More than 1,900 St Andrews University students from over 80 countries have taken part in virtual online graduation ceremonies this week.
Celebrations worldwide included a TikTok-inspired ‘pass the cap’ video with the Class of 2020 graduating students which was premiered at the end of conferral week on Friday.
Degrees were conferred on the Class of 2020 via virtual ceremonies, which were shared on the university website and social media channels from Monday to Friday.
A total of nine degree conferral videos were created for each ceremony, featuring a virtual ensemble performance from the members of St Salvator’s Chapel Choir, graduation addresses from Principal Professor Sally Mapstone, prayers from the Revd Dr Donald MacEwan and special messages from the Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, alongside the degree conferrals read by the Principal and the Deans.
Messages from fellow students, friends and family were shared on social media using the hashtag #Saints2020 during the week of the virtual ceremonies, while the Class of 2020 joined in the celebrations online, recreating their own garden parties and slice of St Andrews around the world.
Some virtual graduands were photographed, from a safe distance, on their doorsteps, with their partners, flatmates, families and pets, as part of Doorstep Saints, a creative visual project with graduating students across Scotland and the UK.
Sophie Tyler, who graduated with a MA in Geography (First class) this week, took part in the Doorstep Saints project and noted: “I think we are going to be some of the most resilient graduates the university has ever had.”
Honorary graduand and alumna of the university, Dr Fiona Hill, also recorded a special message for the Class of 2020 virtual degree conferrals.
