Graduation

The Ceremony

Each year, The UWI hosts ceremonies to celebrate the graduating classes of that academic year across its five campuses. The ceremonies take place in Semester 1 of the academic year (usually October/ November) annually.

The ceremony begins with the procession of graduands, the Academic Procession (of faculty, administration), and the Chancellor’s Procession. The University Chancellor presides and delivers the Opening Address. The UWI also awards honorary degrees annually to selected persons in recognition of their stellar contributions to Caribbean development.

Most ceremonies have an Honorary Graduate who also delivers an Address. This is followed by the Award of First Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates, the Valedictory Address and the Award of Higher Degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas. Graduates are invited to join the UWI Alumni Association to recite the UWI Alumni Pledge and to sing The UWI Song before the official closure of the Ceremony.

Conferring of Degrees: At the point in the Ceremony when the University Registrar caps the Chancellor and invites the Faculty Dean/University Representative of the respective Faculty to present graduands for the award of First Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates, and Higher Degrees, you will be invited to line up for presentation to the Chancellor and to receive your scroll. Graduands are required to return to your seat after you have crossed the stage and received your scroll and remain there until the ceremony ends.

Public Orator: Each campus of The UWI has its own Public Orator who prepares and delivers citations at University functions, including the graduation ceremonies, award ceremonies and convocations. At the Graduation Ceremony, the Public Orator is responsible for reading the citation for the Honorary Graduates.