries the motto of Firth College, Rerum Cognoscere Causas (To Discover the Causes of Things; from Virgil’s Georgics II, 490).
Honorary degrees
The University of Sheffield confers honorary degrees (or degrees honoris causa – as a ‘mark of honour’) on people who have given distinguished service or brought distinction to the University, the City of Sheffield or the region. They may be individuals of national or international standing or alumni of the University who have risen to the height of their chosen profession or field of expertise.
The University is proud to include many notable figures amongst its honorary graduates since the first honorary degree was awarded in 1908. This year is no exception.
This week's honorary graduands
- Lucy Prebble, FRSL
Lucy Prebble is an award-winning writer for theatre, television, games and film. Recent successes include her work as an executive producer and writer on the HBO drama Succession.
She is renowned for tackling big themes, including the financial crash, drugs trials and political assassination.
A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BA English Literature 2002), she received the 2019 Wellcome Screenwriting Fellowship and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
- Diana Springall, FRSA, Hon FSDC
Diana Springall is a leading British textile artist and advocate for the art of embroidery. She has also established one of the most comprehensive collections of British embroidery and stitch-based textile art in the world.
She was commissioned by the University of Sheffield’s Convocation to create a large textile piece for display in Western Bank Library; Graduation was installed in the catalogue hall in 1987 and depicts students in their academic gowns.
- Chiu Lai Kuen Susanna, MH, JP
A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BA Economics 1982), Susanna Chiu is Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Bonjour Holdings Ltd, based in Hong Kong. She is an internationally recognised expert in information systems audit, software consulting, system implementation and business management.
A great supporter of the University, she is a founding member of our alumni group in Hong Kong, and has served on the University’s Alumni Board and the Management School’s Advisory Board.
- The Honourable Dr Wanda Thomas Bernard, PhD, LLD, LHD, LLD, C.M., O.N.S.
Wanda Thomas Bernard has served as a Senator for Nova Scotia in the Upper House of the Parliament of Canada since 2016. A social worker, educator, researcher and community activist, she is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University and has a doctorate in sociological studies from the University of Sheffield (1996).
She is a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia for her work on race and racism.
- Scott Beaumont
A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BA Business Studies with Spanish 1994), Scott Beaumont recently stepped down as President of Google Asia Pacific. He was previously President of Google Greater China and Korea, and the Managing Director of Partnerships in Northern and Central Europe.
He is an active supporter of the University of Sheffield, with a special interest in neuroscience research, and is a lay member of our Finance Committee.
- Gary Dunn, BEng (Hons)
Gary Dunn is Chief Operating Officer and co-CEO of Sumo Group, the Sheffield-based, multi-award-winning video games creator and publisher. Sumo has been awarded the highest 3 Star Accreditation in the Best Companies Survey for the last three years, and has won numerous industry awards and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BEng Electronic Engineering 1991), he volunteers his expertise to support the development of our engineering courses.
- Peter Ambrose Barber, OBE, RA
A graduate of the University of Sheffield (BA Architectural Studies 1984), Peter Barber is one of the country’s most distinguished architects.
Since founding Peter Barber Architects in 1989, he has been instrumental in reshaping the landscape of social housing.
He received an OBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours List for services to architecture; in that same year, he was elected a Royal Academician, joining an elite group of the most distinguished artists and architects in the UK.
- Shauna Coxsey, MBE, OLY
Shauna Coxsey is one of the most successful competition climbers in the UK. She is a two-time overall World Cup winner in her favoured bouldering discipline, and she was the first competitor to be selected by Team GB when sport climbing was debuted at the Tokyo Olympics.
She founded the Women’s Climbing Symposium in 2011 to connect, develop and inspire the women’s international climbing community. Based in Sheffield, she received an MBE in 2016 for services to climbing.
- Dr Urooj Mumtaz Khan, BDS, MMedSci
Urooj Mumtaz Khan is a Pakistani cricket commentator and former cricketer with a total of 48 international appearances. She captained the Pakistan team during the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and in 2019 was head of the first all-women selection panel for the women’s team.
She combines her life in professional cricket with her career as a dentist, graduating from the University of Sheffield with an MMedSci in Restorative Dentistry (2011).
