All graduating students are offered a QMUL Graduation Ceremony, held at The People’s Palace in Mile Ed. At this ceremony you cross the stage to receive your diploma.
However, BLSA also supplement your graduation with bespoke events such as Rites of Passage run for and by students.
RITES OF PASSAGE
Every Medical and Dental graduate is invited to Rites of Passage, held at St Paul’s Cathedral. This is the official BLSA farewell for these students and where students read out the Declaration of Geneva (a modern-day Hippocratic Oath) and celebrate both their academic and extracurricular achievements from their, 4, 5, 6 or even 7 years at Medical and Dental School.
As well as medical and dental graduates, loved ones, academic staff, Deans and educators are invited to attend.
Awards
The following awards are decided upon by the Honours Committee of BLSA, typically Society and Club Presidents nominate their members for recognition. This is then evaluated by the Honours Committee to ensure high standards are maintained and the quality of the awards remain high. Each student will have all of their awards read out at Rites of Passage or the Allied Courses graduation event.
COLOURS
An award to recognise the efforts of our students in improving our community, normally through playing a substantial part in a society or club.
BLUES
The highest award than a society or club can nominate one of it's members for. These are difficult to receive and are for the most considerable effort.
ASSOCIATION HONOURS
Reserved for those who have served at the highest levels of BLSA, typically as members of the BLSA Board.
St Pauls Cathedral
The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London, with its dome, framed by the spires of Wren's City churches, dominating the skyline for 300 years. St Paul's Cathedral occupies a significant place in the national identity of the English population. It is the central subject of much promotional material, as well as postcard images of the dome standing tall, surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz.
Important services held at St Paul's have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, the launch of the Festival of Britain and the thanksgiving services for the Golden Jubilee, the 80th Birthday and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
FAQs
Yearbooks:
Yearbooks for Medicine Finalists can be found here, under Barts and The London.Rough timings for the Rites of Passage Ceremony on 18th July (based on previous years, and is subject to change):
6.00pm - Entry of Graduands in St Paul's6.30pm - Entry of Guests in St Paul's
6.50pm - Ceremony begins
9.45 - Ceremony ends and Graduands take group photo on stairs of St Paul's
Gown return at St Paul's crypt by 10.00pm
Gowning for both QM Graduation and Rites of Passage:
This can be found here. If you have any issues with this, or QM Graduation then please contact the university rather than BLSA, on graduation@qmul.ac.ukGowning for just Rites of Passage:
This can be found on this link here. This still has to be picked up from Mile End campus and returned to St Pauls Cathedral crypt.What will I be graduating in?
We are happy to confirm that the black gown you will be wearing at both ceremonies will be the one with the Black & White Barts Hood.Photography:
If you wish to take photos with your Gown at Mile End, you can order photography when you collect it on the day for a cost.
As a reminder, BLSA pays for professional digital photography at Rites of Passage which is free for all graduands. Examples of previous years are hereHow to keep up to date:
We will send all via email, for now using your university email, but once purchasing tickets we will use your personal email address.
We will, also, be using the MBBS Year 5 Facebook Group for important announcements, which you can join here.Who can attend Rites of Passage:
This event is open to all medics and dentists graduating this year from Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, including the first graduating cohort of our Medics in Malta.BLSA Assistance Fund:
This is a fund open to medic & dental graduands in financial need, please check the form here to find out more and apply.
Rites of Passage Archive footage:
Rites of Passage 2021
Monday 19th July, St Paul’s Cathedral
Rites of Passage 2020
Monday 28th June, St Paul’s Cathedral
(Delayed due to Covid-19)