Official and Academic Dress


A. Official Dress
  1. The Chancellor

    The Chancellor shall wear a robe of black damask figured silk, the fronts, hem, sleeves, back, sides and flap collar trimmed with gold lace two inches and a half in width; the sleeve shall be faced with twelve bars of gold lace one inch and three quarters in width running horizontally, four above the arm slit and eight below; the sleeve ends shall be square.

    The cap shall be square and of black silk velvet trimmed with a gold lace band one inch in width with gold bullion tassel and button.

  2. The Pro-Chancellors

    The Pro-Chancellors shall wear robes of black damask figured silk, the fronts and flap collar trimmed with gold lace two inches in width; there shall be one broad bar of gold lace placed horizontally at the bottom of each sleeve which shall be square ended. The hem and sleeve slits shall be trimmed with gold lace one inch in width. The caps shall be square and of black silk velvet trimmed with gold lace bands three-quarters of an inch in width with gold bullion button and gold silk tassel.

  3. The Vice-Chancellor

    The Vice-Chancellor shall wear a robe of black damask figured silk, the fronts, yoke and sleeves being trimmed with gold lace one inch and three quarters in width; the sleeves and yoke shall be in the Oxford MA style. The cap shall be square and of black silk velvet, trimmed with a gold lace band half an inch in width with a gold button and black silk tassel.

  4. The Deputy Vice-Chancellors

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellors shall wear robes of the same material and pattern as that prescribed for the Vice-Chancellor, the fronts, yoke and sleeves being trimmed with silver lace one inch and three quarters in width. The caps shall be square and of black silk velvet trimmed with silver lace bands half an inch in width, with silver button and black silk tassel.

  5. The Secretary and Registrar

    The Secretary and Registrar shall wear a gown of black brocade in the Oxford MA pattern, the front facings to the yoke being trimmed with one inch silver oak leaf lace on the outside and two inches of University blue taffeta on the inside; the back of the gown having a silver cord and button. The sleeves shall be trimmed with one inch silver oak leaf lace.

    The cap shall be square and of black silk velvet with a silver button and tassel.



  6. The Vice-Chair of Council

    The Vice-Chair of Council shall wear a gown of the same material and pattern as that prescribed for the Secretary and Registrar, the front facings to the yoke edged both sides with one inch gold oak leaf lace and sleeves trimmed with one and three quarter inch gold oak leaf lace; the back of the gown having a gold cord and button.

    The cap shall be square and of black silk velvet trimmed with a gold lace band half an inch in width with a gold button and black silk tassel.

  7. The Treasurer

    The Treasurer shall wear a gown of the same material and pattern as that prescribed for the Secretary and Registrar, the front facings to the yoke and sleeves trimmed with gold oak leaf lace one inch and three quarters in width. There shall be a gold cord and button on the yoke.

    The cap shall be square and of black silk velvet, trimmed with a gold lace band half an inch in width with a gold button and black silk tassel.

  8. The Esquire Bedell

    The Esquire Bedell shall wear a ceremonial robe of black damask figured silk of the Oxford MA pattern but with a flap collar and front facings, the armholes being bound with gold lace two inches in width, and the flap collar edged with gold lace one inch and three quarters in width. The cap shall be round and of black velvet with gold cord and tassel.

  9. The Marshal

    The Marshal shall wear a gown of plain black russell cord in the Oxford MA pattern with facings to the yoke edged with two and a half inches of University blue taffeta and sleeves trimmed one inch University blue ribbon. The yoke shall be trimmed with a blue cord and button.

    The cap shall be round and of black velvet with blue cord and tassel.

  10. Members of the Council

    Members of the Council shall be entitled to wear a ceremonial robe of black ribbed rayon of the same pattern as the Doctor's full-dress robe, the sleeves being of the University blue silk, which shall be of a registered pattern deposited with the robemakers (hereinafter referred to as "the University silk") and the fronts faced with the same silk five inches in width. There shall be a silver cord and button on the yoke. The cap shall be round and of black cloth, with black silk cord and tassel.


B. Academic Dress
  1. Degree Colours

    The colours distinctive of the various degrees shall be:

    Arts and Letters Mid-cerise
    Music Ivory
    Theology Purple
    Science (including Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics) Rich Gold
    Engineering Primrose Yellow
    Science in the Social Sciences (including Social Work) Light Green
    Education (including Arts in Education and Science in Education) White
    Laws Blue (as the University Silk)
    Medicine and Surgery Crimson
    Medical Sciences Rich Gold edged with crimson cord piping
    Nursing and Midwifery Powder Blue
    Science in Medicine, Health & Biological Sciences
    (including Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy)    		 Turquoise
    Philosophy Claret
    Business Administration Petrol Blue


  2. Gowns

    All Bachelors and Masters at first degree level shall be entitled to wear a black gown of the approved material, as listed in the Appendix, and of the London BA pattern, the sleeves being looped and gathered at the elbow by a cord and button of University blue, and the gown shall have a similar cord and button on the yoke.

    Masters at second degree level shall wear a black gown of the approved material and of the Oxford MA pattern with a cord and button of University blue on the yoke.

    Doctors of Philosophy in undress shall wear a black gown of the approved material of the same pattern as that prescribed for Masters, save that the armhole shall be bound with one row of braid, and with a claret cord and button on the yoke.

    Doctors of Philosophy in full dress shall wear a robe of claret-coloured cloth of the Oxford Doctor's pattern, the sleeves being of the University silk, the fronts faced with the same silk to a width of five inches and with a claret cord and button on the yoke.

