Academic dress of the University of London
Encyclopedia
Academic dress of the University of London describes the robes, gowns and hoods which are prescribed by the university for its graduates and undergraduates. The University of London
was created out of a partnership between University College
and Kings College
, receiving its royal charter in 1836. By 1844 a rudimentary code for academic dress
had been established. Since then the university has expanded enormously and so too its need for academic dress.
London was the first university to devise a system of academic dress based on faculty colours, an innovation that has been taken up by most universities after.
Following the UK government's granting of autonomous degree awarding powers to a number of the University of London's constituent institutions, all students graduating from King's College London
, University College London
, The London School of Economics and Political Science
and the Institute of Education
, from 2010 will receive a degree from their respective place of study rather than from the federal university. Thus, each of these institutions now has its own academic dress separate from that of the federal university. The remaining fifteen colleges continue to award University of London degrees (as at 2009), and so for these the academic dress of the University of London remains in place. For more information concerning the classification of academic dress see the article on the Groves system.
All the above gowns have 'strings' attached to the inside of the gown behind facings. These are long wide ribbons the same colour as the gown.
Doctors wear a black velvet (or cloth for PhD) Tudor bonnet
which has a cord and tassel of the faculty colour.
Women may wear a black Oxford ladies soft cap in lieu of mortarboard.
Any future degrees not under the above faculties use a grey-silver silk instead.
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
was created out of a partnership between University College
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and Kings College
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, receiving its royal charter in 1836. By 1844 a rudimentary code for academic dress
Academic dress
Academic dress or academical dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, primarily tertiary education, worn mainly by those that have been admitted to a university degree or hold a status that entitles them to assume them...
had been established. Since then the university has expanded enormously and so too its need for academic dress.
London was the first university to devise a system of academic dress based on faculty colours, an innovation that has been taken up by most universities after.
Following the UK government's granting of autonomous degree awarding powers to a number of the University of London's constituent institutions, all students graduating from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, The London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, from 2010 will receive a degree from their respective place of study rather than from the federal university. Thus, each of these institutions now has its own academic dress separate from that of the federal university. The remaining fifteen colleges continue to award University of London degrees (as at 2009), and so for these the academic dress of the University of London remains in place. For more information concerning the classification of academic dress see the article on the Groves system.
Undergraduates
They wear a black gown gathered at the yoke with pointed sleeves, the point of the sleeve not reaching below the knee.Bachelors
Three different gowns are utilised, depending upon the faculty of the degree.- The standard Bachelors Gown : BABachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, BEdBachelor of EducationA Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
, BEngBachelor of EngineeringThe Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
, BScBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, BComBachelor of CommerceA Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
, BH, MSci, MEngMaster of EngineeringA Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
. A black silk or stuff gown with pointed sleeves gathered at the forearm and held in place with a cord and button.- The BDBachelor of DivinityIn Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
gown is as above but with the addition of a black cord and a Sarum red button on the yoke of the gown.
- The BD
- The Medicine / Music Gown : MB BS, BVetMed, BDS, MPharmMaster of PharmacyA Master of Pharmacy is an academic degree in the field of pharmacy, which may be undergraduate or postgraduate depending on the country concerned. In many countries, it has superseded a Bachelor of Pharmacy as the prerequisite for registration to practice as a pharmacist...
. A black silk or stuff gown with a flap collar and long closed sleeves. This shall be the same shape as the Cambridge Doctor of Laws undress gown except that the sleeves shall be hollowed out at the bottom in a double ogee curve. Before the abolition of Convocation, the BMusBachelor of MusicBachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
gown is of light blue corded silk but now it is black. - The Legal Gown : LLBBachelor of LawsThe Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, LLMMaster of LawsThe Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
and LLD (in undress). A black gown with a square flap collar and long closed sleeves squared off at the ends with a slit in the back of the gown. There is an 'inverted T' armhole. This is the same shape as the generic solicitor's gown.
