What to wear for Congregations
BackAll students who are graduating (graduands), must comply with the Senate House dress codes. Graduands may not be permitted to graduate if they are dressed incorrectly.
The square cap (‘mortarboard’) is optional, and must be carried and not worn during the ceremony. Permission is not needed for other forms of head covering for religious or medical reasons. Head coverings must be plain black or plain white.
A number of officials (Proctors and Constables) are employed in the Senate House to enforce a strict dress code. The Praelector (the College representative who presents graduands at the Congregation) is penalised for any misdemeanours of appearance. Therefore you must comply carefully to these rules for graduation attire.
Dress Guidelines
The University regulations for what to wear to graduation are below.
Dress for graduation consists of two components: dark clothes and the correct Cambridge academical dress, according to your current status and the degree or degrees to be received.
Degrees are conferred at Congregations of the Regent House, which are formal occasions; accordingly, an appropriately formal standard of dress is required and enforced at ceremonies. If you do not observe it, you may not be able to graduate on the day at your chosen ceremony. A University Constable will check your dress on arrival at the Senate-House and will adjust it if necessary. The Praelector is able to offer advice if required.
Note from the Praelector
The regulations specify black as the colour for trousers, skirts, jackets etc, with the note that ‘very nearly black ‘clothes that make no obvious contrast with a black gown are acceptable. This means that very dark grey is acceptable, as is very very dark blue. Patterns such as pin stripes and checks are not acceptable, however. Often, for those who have them, dinner jacket suits are the easiest form of black clothing to wear. If you have a jacket it is generally smarter to wear it, so long as the weather is not too hot. You will notice that white bow tie and bands are prescribed if you are wearing trousers and are optional if you are wearing a skirt. We would encourage as many people as possible to wear bow tie and bands (with either a fold down collar or a wing collar) as they are a distinctive and traditional part of academic dress and (in the opinion of your Praelector) look much smarter than an open necked shirt. Socks are required to be plain black and tights either black or flesh coloured. (Strictly speaking bare legs are not allowed.) If you are wearing tights, we encourage black as the smartest colour. We do check on your socks, along with the other things you are wearing, before we leave for the Senate House.
- Dark clothes*
- Academical Dress
- Gown Exchange
Gown and Hood
This information should help you with what kind of gown and hood you need to wear at your Congregation. During your rehearsal before the Ceremony, the Praelector will be able to advise you on the correct way to wear your hood.
- General Admission
- MA Congregation
- Ordinary Congregations
Other forms of dress
- National, Military and Clerical Dress