    Doctors other than Doctors of Philosophy in undress shall wear a black gown of the approved material of the same pattern as that prescribed for Masters, save that the armhole shall be bound with two rows of braid, and with a cord and button of the degree colour on the yoke.

    Doctors other than Doctors of Philosophy in full dress shall wear a robe of scarlet superfine cloth of the Oxford Doctor's pattern, the sleeves being of the University silk, and the fronts being faced with the same silk to a width of five inches. There shall be a cord and button of the degree colour on the yoke.

    Doctors of Design shall wear a robe of scarlet superfine cloth of the Oxford Doctor's pattern, the sleeves being of the University silk, and the fronts being faced with the same silk to a width of five inches. There shall be a pink cord and button on the yoke.

    Doctors of the University shall wear a robe of scarlet superfine cloth of the Oxford Doctor's pattern, the sleeves being of the University silk, and the fronts being faced with the same silk to a width of five inches. There shall be a scarlet cord and button on the yoke.

  3. Hoods

    All hoods shall be fully lined with the University silk. The neck portion shall be cut on the curve with a single central seam, no neck band shall be let in and the neck shall not be edged.

    All Bachelors and Masters at first degree level shall wear a black hood of approved material fully lined with the University silk and of the improved Oxford MA Burgon type, of the pattern deposited with the Robemakers. Except as stated below, the hood proper shall be edged inside and out with the appropriate degree colour to a width of three-eighths of an inch. In the case of the Bachelor of Laws, the lining shall be turned over three-eighths of an inch on the outside so as to provide an outside edging. In the case of Masters at first degree level the width of the edging shall be one inch.

    Masters at second degree level and Masters of Surgery, shall wear a black hood of approved material fully lined with the University silk and of the London MA type, of the pattern deposited with the Robemakers. The hood proper shall be edged inside and out with the appropriate degree colour (except in the case of the Master of Laws) to a width of three-eighths of an inch. In the case of the Master of Laws the lining shall be turned over three-eighths of an inch on the outside of the hood proper. In all Masters' hoods the cape shall be well rounded and the lining of the cape shall be turned over on the outside to a width of three-eighths of an inch.

    Masters of Surgery shall wear a hood of black superfine cloth fully lined with the University silk and of the Oxford Doctor's type, of the pattern deposited with the Robemakers. The hood proper shall be edged inside and out with crimson and the lining of the cape shall be turned over on the outside, both to a width of three-eighths of an inch.

    Doctors of Philosophy shall wear a hood of maroon or claret-coloured cloth fully lined with the University silk and of the Oxford Doctor's type, of the pattern deposited with the Robemakers.

    Doctors other than Doctors of Philosophy shall wear a hood of scarlet superfine cloth fully lined with the University silk and of the Oxford Doctor's type, of the pattern deposited with the Robemakers.

  4. Caps

    All Bachelors, all Masters and Doctors in undress shall wear square caps of the mortar-board pattern of black cloth with black silk tassel.

    Doctors of Philosophy in full dress shall wear a round cap of black cloth with claret cord and tassel.

    Doctors other than Doctors of Philosophy in full dress shall wear a round cap of black velvet with cord and tassel of the appropriate degree colour.

    Doctors of the University shall wear a round cap of black velvet with scarlet cord and tassel.

  5. Graduates Honoris Causa

    The holders of a degree of the University awarded honoris causa shall be entitled to wear the robe or gown, hood and cap of the degree as hereinbefore described.

  6. Previous Regulations

    Doctors of Philosophy who graduated before 1968 may continue to wear the gown and robe prescribed under the previous Regulations (see 1967-68 Calendar, pp. 103-105). The academic dress for Bachelors of Arts in Law, Bachelors, Masters and Doctors of Science in Engineering is prescribed in the previous Regulations (see 1967-68 Calendar, pp. 103-105). The academic dress for Bachelors, Masters and Doctors of Science in Economics is the same as that prescribed above for similar degrees in Science in the Social Sciences. The academic dress for Bachelors of Music is prescribed in the previous Regulations (see 1978-79 Calendar, Vol. I, pp. 191-193).

    The holders of the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (Collegiate), Bachelor of Science (Collegiate) and Bachelor of Education (Collegiate) shall wear the gowns, hoods and caps prescribed respectively for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education.

  7. Undergraduates

    The undergraduate gown shall be of black Russell-cord or rayon, with pointed sleeves of the London pattern, the point of the sleeves not to come below the knee, and the sleeves not to be looped at the elbow. The cap shall be square and of the mortar-board pattern, of black cloth and with a black silk tassel.

  8. Correct Wear with Academic Dress

    When wearing full academic dress, women are expected to wear either a blouse and skirt, a dress, suit or trouser suit, with dark shoes; and men a suit, shirt and tie, with dark shoes. Where appropriate, women and men are permitted to wear national dress or full military uniform.


Appendix

Materials

The approved materials shall be:
Bachelor's Gown and Hood
Russell-cord, poplin or ribbed rayon.

Master's Gown
Russell-cord, poplin, ribbed rayon or corded Ottoman silk.

Doctor's Undress Gown and Master's Hood
Poplin, ribbed rayon, or corded Ottoman silk.
The Official Robes and a System of Academic Dress for the University were designed in 1953 by Charles A H Franklyn, Esq, MA MD MRCS FLS FSA and amended in 1997.

The University's Official Robemakers are J Wippell & Co Ltd, PO Box 1, 88 Buller Road, Exeter EX4 1DQ, who alone supply the correct academic dress for the University. Telephone: 01392-254234.