Graduation is a formal occasion and an appropriate standard of dress, and correct academic gown, is expected. If you do not observe the dress code, you risk exclusion from the ceremony by the proctors. If you are in doubt, please contact the Graduation Team at graduation@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk.
What dress code must I follow?
Dress Option 1
- A dinner jacket or black or very dark grey with matching trousers or a very dark blue lounge suit. If wearing dark grey or dark blue, these must be dark enough not to contrast obviously with a black gown.
- A plain, long-sleeved, collared, white shirt which must be worn with a white bow-tie and bands.
- Formal black shoes – no buckles. Sandals, trainers, open-toed shoes, slingbacks (heeled or flat) are not permitted.
- Please remember that graduands will be processing from the College to the Senate-House over variable and sometimes rough paving and then must stand for up to 30 minutes while waiting for their degree conferral. We highly recommend low-heeled shoes!
- Unpatterned black or very dark grey socks. Unpatterned black, nearly-black, or natural coloured hosiery.
Dress Option 2
- A black, or very dark grey or very dark blue skirt suit or trouser suit. A dark skirt can be worn without a jacket, or a dark, long-sleeved dress can also be worn without a jacket. If wearing dark grey or dark blue, these must be dark enough not to contrast obviously with a black gown.
- If wearing a dress or skirt, the hem should also be below the knee.
- A plain, long-sleeved, white shirt or blouse (unless a long-sleeved dress is worn).
- Formal black shoes with no buckles. Sandals, trainers, open-toed shoes, slingbacks (heeled or flat) are not permitted.
- Please remember that graduands will be processing from the College to the Senate-House over variable and sometimes rough paving and then must stand for up to 30 minutes while waiting for their degree conferral. We highly recommend low-heeled shoes!
- Unpatterned black, nearly-black, or natural coloured hosiery. If wearing a trouser suit, unpatterned black or very dark grey socks
- Optional:
- A white bow-tie and bands may be worn, but if they are worn then
- they must be worn with a properly collared white shirt and
- If a white bow-tie and bands are worn with trousers, they must be worn with a matching jacket.
- A white bow-tie and bands may be worn, but if they are worn then
- Conspicuous jewellery and hairgrips are not permitted.
What gown do I wear?
All members of the University wear gowns at ceremonies in the Senate-House, but caps are worn inside only by officers taking part in the ceremony and hoods are only required for graduands or those having degrees celebrated and for official participants (although by custom neither the Vice-Chancellor nor the Pro-Proctors are ever hooded).
Are you celebrating? Anyone having a degree celebrated wears the gown and hood of their highest degree.
Are you an undergrad? Undergraduates will wear their college gowns and the hood of the highest degree they are about to receive.
Are you a postgraduate student that already has a Cambridge degree? Postgraduate candidates graduating wear the gown and hood of their highest existing Cambridge degree
Are you a postgraduate that is not yet a Cambridge graduate? If you are not yet a Cambridge graduate, then you’ll wear either a B.A. or M.A. status gown and the hood of the highest degree you are about to take.
What hood do I wear?
As noted in the gown section, you would wear either the hood of the degree that you’re about to take OR the hood of your highest Cambridge degree.
Example: If you already have your B.A. and are now having your Ph.D. conferred, you would wear the B.A. gown and hood to receive your Ph.D. degree. Once you have your degree conferred, then you are entitled to wear the Ph.D. gown and hood.
If you have any questions regarding academical wear, please email the Graduation team.
