Academic dress
All Graduands attending a ceremony are required to wear academic dress and gowns must be hired in advance.
Selecting and hiring your academic dress
City, University of London uses a company called Ede and Ravenscroft to provide the academic dress, and gowns must be hired from them.
You can do this online, but you should read the notes below first to ensure that you hire the correct academic dress.
The style of gown differs according to which degree you completed. This is determined by the level of your award (BSc, MSc, PhD, etc).
The City hood has been standardised so that all those graduands who are entitled to wear a hood as part of their academic dress will wear a hood with a gold neckband.
You will also be asked to provide your head circumference, your height and chest size.
If you are unable to use the online ordering facility, you may contact Ede and Ravenscroft directly via their contact form, or on 01223 861 854 (UK callers) or +44 1223 440 949 (Callers from outside the UK), but you will not receive the discount offered to graduands ordering online.
If you are still unsure as to which gown you need to hire, please contact the Graduation Team and we will do our best to advise you on which gown you need.
What to wear at graduation
As graduation is a formal occasion, an appropriate standard of dress is expected. For men and women, business wear or formal dress is classed as appropriate. National dress of your home country is also acceptable.
Please note that casual clothes such as jeans, shorts or tee-shirts are not suitable and should be avoided.
Level of the Award
The following descriptions should help you decide which level of award to choose:
| Level | Award |
|---|---|
| Bachelors/1st degrees | BA, BSc, BEng, LLB, BMus, MMath, MEng, MSci |
| Diploma | Undergraduate Diploma in Nursing or Midwifery, all Foundation Degrees |
| Masters degrees (taught Masters) | MBA, MA, MSc, MEB, LLM |
| MPhil | MPhil |
| PG Awards | Postgraduate Diplomas, CPE, LPC |
| PhD/DPhil | PhD, DPsych, DMA, DJour etc |
Gowns
| Award | Type of gown required |
|---|---|
| Bachelors and holders of all Diplomas | Gown of black cloth |
| Masters | Gown of black cloth with an inverted T-shaped slit in the sleeves |
| Doctors other than Higher Doctors (full dress) | Gown of maroon cloth similar in shape to the Masters' gown with 2 1/2 inches gold taffeta the outside edge of the facings and quarter inch gold taffeta bindings on the sleeve slits |
| Higher Doctors | Gown of maroon cloth similar in shape to the Masters' gown with 5 inches gold taffeta on the facings and on the bottom of the hanging sleeve and quarter inch gold taffeta bindings on the sleeve slits |
| All Doctors (undress) | Gown of black cloth or similar to the Masters' gown. |
Hoods
| Award | Type of hood required |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Diploma/Certificate | No hood |
| Foundation Degrees | No hood |
|
Bachelors Holders of Graduate Certificates Holders of Graduate Diplomas | Hood of simple shape of maroon cloth lined with gold taffeta with gold neckband |
|
Holders of Postgraduate Certificates Holders of Postgraduate Diplomas | Hood of full shape of maroon silk but no lining or edging with gold neckband |
| Masters by Taught Courses | Hood of full shape of maroon silk, lined and with both the top edge and the cape edged with half inch gold taffeta with gold neckband |
| Masters by Research | Hood of full shape of maroon silk, lined and with the cape only edged with half inch gold taffeta and with one inch maroon ribbon immediately inside top edge with gold neckband |
| Doctors other than Higher Doctors | Hood of full shape of maroon cloth, lined half maroon and half gold taffeta with gold neckband |
| Higher Doctors | Hood of full shape of cardinal red cloth, lined half maroon and half gold taffeta with gold neckband |
Caps
| Award | Type of cap required |
|---|---|
| Undergraduates, Bachelors, Holders of all Diplomas and Masters | Black cloth mortar board or black soft cap |
| Doctors other than Higher Doctors (full dress) | Round black cloth hat with maroon cord |
| Higher Doctors (full dress) | Round black velvet hat with cord and tassel of maroon and gold |
| All Doctors (undress) | Black cloth mortar board or black soft cap |
Note: since the 2007/08 academic year, the City, University of London has ceased to indicate discipline via neck band colour.
City alumni graduating prior to 2007/08 are entitled to wear either the gold neckband or that with which they graduated.
Approved by Senate 2.7.75
Revised 2.12.87, 23.5.90, 24.6.92, 17.3.93, 23.6.93, 2.3.94, 17.6.98,
Approved (Senate) as regulation 4.07.07
The address of Ede and Ravenscroft is:
Unit A Denny Industrial Centre,
Waterbeach,
Cambridge
CB5 9QD.