Cloaked in gowns, this is the moment hundreds of new students at Cambridge University witnessed the grandeur of their college for the first time – like a scene from Harry Potter.
The first years at St John’s crowded into the college’s spectacular chapel for their Matriculation Service – their official welcome into university life.
The process is simply administrative at most universities, but it has retained its arcane ceremonial charm at Oxford and Cambridge as this stunning scene from St John’s shows.
At St John’s the service is the first time the freshers experience the stunning beauty of the chapel in a scene with echos of Hogwarts, the setting for the Harry Potter books.
As well as the service the new members of the college enjoy a feast at their Matriculation Dinner held in the college’s grand Hall.
The start of University’s 2012 -13 academic year was officially marked with the annual address at the city’s Senate House by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.
He said: “We are curators of an 800-year-old institution, which has the potential to last many centuries more.”
During matriculation at Cambridge every student must sign the declaration: “I promise to observe the Statutes and Ordinances of the University as far as they concern me, and to pay due respect and obedience to the Chancellor and other officers of the University.”
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