Technically all degrees are conferred as a result of a grace, and all those about to graduate must request, or supplicate for, such a grace. Supplicats, which survive physically from the late 16th century, were commonly signed by the College lecturers, or praelectors who could vouch for their pupils’ fitness for a degree; and the title ‘praelector’ is still in use for the College officer whose duty it is to present graduands in the Senate House.
