Emma Watson has been spotted in person at a matriculation ceremony at Oxford University after signing up for a master’s degree in creative writing.

The 33-year-old Harry Potter actress attended the city’s Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday for the gathering which marks students’ formal admission to the university.

Fellow students were delighted to see Watson at the event where she was wearing a black gown, white blouse and black ribbon just like the other women there.

Speaking to the Daily Mail’s diary editor Richard Eden, one student joked: ‘It was the first time I had seen her in a gown since the Harry Potter movies.’

Many students were said to have been taking or sharing pictures of the actress – who played Hermione Granger in the films – despite photography officially being banned.

Emma Watson is spotted at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford on Saturday for a matriculation ceremony at the city’s university after signing up for a master’s degree in creative writing

Fellow students spot Watson wearing a black gown and white blouse at the event on Saturday

There was also some surprise that Watson was there in person, given that previous reports had suggested that she would be mainly studying online for the degree.

Watson’s plans to study creative writing were revealed in an interview with the Financial Times in April, in which it was reported that she had begun writing poetry during lockdown as well as essays on love, friendship and relationships.

Further details were then revealed by The Sun last month, which reported that her studies would be part-time and mostly online.

She is set to attend ‘a handful’ of lectures on site, with staff reportedly told that she would be present with a small security team.

It is also understood that she did have protection at Saturday’s event, although they cannot be obviously seen in any photographs or videos.

Speaking last month, a source told The Sun: ‘The course is for older adults and can be done on a part-time basis, which is perfect for Emma’s schedule.

‘She only has to be on site for four or five days a year because she can do the rest of the course online from home.

‘Because she’s a famous actress, she’ll have a security team looking after her whenever she has classes to go to.

‘There have been a few incidents recently and she is taking every precaution necessary to ensure her safety.’

Watson also spent a year attending Worcester College at Oxford as an undergraduate in the 2011/12 academic year.

Students at the matriculation ceremony held at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford on Saturday

The gathering on Saturday marks students’ formal admission to Oxford University

Many students were said to have been taking or sharing pictures of Watson during the event