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"Matric" redirects here. For the research organization, see MATRIC.
Students arriving for a matriculation ceremony at Oxford



Until the 1960s and 1970s, "matriculation", often shortened to "matric", was (as in other Commonwealth countries) the successful completion of Form 6 (Year 12), the extra year of high school after the 'Leaving' year, which was the last year which had a completion certificate. The matriculation exam was the prerequisite for entry into universities (other tertiary education institutions had other entrance requirements). Matriculation has generally been replaced with a "Higher School Certificate" or a completion certificate such as the 'Victorian Certificate educational


In Bangladesh, the shortened term "Matric" refers to the Secondary School Examination (SSC) taken at year 10, before Intermediate Exams taken in subsequent two years prior to university entry. Bangladesh like the rest of Indian sub-continent continued to use terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of the British Raj although these terms were replaced in England itself with O or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A or Advanced Level Examinations respectively.




In Canada, the term is used by some older universities to refer to orientation ("frosh") events,[citation needed] however some universities, including University of King's College, still hold formal Matriculation (usually shortened to "matric") ceremonies. Trinity College at the University of Toronto also holds formal matriculation ceremonies, during which time incoming students are required to sign a matriculation register, making the practice the closest in format to that conducted by Oxford and Cambridge colleges of any university in North America. The ceremony at King's is quite similar to the matriculation ceremonies held in universities such as Oxford or Cambridge. In Ontario during the era with grade 13, satisfactory completion of grade 12 was considered junior matriculation. Satisfactory completion of grade 13 was senior matriculation. In Nova Scotia, at the present time, Junior matriculation is grade 11 and senior matriculation is completion of grade 12.

Czech Republic[edit]


Other Czech universities hold ceremonies similar to the one just described.





Hong Kong[edit]



Main article: Education in India

In India, is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school, which ends at tenth standard (tenth grade), and the qualification consequently received by passing the national board exams or the state board exams, commonly called "matriculation exams".

India continued to use terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of the British Raj although these terms were replaced in England itself with O' or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A' or Advanced Level Examinations.

English is the standard language for matriculation for science subjects, while regional languages are also an option. Most students who pass matriculation, or class 10, are 15–16 years old. Upon successfully passing, a student may continue onto senior secondary school. Most students who pass class 12 are 17–18 years old. The CBSE and ICSE boards conduct twelfth standard courses nationally, while state boards operate at the state-level. Although the basic curriculum is prescribed by the CBSE


In Malaysia, Matriculation programmes are run by public universities and the Ministry of Education (MoE). Matriculation programmes offered by public universities offers fewer options for further study upon completion of the said program as they are limited to that particular university.[citation needed]

The matriculation programme provided by the MoE is a one-year pre-U program sponsored by the Malaysian Government. SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or the Malaysian Certificate of Education) holders can apply for MoE Matriculation during their SPM year [Form 5]. Students that are offered the matriculation programme will be posted to several Matriculation Colleges within Malaysia.

After MoE Matriculation, they can further their studies in local universities within Malaysia. Several universities in New Zealand and UK recognize the MoE Matriculation as a pre-U qualification. Matriculation was introduced after the repeal of the racial based quota for public university admission.[citation needed]



In Nepal, it refers to the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) taken at year 10, before Intermediate Exams (Higher Secondary or 10+2) taken in subsequent two years prior to university entry. Although SLC and 10+2 are widely used, some educational institutions follow the British system with O' or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A' or Advanced Level Examinations respectively.


In Pakistan, "matriculation" (usually shortened to "matric") is a term that refers to the final examinations of 9th and 10th grades. It results in the issuance of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or Technical School Certificate (TSC). After the SSC (or TSC) students may proceed for 11th year of education at College. After successful completion of the 11th and the 12th years in college they get the Intermediate certification (HSSC – Higher Secondary School Certificate), and become eligible to enter universities in Pakistan or abroad. Pakistan has continued to use terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of the British Raj although these terms were replaced in [England itself with O' or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A' or Advanced Level Examination.

South Africa[edit]

In South Africa, "matriculation" (usually shortened to "matric") is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school and the qualification received on graduating from high school (now officially the National Senior Certificate or NSC). Strictly speaking "matriculation" refers to the minimum university entrance requirements (usually called a matric exemption as it provides an exemption from writing entrance exams when applying for University entrance).[citation needed]

United Kingdom[edit]


At British universities where there is no formal ceremony, the terms "matriculation", "enrollment" and "registration" are often used interchangeably by different institutions to describe the administrative process of becoming a member of the university.



Along with the act of becoming a member of a college or hall of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge or Durham; becoming a member of the University is not termed matriculation but incorporation when the incorporand (the person to be incorporated) in question has already matriculated under the auspices of one of these three institutions (unless he or she is joining a college or hall of one of these three institutions into which they have been matriculated).[citation needed]

United States[edit]

In the United States, universities and colleges that have a formal matriculation ceremony include: Albion College, Anna Maria College, Asbury University, Assumption College, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont University, Boston College,[2] Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Culver-Stockton College, Dartmouth College, Duquesne University, Hamline University,[3] Harvard University, Kalamazoo College, Kenyon College,[4] Lyndon State College,[5] Lyon College, Marietta College,[6] McKendree University,[7] Mount Holyoke College, Mount Union College,[8]Muhlenberg College, Occidental College, Randolph-Macon College, Rice University,[9] Saint Leo University, Scripps College, Trinity College, Tufts University, The University of Saint Mary (Kansas), University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County, Virginia Military Institute, Walsh University, Washington and Jefferson College, and Willamette University. At other universities and colleges, "matriculation" can refer to mere enrollment or registration as a student at a university or college by a student intending to earn a degree, an event which involves only paperwork and is often handled by mail or online.[citation needed] A university might make a distinction between "matriculated students," who are actually accumulating credits toward a degree, and a relative few "non-matriculated students" who may be "auditing" courses or taking classes without receiving credits.[citation needed]

Some medical schools highlight matriculation with a white coat ceremony. For example, UAB School of Medicine[10] does so.

In Super Bowl IV, American football coach Hank Stram wore a microphone on the sidelines as part of the television broadcast, and was caught telling his Kansas City Chiefs, "Just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys," referring to the process of moving the football toward a score. Since that time, and especially after Stram's death in 2005, sports commentators have used the phrase "matriculate the ball down the field" in this sense.[11] However, this use of the word is unrelated to any other known use of the word.


  2. ^ "Conversations in the First Year — Boston College". 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  3. ^ "Hamline University | Saint Paul, Minnesota". Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  4. ^
  5. ^ "Lyndon — A Vermont State College". Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  6. ^ "URL retrieved 2007-August-26.". Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  7. ^ Class of 2016 Matriculates at McKendree Retrieved 2012-August-25.
  8. ^ URL retrieved 2008-April-11
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  11. ^