Masters
- MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, MScMaster of ScienceA Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
, etc.: A black gown with long closed sleeves as for the Cambridge MA. The sharp angle of the Cambridge MA ogee curve on the bottom of the sleeve is rounded off. - MSMaster of SurgeryThe Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
: a violet corded silk gown of the same pattern as the MB,BS gown - MDS: An olive green corded silk gown of the same pattern as the MB,BS gown.
- MThMaster of TheologyA Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
: A black cord and Sarum red button on the yoke in addition to the pattern described above for other master's gowns. - MPhilMaster of PhilosophyThe Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
: The standard master's gown with a 1" claret ribbon on the outer edge of the facings of the gown.
Doctors
Until c.1997 holders of University of London doctoral degrees had two sets of costume: full dress and undress.Full Dress
- PhDDoctor of PhilosophyDoctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
: A claret coloured robe with long open winged sleeves held back at the wrists with claret cord and button. The sleeves and facings lined with a lighter claret silk. The outside edge of the facings are bound with 1" dark blue silk. (Under previous regulations this one inch binding of silk was the same colour as that of the faculty awarding the PhD). - Professional Doctorates: as the PhD but lined with ruby shot silk and without the blue silk binding.
- Higher Doctorates: A robe of scarlet cloth in the Cambridge Doctors pattern. The robe is faced with five inches of silk of the faculty colour. The sleeves are fully lined with silk of the faculty colour.
All the above gowns have 'strings' attached to the inside of the gown behind facings. These are long wide ribbons the same colour as the gown.
Undress
Until c.1997 doctoral undress was officially the nearest black Masters gown; in practice the black MA/MSc style gown rather than the law, music or medicine gowns. The practice continues, although without any official sanction in the post-1997 regulations.Hoods
These are of a full shape which is characteristic of the university. This consists of a full shape, like Cambridge, but with rounded corners to the cape.Diplomas
A black stuff or silk hood edged along the cowl with a twisted cord of white, blue and red. The neckband is plain. In practice, the hood is self lined to add more weight to it.Bachelors
A black stuff or silk hood fully lined with white silk. The cowl shall be faced inside for three inches and edged outside with three-eighths of an inch of faculty silk. The neckband shall be similarly edged. Before the abolishment of Convocation, non-members were not entitled to a lining of white silk, instead they only had a facing of the faculty silk. Afterwards, all bachelor hoods were allowed the white silk lining.- BMus: A hood of the above pattern. A light blue corded silk hood faced inside for three inches and edged outside with three-eighths of an inch of white watered silk.
Masters
A black silk hood fully lined and bound all edges with the faculty silk. Before the abolishment of Convocation, members were entitled to a facing of white silk.- MMus: a mid-blue silk hood lined and bound all edges with white watered silk.
- MPhil: a black silk hood fully lined with light claret silk and bound all edges with blue silk.
Doctors
A hood made of wool and lined with silk. The colours used are the same as the gown. The PhD has all its edges bound with blue silk.Caps
Everyone below the rank of doctor wears a standard black cloth mortarboard.Doctors wear a black velvet (or cloth for PhD) Tudor bonnet
Tudor bonnet
A Tudor bonnet is a traditional soft round cap, with a tassel hanging from a cord encircling the puggaree of the hat...
which has a cord and tassel of the faculty colour.
Women may wear a black Oxford ladies soft cap in lieu of mortarboard.
Faculty colours
- Divinity - Sarum red
- Medicine - Violet
- Law - Blue
- Veterinary Medicine - Lilac
- Dental Surgery - Olive green (corded)
- Engineering - Turquoise
- Science - Gold
- Music - White (watered)
- Arts - Russet brown
- Business Administration - Fawn
- Education - Eau-de-nil green
- Commerce - Deep orange (no longer awarded)
- Humanities - Pale pink (no longer awarded)
Any future degrees not under the above faculties use a grey-silver silk instead.