The King’s nephew was among 250 freshers involved in a procession through Cirencester after picking his new university.
James, the Earl of Wessex, achieved the necessary grades to pursue a degree in rural land and property management.
The 18-year-old’s specific grades and the subjects he studied at Radley College in Oxfordshire have not been made public.
Now the son of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh has officially begun his studies at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester.
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The Earl joined fellow students wearing academic gowns as they took part in a traditional procession through the town’s historic streets before attending a matriculation ceremony at St John Baptist Parish Church.
The Royal Agricultural University is one of only four universities in the UK that continues to hold a freshers’ procession, alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.
Professor Peter McCaffery, vice chancellor of the university, described the event as an important milestone for new students.
He said: “The idea of our procession is really to introduce our students to the campus, to the beautiful town of Cirencester and also to each other.
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“It’s a rite of passage. It’s both an exciting and a daunting prospect.”
Around 250 students took part in the event as they celebrated the start of university life.
Professor McCaffery said the institution wanted to help students settle into their new surroundings as quickly as possible, particularly at a time when many young people face additional pressures.
He said: “We wanted them to get on their feet as soon as possible in their new environment.”
The vice chancellor added that beginning university could be “challenging” in the modern era, especially because of “the pressures of social media”.
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The procession concluded with a lunch, giving students another opportunity to meet their classmates and build new friendships as they embark on their degrees.
The Earl’s enrolment at the Gloucestershire university marks the next step for the youngest child of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Prince Edward is the younger brother of King Charles III, making the Earl the King’s nephew and 16th in line to the throne.
The Royal Agricultural University, founded in 1845, specialises in agriculture, land management, business and rural studies and attracts students from across the UK and overseas.
The procession through Cirencester is regarded as one of the institution’s most distinctive traditions, formally welcoming new students into the university community.