Academic Dress of the University of Manchester

The academic dress of the University of Manchester describes the specific gowns, hoods, and headwear prescribed by the university for its graduates and officers. These garments are worn during high-ceremony occasions, primarily graduation congregations, to signify the level of degree awarded and the university's academic tradition.

Introduction

The University of Manchester was established in 2004 following the merger of UMIST and the Victoria University of Manchester. To mark this new beginning, the university appointed Ede & Ravenscroft to design a new range of academic robes rather than adapting the dress of its predecessor institutions.

According to university regulations, academic dress is reserved for members of the university entitled to wear it at official ceremonials. Because it is confined to high-ceremony occasions, there are no university-wide undergraduate gowns or 'undress robes' for doctors. However, some traditional halls of residence, such as St. Anselm Hall and Hulme Hall, maintain the tradition of wearing academic gowns at formal dinners. At Hulme Hall, undergraduates wear black gowns with red piping around the yoke, supplied by Ede & Ravenscroft.

At graduation ceremonies, graduands wear the dress appropriate to their qualification. While mortarboards or Tudor bonnets are are worn during the procession and at the end of the ceremony, they are typically held in the hand during the rest of the event. Officers of the university and participating academics wear their headgear throughout, except when tipping their hats to the presiding officer and speakers.

Gowns

The gowns worn by the University of Manchester are distinguished by their design and unique features.

Bachelors and holders of Diplomas and Certificates

• Bachelors, etc.: A robe of black silk or stuff, featuring a shape special to the university. The gown is of the traditional masters' shape with the boot of the sleeve cut into the shape of an 'M', a distinction unique to the University of Manchester.

Masters

• Masters: A robe of black silk or stuff of the same special shape as that worn by bachelors.

Doctors

Doctoral gowns are more colorful and distinct from the undergraduate and master's level robes.

• Higher Doctorates (e.g., DSc, DLitt): A robe of scarlet cloth in the Oxford Doctors' pattern, with sleeves and facings of purple, edged with one inch of gold ribbon.
• Other Doctorates (e.g., PhD, DEng): A robe of maroon cloth in the Oxford Doctors' pattern, with sleeves and facings of purple, purple, edged with one inch of gold ribbon.

Hoods

Most hoods are of the Cambridge Full shape in the Groves classification system, with the exception of the Certificates and Diplomas hood, which is of a modified Aberdeen shape. All hoods feature purple neckbands with a centrally-placed band of gold ribbon. Except for doctoral hoods, all are made of black corded material.

Certificates and Diplomas

• Diplomas and Certificates: Self-lined with a narrow band of purple within the cowl.

Bachelors

• Bachelors requiring five or more years of study (e.g., MBChB): A full lining of purple, trimmed within the cowl with two ribbons, the outer of gold and the inner of red.
• All other Bachelors: A broad facing of purple within the cowl, trimmed with a single band of gold ribbon.

Masters

• Undergraduate Masters: A full lining of purple trimmed with two bands of gold ribbon within the cowl.
• Master of Philosophy: A full lining of purple trimmed with a broad band of gold ribbon within the cowl and a maroon edging on the cape.
• All other Post-Graduate Masters: A full lining of purple carried over as an edging on the cape.

Doctors

• Higher Doctorates: Scarlet (woollen) cloth fully lined with purple, with the cape edged in gold.
• Other Doctorates: Maroon (woollen) cloth fully lined with purple, carried on over as an edging on the cape.

Caps

• Bachelors and Masters: A standard black cloth mortarboard with a black silk tassel.
• Doctors: A black cloth or velvet Tudor bonnet with a cord and tassels of gold.

Officers of the University

Officers of the university wear special academic dress on ceremonial occasions.

The Chancellor's robe is made of purple silk damask with a flap collar and closed, square-ended sleeves, edged with silver lace throughout and trimmed with silver frogs on the sleeves. It also features the university arms, crest, and motto embroidered on the each of the revers at chest height. The accompanying cap is a black velvet Tudor bonnet with silver cord and tassels.

The robes worn by other university officers, such as the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, and Registrars, are similar in style.

The mace-bearer wears a gown of plain purple silk or stuff with square-ended sleeves, edged with one inch of gold ribbon, and a black Tudor bonnet with gold cord and tassels.

Major benefactors and other associated people who are not students or staff may wear a gown of plain purple material with gold ribbon edgings at ceremonies.