Academic dress

Academic dress is provided by Ede & Ravenscroft for both graduates and staff members taking part in Oxford Brookes University graduation ceremonies. All graduates of Oxford Brookes University are required to ensure that they wear the correct gown, hat and hood when in full academic dress - please refer to the academic dress regulations below.

All intellectual property rights to Oxford Brookes University academic dress is currently held by Ede & Ravenscroft. Any replication of our gowns, hats or hoods may be an infringement of rights held by Ede & Ravenscroft.

Dress code

Graduates and staff are required to dress in a manner appropriate to a smart occasion in addition to wearing their gown, hood and mortar board.

Graduates

Graduates are encouraged to wear a suit, or jacket and trousers/skirt and a shirt/blouse (with button to enable hood to be secured). Traditional dress is welcomed.

Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and sports attire (including football and rugby shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and trainers/plimsolls) are not permitted. Please note that headwear other than academic, cultural or religious is not permitted.

We reserve the right to exclude any graduates from their ceremony who are considered to be dressed inappropriately.

It is not compulsory for graduates attending an Oxford Brookes University graduation ceremony at our main campus to wear academic dress, however those who wish to do so are required to make their own hire/purchase arrangements. The University's preferred supplier is Ede & Ravenscroft and gowns can be ordered from the Ede & Ravenscroft website.

Staff

Staff members attending an Oxford Brookes University graduation ceremony at our main campus are required to advise their Faculty's graduation coordinator and complete the relevant attendance and gown hire forms. The Graduation team will process all academic dress hire on behalf of staff members taking part in platform parties. Staff members taking part in platform parties are required to wear full academic dress including gown, hood and hat.

Staff organising off-site graduation ceremonies are required to advise the Graduation team and will be advised to contact Ede & Ravenscroft to make arrangements for academic dress hire/purchase.

Academic dress regulations

Higher Doctors (including Honorary Graduates)

Full Dress Robes

A maroon cloth robe of the London doctors' shape with facings and long hanging sleeves of University blue embossed silk. The facings also have a 1¼" cream ribbon on the outer edge. The cord and button on each sleeve is cream.

Hood

As for the PhD hood but bound with 1½" cream ribbon.

Hat

A black velvet bonnet with a maroon cord and tassels.

Doctors (PhD / Professional Doctorates)

Full Dress Robes

A maroon cloth robe of the Oxford doctors' shape with facings and sleeves of University blue embossed silk. The facings also have 1" cream ribbon on the outer edge.

Hood

A maroon cloth hood of the full shape, fully lined with University blue embossed silk and bound on all edges with 1" of cream silk.

Hat

A black velvet bonnet with dark blue cord and tassels.

Masters of Philosophy

Gown

As for the Masters' gown, i.e. a black gown in the masters pattern with long hanging gloved sleeves with straight cut ends and facings of dark blue silk.

Hood

As for PhD, a maroon cloth hood of the full shape, fully lined with University blue embossed silk and bound on all edges with 1" of cream silk.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Masters Degrees

Gown

A black gown in the traditional masters pattern with long hanging gloved sleeves with straight cut ends and facings of dark blue silk.

Hood

A black silk hood of the full shape fully lined with the University blue silk and bound ¾" in cream ribbon. The neckband is black, lined with blue and bound ¾" top and bottom with cream.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate / PGCE / CIPD

Gown

A black graduate gown of the Oxford BA pattern.

Hood

A black silk hood of the full shape, fully lined with cream silk and bound ¾" with blue ribbon. The neckband is bound top and bottom with cream ribbon.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Bachelors Degrees

Gown

A black graduate gown of the Oxford BA pattern.

Hood

A black silk hood of the full shape, partly lined with dark blue and with the cowl bound ½" in cream ribbon. The top of the neckband is also bound in cream.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Foundation Degrees

Gown

A black graduate gown of the Oxford BA pattern.

Hood

A black simple shaped hood partly lined with cream silk tipped with dark blue with the cowl bound ¾" with cream ribbon.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Certificates / Diplomas

Gown

A black graduate gown of the Oxford BA pattern.

Hood

A black simple shaped hood partly lined with cream silk tipped with dark blue.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Undergraduates

No academic dress is worn.

Ushers

Gown

Basic Bachelors' gown with maroon facings.

Hood

No hood is worn.

Hat

A black cloth mortarboard.

Academic dress

Dress code

Graduates

Staff

Academic dress regulations

Higher Doctors (including Honorary Graduates)

Doctors (PhD / Professional Doctorates)

Masters of Philosophy

Masters Degrees

Postgraduate Diploma / Postgraduate Certificate / PGCE / CIPD

Bachelors Degrees

Foundation Degrees

Certificates / Diplomas

Undergraduates

Ushers

What do the gown colours mean?