The hoods of Cambridge degrees in descending order of seniority
are below (note – Bachelor of Divinity is a higher degree at Cambridge and ranks above some doctorates):
Degree Description (The ‘fur’ used in hoods for Bachelors is now of synthetic material)
Doctor of Divinity: scarlet cloth lined with dove-coloured silk i.e. turquoise-blue shot with rose-pink
Doctor of Law: scarlet cloth lined with light-cherry silk
Doctor of Medicine (Pre-2014): scarlet cloth lined with mid-cherry silk
Doctor of Medical Science: scarlet cloth lined with mid-cherry silk
Doctor of Science: scarlet cloth lined with pink silk shot with light blue
Doctor of Letters: scarlet cloth lined with scarlet silk to match the cloth
Doctor of Music: cream damask, lined with dark-cherry satin
Bachelor of Divinity: black corded silk lined with black silk
Doctor of Medicine (Post-2014): black corded silk lined with a part-lining of mid-cherry silk
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: black corded silk lined with scarlet cloth, the hood part-lined with mid-cherry silk
Doctor of Philosophy: black corded silk lined with scarlet cloth
Doctor of Engineering: black corded silk lined with bronze silk, the hood part-lined with scarlet cloth
Doctor of Business: black corded silk lined with dark green silk, the hood part-lined with scarlet cloth
Doctor of Education: black corded silk lined with light blue silk, the hood part-lined with scarlet cloth
Master of Surgery: black corded silk lined with mid-cherry silk
Master of Arts: black corded silk lined with white silk
Master of Law: black corded silk lined with light-cherry silk
Master of Corporate: Law black corded silk lined with light-cherry silk, the hood part-lined with white silk
Master of Science: black cloth lined with pink silk shot with light blue
Master of Letters: black cloth lined with scarlet silk
Master of Research: black cloth lined with dark plum red silk
Master of Philosophy: black cloth lined with blue silk
Master of Music: black corded silk lined with dark-cherry satin
Master of Mathematics: black cloth lined with slate blue silk
Master of Advanced Study: black cloth lined with gold silk
Master of Engineering: black cloth lined with bronze silk
Master of Business Administration: black cloth lined with dark green silk
Master of Finance: black cloth lined with light green silk
Master of Accounting: black cloth lined with light green silk, the hood part-lined with white silk
Master of Education: black corded silk lined with light blue silk
Master of Natural Sciences: black corded silk lined with pink silk shot with light blue
Master of Studies: black corded silk lined with yellow silk
Bachelor of Medicine: mid-cherry silk, the hood part-lined with white fur, the tippet edged with white fur
Bachelor of Surgery: the M.B. hood but with no fur edging to the tippet
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine: the M.B. hood but with an edging of white fur, two inches wide, to the tippet
Bachelor of Arts: black stuff, part-lined with white fur, the tippet edged with white fur
Bachelor of Theology for Ministry: black stuff, lined with black silk, the tippet edged with white fur
What type of gown should I wear?
The robemakers where you chose to hire or purchase your gown are very helpful in helping you to select the correct dress. However, we have also created a flowchart to assist you.
If you have further queries, please contact the Graduation Team at graduation@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk
Where can I purchase or hire a gown?
Please note that you must collect your items personally, despite some websites indicating that gowns will be delivered to College.
Ede & Ravenscroft
71-72 Trumpington Street
Cambridge, CB2 1RJ
Tel: 01223 350048
https://graduation-services.edeandravenscroft.com/academic/
Ryder and Amies
22 King’s Parade,
Cambridge, CB2 1SP
Tel: 01223 350371
Email: enquiries@ryderamies.co.uk
A & E Clothier
Unit 5 Convent Drive
Waterbeach, CB25 9QT
Tel: 01223 441710
Email: sales@aeclothier.co.uk
How do I pin my hood to my gown?
Instructions on how to pin your hood to your gown can be found in this information sheet.
Can I wear national dress to my graduation ceremony?
You must receive permission from the Praelector if you wish to wear national dress, service uniforms or clerical dress. Please contact the Graduation Team at graduation@st-edmund’s.cam.ac.uk at least three weeks in advance of the ceremony you are due to attend and attach a photograph of the proposed dress or uniform.
Can I wear a headdress to graduation?
Unless for religious reasons, headdresses should not be worn inside the Senate House.
The square cap or mortarboard is optional, but you must take it off and carry it in your left-hand inside the Senate House.