Balliol was in party mood on Friday, as graduation elation struck the campus. The students were buzzing all day, as they looked forward to indulging themselves in a well-earned pat on the back! As well as the ceremony, the students had a chance to socialise with some of the other campuses and bring their time in Oxford to a wonderful end.

The joyous atmosphere was present right from the start of the day, and the staff noticed that the breakfast chatter was a little louder and more exuberant than usual. The morning lessons were observed in a less formal manner than usual. With the deadlines having already been, the teachers were in generous mood and set some fun sessions for the students’ last classes.

Most of the students dedicated the afternoon to getting ready for their big evening, with others taking a last chance to do some sightseeing and souvenir shopping. When they arrived, everyone looked very smart and they had clearly put almost as much effort into their outfits as they had into their work!

The ceremony began, and after some inspiring speeches the students were all delighted to be able to collect their awards. Each of them was greeted with a heartfelt round of applause as they held their spoils aloft, enjoying every second of their success!

And the jubilation continued, as the students left the campus and headed into the city to meet with students from St Catherine’s, Jowett Walk and Queen’s colleges for a meal and a party. The cohorts joined forces to toast the past two weeks, and it was a very happy ending to a day of tremendous joy.