Academic dress

The wearing of academic dress is a tradition that has persisted since the Middle Ages, when the first universities were founded. The varying colours of the gowns and hoods and more subtle variations in their style and cut, indicate the award (diploma, bachelor, master or doctor), and the awarding university.

Ordering Your Gown

Graduands are required to wear full academic dress (gown, hood and cap).  The University's official academic dress supplier and designer for the specific robes and hoods for each º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ award is Ede & Ravenscroft.  Orders should be placed online at Ede and Ravenscroft's Graduation Services page.  Gown hire must be made at least 21 days before your graduation ceremony.  

AwardApproximate Cost 
Certificates/Diplomas of HE £45.00
Bachelors £45.00
Masters (extended UG) £45.00
Masters (PG) £51.00
PG Certificates/Diplomas £51.00
PGCE £51.00
MPhil £51.00
PhDs and other Doctorates £58.00

The above prices are intended to be an indication and include a £5 discount for online booking; further information can be found on the Ede and Ravenscroft website. 

The University receives a small amount of commission on gown hires through Ede and Ravenscroft.  This money is used in its entirety to help cover the costs of running graduation, meaning that we do not need to charge graduands or guests for ceremony tickets.

When to wear academic hats

Close-up view of a black graduation cap, or mortar-board, prior to being launched in the air (hot tip - please don't do this, it upsets Ede and Ravenscroft!).

During the ceremony, both male and female graduands should carry their hats until they have crossed the stage and then put them on.

What to wear on the day

A smiling PhD graduand, wearing the trademark tasselled floppy cloth bonnet and purple gown with maroon edging and maroon hood.

Academic gowns have an open front, so you should wear appropriately smart clothing under your academic dress. For comfort and practicality, it is recommended that you wear a button through top or shirt, which will enable you to attach the academic hood to your clothing without pins.

Refunds on your gown hire

If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, for whatever reason, Ede and Ravenscroft will refund your hire payment in full providing they receive your request for a refund TEN days before the date of the ceremony. Cancellations should be made by logging into the Ede and Ravenscroft website (telephone cancellations are NOT accepted).

Collecting and returning gowns

A graduand is helped into her graduation gown by staff from Ede and Ravenscroft.

You are required to collect and return your Academic Dress at specific times of the day, as detailed in the On the Day page. 

Colours of Academic Dress

Alt text BArch

Bachelor of Architecture

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Turquoise
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text BA

Bachelor of Arts

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Dark green
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text BEd

Bachelor of Education

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Cream
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text BEng

Bachelor of Engineering

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Lilac
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text BLS

Bachelor of Library Studies

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Dark red
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text BSc

Bachelor of Science

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape in purple stuff
Hood lining
Grey
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text CertHE

Certificate of Higher Education

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Half shape of purple stuff unlined
Hood lining
No lining
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text DipHE

Diploma of Higher Education

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Half shape of purple stuff unlined
Hood lining
No lining
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text DLitt

Doctor of Letters

Gown
Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
Hood
Dark green
Hood lining
Scarlet
Cap
Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
Alt text DSc

Doctor of Science

Gown
Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
Hood
Grey
Hood lining
Scarlet
Cap
Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
Alt text DTech

Doctor of Technology

Gown
Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
Hood
Yellow
Hood lining
Scarlet
Cap
Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
Alt text DUniv

Doctor of the University

Gown
Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
Hood
White
Hood lining
Scarlet
Cap
Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
Alt text EngD

Doctor of Engineering

Gown
Purple stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of lilac taffeta lined and edged all round with one inch of purple stuff
Hood lining
Purple
Cap
Black cloth bonnet with maroon cord and tassels
Alt text MArch

Master of Architecture

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Turquoise with one-half inch edging
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MA

Master of Arts

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
Hood lining
Dark Green
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MBA

Master of Business Administration

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
Hood lining
Peach
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MChem

Master of Chemistry

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Pale Green
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MComp

Master of Computer Science

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Royal Blue
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MDes

Master of Design

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
Hood lining
Champagne
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MEng

Master of Engineering

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Lilac
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MMath

Master of Mathematics

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Pale Blue
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MPhil

Master of Philosophy

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple edged all round with one inch of purple ribbon
Hood lining
White
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MPhys

Master of Physics

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Pink
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MRes

Master of Research

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff edged all round with one inch of red ribbon
Hood lining
Red
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MSc

Master of Science

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
Hood lining
Grey
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text MSci

Master in Science

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff
Hood lining
Gold
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text PGCE

Postgraduate Certificate of Education

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Half shape of purple stuff unlined
Hood lining
No lining
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text PGCert

Postgraduate Certificate

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Half shape of purple stuff unlined
Hood lining
No lining
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text PGDip

Postgraduate Diploma

Gown
Black stuff of the London style
Hood
Half shape of purple stuff unlined
Hood lining
No lining
Cap
Black cloth mortar board
Alt text PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Gown
Purple stuff of the London style
Hood
Full shape of purple stuff lined and edged all round with one inch of maroon taffeta
Hood lining
Maroon
Cap
Black cloth bonnet with maroon cord and tassels