Welcome to graduates, their families and friends, and special guests

Congratulations on your fantastic achievements and welcome to our virtual graduation celebrations under these utterly unprecedented circumstances.

Covid-19 has affected everyone in so many different, and sadly, in some cases, tragic ways. I want to extend my sincerest condolences to those of you who have lost loved family members and friends at this time.

Marking your transition from university to the next stages of your lives is an important moment. You will now be remembered as the generation that demonstrated extraordinary resilience, creativity and compassion in overcoming one of the greatest challenges any of us have ever experienced. Your inspirational responses to the events of 2020 reveal the strength of a York community of shared purpose and determination to respond positively to such difficult circumstances.

In countless ways, all of you - our graduating class of 2020 - have shown your ability to manage uncertainty with humanity, flexibility, fortitude, and in many cases, great good humour - who can ever forget the sheer creativity and exuberance of this year’s ‘virtual’ Roses!

The midst of any crisis will always feel muddled, frenetic and deeply concerning. But coming out the other side, it’s vital to remember that how you responded - as individuals and collectively - is really important.

Think about the ways that you helped each other; think about the way you applied your York education to responding to such uncertainty; and most of all think about how you can use your education and experiences at York to help make the world a better place in the future. I believe that your experiences here at York - academic, volunteering, sporting, participation in clubs and societies and much else - will help you respond to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and whatever else lies ahead.

As you join our global York alumni community, I wish you all the very best of luck. The friendships, achievements and memories of your experiences at York will help you thrive.

I hope that you are proud of our shared legacy and that you will carry it with you into the world. Now, more than ever we need bright, inquisitive minds like yours. Never accept the status quo - question, challenge and above all else be kind to people and you’ll do very well in life.

And stay in touch so we can continue to be proud of the class of 2020!

— Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President

A message from the Chancellor

It is a great honour to serve as Chancellor of this very special University. There’s a strong sense of community and a commitment to public service, never more so than in the last few months.

At York we aim to transform people’s lives, by advancing knowledge through teaching and research, and by enabling our students to become truly global citizens with the social and intellectual tools to succeed in life, coupled with a strong sense of public duty.

Every year graduates tell me what a privilege it has been to study here and to have been able to absorb all that York has offered, both academically and beyond. And your relationship with the University doesn’t stop at graduation. You will become part of an active global alumni community, creating professional networks between former students both young and old, all with a lifelong connection to York.

I wish you every success in your future career and life.

— Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, Chancellor