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Dress at Congregation: Advice from the Praelector to those proceeding to degrees
Academical Dress
The following rules apply to academical dress worn by those proceeding to degrees:
- A person who does not hold a Cambridge degree already (that is anyone about to receive a first degree or anyone whose previous degree or degrees were conferred elsewhere) must wear either an undergraduate gown, a BA status gown, or MA status gown as appropriate, and the hood of the degree, or the higher of the degrees, which he or she is to receive.
- A person who already holds a degree or degrees of the University wears the gown and hood of the highest degree he or she has already received from the University.
- In no circumstances should the academic dress of another university be worn.
Details of the academical dress appropriate to different degrees are as follows:
Persons taking their first Cambridge degrees wear appropriate gowns (in the case of undergraduates their undergraduate gown which varies in colour or design from College to College), with the hood of the degree to be taken. The hoods clearly indicate the degrees sought by graduands, and those seen at General Admission include (in order of precedence):
- Master of Law: black and light cherry silk
- Master of Engineering: black cloth lined with bronze silk
- Master of Natural Science: black silk lined with pink and light blue silk
- Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine: mid cherry silk and more fur
- Bachelor of Music: dark cherry satin and white fur
- Bachelor of Arts: black cloth and white fur
- Bachelor of Education: black cloth, blue silk and white fur
- Bachelor of Theology for Ministry: black cloth, black silk and white fur
(The 'fur' used is now made of synthetic material.)
Graduands are permitted to proceed to degrees provided they are suitably attired as follows:-
MEN
THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE STYLE AND COLOURS ARE:.
SUITS PLAIN BLACK, OR BLACK DINNER JACKET AND TROUSERS. A jacket is mandatory even in hot weather.
SHOES UNORNAMENTED BLACK. Sandals and boots are not permitted.
SOCKS BLACK
SHIRTS PLAIN WHITE WITH A WHITE DRESS TIE AND BANDS. Off-white or cream shirts and shirts with a noticeable pattern are not permitted
WOMEN
Women should wear a black dress or black suit, or a black skirt with a white blouse or black shirt, or a white blouse and black cardigan. Dresses, suit jackets, blouses and cardigans should have long sleeves. The Praelector may authorise the wearing of black trousers provided that these, and any accompanying garments, are of a design which conforms to the conditions and formality described below. The overall effect should be sober; excessively short skirts are not sober.
THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE STYLES AND COLOURS ARE:
DRESSES/SUITS/SKIRTS/CARDIGANS PLAIN BLACK. Dresses may have a plain white collar.
SHOES UNORNAMENTED BLACK, of sober style. Sandals and boots are not permitted, nor are shoes with buckles, nor are coloured or very high heels. Note that the walk to the Senate House is well over a mile.
TIGHTS NATURAL OR BLACK, NOT WHITE OR PATTERNED. Black is preferred. You must wear a pair of tights.
BLOUSES PLAIN WHITE. Off-white or cream blouses are not permitted but black shirts are permitted and they can disguise the problems caused by a heavy hood attached to a lightweight blouse. Sleeves must be full length, even in hot weather.
Handbags: The carrying of handbags has created difficulties and should be avoided.
ADVICE APPLYING TO MEN AND WOMEN
Head-dress: Use of the square cap is optional. Inside the Senate-House the cap is carried under the left arm. It is placed on the floor during the conferment of the degree. No other head-dress is permitted (except for valid religious reasons). This applies to both men and women.
Hair colouring and style: Exaggerated hair colouring and/or style is inappropriate for the degree Ceremony and hair styles should be neat and tidy.
National and military dress: The University no longer permits the wearing of any form of national dress or service uniform by graduands.
Jewellery: Jewellery (with the exception of wedding rings, small sober earrings and wrist watches) should not be worn.
SPECIAL NOTE
If graduands do not wear the prescribed dress they will find themselves in the embarrassing position of being excluded from the Ceremony by the Proctors. Will you therefore please follow the regulations carefully. You should be all right if all your own clothing, except for the shirt or blouse, is strictly black.
Those who are hiring hoods for the degree ceremony are advised to make early arrangements with the robe-makers, as there is a very heavy demand on the three days of the General Admission. Tattered gowns may also cause their owners to be excluded from the Senate House by the Proctors. A hood can be very uncomfortable if it rests on one's neck and can give rise to an untidy look if it is attached to a lightweight blouse. Safety pins can help and women graduands can disguise the problems by wearing a black shirt, a black dress, a black waistcoat or black jacket, but heavy clothing is not a good idea if the weather turns out hot.
HIRE OF DRESS FOR CONGREGATIONS
Ede & Ravenscroft, 71 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RJ. Tel:01223 350048 Website: http://www.gownhire.co.uk
Ryder & Amies, 22 King's Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SP. Tel: 01223 350371
A E Clothier, 5a Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QY. Tel: 01223 354339
