New Members' Ceremonies
Find out more about our ceremonies for new Members, including upcoming dates and what happens at the ceremony.
Every year we hold several ceremonies to celebrate and welcome those who have become full Members of the College.
Below you can see the dates of all of our upcoming ceremonies, with further details of which cohort of Members each ceremony is for and when you can expect to receive an invitation. There are also answers to frequently asked questions about the ceremonies.
Please note, ceremony dates are subject to change and you should not book travel and accommodation until you have received confirmation from us that your place at the ceremony is secured.
Ceremony dates
Who are the ceremonies for?
Those who register as Members from mid-January 2026 - 31 July 2026 will be invited to attend these ceremonies.
When will invitations be sent?
Invitations will be sent by email on 3 August 2026.
Who are the ceremonies for?
Those who registered as Members between 1 August 2026 and early-January 2027 will be invited to attend these ceremonies.
When will invitations be sent?
Invitations will be sent by email in early January 2027.
Ceremony FAQs
Yes, you'll be able to choose your preferred ceremony date when you register, as long as the ceremony isn't fully booked.
Please register promptly after receiving the invitation email to ensure there are spaces available on your chosen date.
Instructions on how to register will be contained in your invitation email. Spaces at the ceremony are limited and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.
All ceremonies will be held at the College's London office on Prescot Street unless otherwise specified.
Ceremonies take place in the afternoon, usually between 2-3pm but the exact programme for your ceremony will be confirmed in your invitation email.
Members are welcomed with talks from some of the College Officers and the Chair of the Psychiatric Resident Doctors' Committee. During the presentation part of the ceremony, each Member will have their name called by the Registrar, they will then be presented on stage by the President, receive their commemorative scroll, and have a photo taken.
Photography at the ceremony will be provided by Tempest Photography.
They'll have drop-in studios before and after the ceremony for you to have pictures taken with your guests. You don't need to pre-book a slot with a photographer, just drop in when you're ready.
They'll also take pictures of members on stage during the ceremony and a group photo of all new Members at the end of the ceremony.
You can order photographs on the day or at any time after the ceremony directly from Tempest.
The dress code for the ceremony is lounge suits/day dress/national dress.
It's compulsory for Members to wear a gown and cap for the ceremony. You'll be sent a link to hire this once you've booked your place for the ceremony.
Yes, when you register for the ceremony you can request an official letter confirming your booking which can be used as supporting evidence for your, or your guest's, visa application.
No, your Membership certificate will be posted to you within six to eight weeks of you registering as a Member. Membership certificates are not handed out at ceremonies, Members are instead presented with a commemorative scroll.
Please contact Membership@rcpsych.ac.uk if you have not received your certificate in the post.
Yes, you can defer your attendance to a future ceremony.
Please complete the registration form and select the deferral option to let us know you'd like to defer and your preferred ceremony to defer to.
We'll have a creche onsite for children aged 8 months - 6 years as they won't be permitted into the ceremony. Creche places are available on a first come first served basis. The creche is run by Little Hens Childcare and will be located on the first floor next door to the ceremony room.
Children under 8 months can be brought into the ceremony and an adjoining room will be available for unsettled babies.
Children over 6 years old are welcome to attend the ceremony as a guest.
Please note that the building is not child proof and parents must be responsible for the safety of their children at all times, except when children are in the creche.
For ceremonies held at Prescot Street, we have step free automatic door access to the building as well as lifts to all floors and accessible toilets.
The following are also available on request:
- Hearing loop
- Ramp for the stage
- Auto captioning for the ceremony
- Reserved seating for guests or changes to seating arrangements for Members
- Disabled parking (this is limited to one space and is available on a first come first served basis)
When you register for the ceremony you'll be asked if you or any guests have any access requirements. You can also email MembershipServices@rcpsych.ac.uk to request any accommodations and our staff will be happy to help.
For any events held outside Prescot Street, we'll confirm what accessibility accommodations are available at the venue.