- Dr Frances Ryan, FRSL
An award-winning journalist, author and campaigner, Dr Frances Ryan was named Commentator of the Year 2024 by the Society of Editors. One of the few journalists with a disability to have a senior role in the British media, she has been a columnist at the Guardian for over a decade, covering politics, disability, social care and culture.
She pushes for social change for marginalised groups, focusing in particular on the impact of poverty and inequality.
- Ian McMillan, FRSL
Ian McMillan is a poet, journalist, playwright and broadcaster, best known for his strong and distinctive Yorkshire accent and his warm, incisive style of interviewing.
He presents a weekly poetry programme, The Verb, on BBC Radio 4 and is a regular contributor to BBC Breakfast, Coast and Today. He’s been a castaway on Desert Island Discs and a subject of The South Bank Show. He’s also been poet-in-residence for Barnsley FC.
University of Sheffield academic dress
Academic dress at the University of Sheffield differs according to the type and level of award.
- Bachelors
Bachelors wear a black gown to the pattern of the Oxford Bachelor of Arts.
The hood is in green and half-lined with white artificial fur and edged with silk of the colour distinctive of the degree and of the faculty.
- Postgraduate diplomates and PGCE candidates
Postgraduate diplomates and PGCE candidates wear a black gown to the pattern of the Oxford Bachelor of Arts.
The hood is green silk, edged in silk of the colour of the faculty. The neckband of the hood is of the colour of the faculty.
- Masters
Masters wear a black gown to the pattern of the Oxford Master of Arts.
The hood is green silk and lined throughout with the colour distinctive of the degree and of the faculty.
The Master of Philosophy hood is lined in green.
- Doctors of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctors of Philosophy and equivalent level awardees wear a gown in fine scarlet cloth, faced with green silk with bell shaped sleeves.
The hood is of the Cambridge shape, made of red ottoman silk and lined throughout in green.
- Higher Doctorates
Higher Doctorates wear a gown in fine scarlet cloth, faced in green silk. The bell sleeves are lined in scarlet silk and looped with a green button and cord.
The hood is of the Cambridge shape, made of red ottoman silk and lined throughout with silk of the colour of the faculty.
- Foundation degrees
Foundation degree candidates wear a black gown to the pattern of the Oxford Bachelor of Arts, no hood is worn.
- Diplomates
Diplomates wear a black gown to the pattern of the Oxford Bachelor of Arts, no hood is worn.
The facing is edged in broad corded ribbon of the colour of the faculty.
Faculty colours
- Crushed Strawberry: Faculty of Arts and Humanities – all qualifications except BMus, MMus and DMus
- Cream Brocade: Faculty of Arts and Humanities – BMus, MMus and DMus
- Purple: Faculty of Engineering
- Red: Faculty of Health – Medicine and Surgery
- Pale Rose Pink: Faculty of Health – Dental Surgery
- Cerise: Faculty of Health – all other qualifications
- Apricot: Faculty of Science
- Lemon Yellow: Faculty of Social Sciences – all qualifications
Officers
- The Chancellor wears a robe in black and blue damask silk trimmed with gold.
- Pro-Chancellors of the University wear robes in blue damask silk trimmed with gold.
- The President and Vice-Chancellor, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Presidents wear robes in black damask silk trimmed with gold.
- Other officers and staff of the University wear academic dress from the university from which they graduated.
Distinguished alumni
A degree from Sheffield paves the way for graduates to do amazing things. From scientists and writers to politicians and business leaders, here are just a few alumni who have achieved success in their field.
Sheffield alumni
No matter where life takes our graduates, they are part of the global Sheffield alumni community. Sheffield is here for all graduates - offering exclusive benefits, guidance and more.
- Alumni benefits
Keep learning and growing with:
- postgraduate study discount
- free careers advice
- support for budding entrepreneurs
- job opportunities
- library access – online and in-person
Connect with our alumni community through:
- local alumni groups, wherever you are in the world
- exclusive events, online and in-person
- volunteering to inspire the next generation
Enjoy Sheffield with:
We’ll email graduates in the next few months with a full introduction and more about the support on offer.
- Stay in the loop
Keeping contact details up to date means we can send graduates the latest news, benefits and exclusive opportunities tailored to them.
- Let's get social
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