Graduation
Organising
The matter of planning, scheduling and arranging the Graduation Ceremony is the responsibility of the graduating class itself, however, the university is happy to help in on it. You should be proactive and start early, as the Dean's Office does want to be involved, and they do not have time to assist later in the academic year.
The date is set based on the penultimate day of didactics for everyone in the 6th year and when the final exam is scheduled.
Internal Medicine classes end mid/end of April.
Elective classes last until mid-June.
The last final is the Internal Medicine exam.
From the last exam, the Deans's Office need 30 days to prepare and revise all documents.
Graduation cannot be any earlier than the last day of originally scheduled didactics.
So in order to organise the ceremony, you need to find a date for the Internal Medicine exam, which is written on the same day as the Polish Division. In addition, it is wise to set the retakes concomitantly. The second retake is usually held in September, meaning after the Graduation Ceremony.
It is also worth noting that:
Planning should start no earlier than September or October.
The Graduation date is entirely up to the students as long as it is in accordance with the schedule and public holidays.
The class has to arrange the Graduation themselves. What the university will take care of are the documents and diplomas.
You may book the Aula Magna. In that case, the Dean's Office will organise the school choir, flags etc.
238 is the upper limit of people that can safely enter the Aula Magna, according to safety regulations. Each student could therefore bring no more than 2 guests in our year.
Usually, whenever Polish and English division agree on a final date for the Internal Medicine exam, it was just a formality to confirm the date by the department responsible for the final.
Graduation is usually held on weekends, particularly Saturdays. This is because of easier booking of Aula Magna, and convenient for the invited professors, who do not work on weekends.
To be issued a diploma, all final year of students must provide the Dean’s Office with the following:
- Clerkship Booklet, all pages and brackets must be signed.
- Signed Physician’s pledge of service.
- Official written request for issuance of the student’s Diploma and Diploma supplement in English Language.
- Student’s ID. If student ID was lost, provide a letter of lost student ID.
- Recepit of Payment in the amount of 100 PLN for the diploma fee. Must be paid in PLN to a specific account.
Getting ready
Preconditions
Students must pass all theoretical and oral exams and have their grades entered into the system to be eligible for the ceremony.
Students must complete all necessary graduation paperwork at least two weeks before the graduation ceremony. Click here to find the relevant documents.
All students must participate in a practice graduation ceremony to familiarize themselves with the procedures. The rehearsal was held one month before, where we practiced the seating configurations, proper diploma acceptance, stage etiquette and other things. The class representative will also be provided a list of students' names in alphabetical order provided to inform them of their entrance order.
If you have extracurricular involvement, internships, or achievements during your studies and would like to have included on your Diploma Supplement, you need to fill out a list provided by the Dean's Office. This guideline must be written in Polish and English, and you need to be proved by additional documentation. So, if you i.e. participated in a scientific club; you must deliver a certificate from the Club Chairmen or other persons in charge with a stamp and signature. If you participated in the Erasmus program or Erasmus Summer intership, you need to deliver proof from Erasmus Office.
Graduation Gowns
Gowns will be rented out by the university to students at a cost.
Students will have the opportunity to try on gowns for size two weeks before the ceremony.
The university provides gowns in 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large.
Graduation Caps and Sashes
Mortarboard is not provided. Students are responsible for ordering their graduation caps and sashes in advance.
The tassel on the caps must be the red/maroon medical color to match the gowns.
Sashes are not allowed to be worn during the ceremony and are only permitted for pictures afterward.
The contact information for companies used to order caps is handed down from class representatives year by year.
Students should collect the necessary funds and place their orders well in advance, ideally at least two months beforehand if they want their names embroidered on their caps or sashes.
Reserving Seats for your favorite Teachers
Students may request to reserve seats for their favorite teachers and any medical faculty members who have significantly impacted their studies. There is a limit of how many you may invite, though, which varies each year depending on the number of students in the class.
The class representative is responsible for collecting RSVPs from invited guests and providing a final list of attendees to the Dean's Office.
Getting a Photographer
Students should organize a photographer to take pictures of them during the graduation ceremony.
The photographer's contact info is usually passed down from class representatives year by year.
Students will split the cost of the photographer's services beforehand.
The photographer is instructed to take pictures before, during, and after the ceremony – particularly in the moment of each student receiving their diploma.
If you want photos taken in a studio (with a white backdrop), it is possible to have them taken 2 days before the graduation or even the day before, for a small fee. You would receive the pictures the day of the graduation. This is a good idea to snap some professional pictures of you, and could be helpful for your CV.
The Ceremony
The circumstances
Students and their families should come to the Branicki Palace.
Families can enter the ceremony room (Aula Magna) 30 minutes to 1 hour before the event starts.
There is not a lot of space in Aula Magna, so each graduate will be given tickets. They should give these tickets to their family members. So far, each graduate gets 2-3 tickets, but that may change depending on the size of the class.
The tickets will be collected upon entering Aula Magna by the ladies from the Dean's Office.
Other family members who cannot fit in the Aula Magna can gather at the Kolumnowa Lecture Hall to follow a live transmission of the graduation ceremony.
You may also share the broadcast link to family and friends abroad.
The ceremony program in chronological order:
Entrée
Doors close as the ceremony begins. Music starts, and the choir sings while students enter the back of the hall. When they arrived at their seats, students should keep standing until they're instructed to sit.
Speeches
Deans speak first, followed by faculty members, then the class representative.
Awards
Departments and faculty members recognize and reward distinguished students for their academic excellence, extracurricular involvement and achievements.
Oath
Students recite the Hippocratic Oath with the Dean.
Diplomas
Photographs are taken as each student receives their diploma and shakes the Deans' hands. Make sure to look in the correct camera (and don't blink 📸)!
Celebration
Students toss their caps in celebration, marking the ceremony's end.
Pictures
Students must wait for the Deans and their ceremony to leave before moving. The Deans continue to wait outside the hall for a few more minutes for picture requests.
Afterparty
After the graduation ceremony, many students would like to celebrate as a class one last time. Last year, the students organized a dinner party at Hotel Santana where they had a sit down dinner, chatted and danced. In previous years, the celebration has been held at other restaurants such as Camelot. This is up to the students and something they must organize and reserve beforehand. The restaurants provide packets and costs based on the amount of people in attendance - students are responsible for collecting and paying beforehand. The restaurants are great about accommodating dietary needs as long as they are made clear beforehand during the organizational period.
This occurs in the evening so students get a few hours after the graduation ceremony to privately celebrate with their family and friends either at home or in the city center. If grabbing lunch or drinks with family and friends directly after the ceremony is in the plans, we suggest calling restaurants in advance to make a reservation for larger parties. With so many graduates and their loved ones here that day, it may be harder to find a free spot.
This page is edited by
Paulina-Sophia Koladzyn
Class of 2023Hassan Baig
Class of 2024