Academic dress
The wearing of academic dress is a tradition that has persisted since the Middle Ages, when the first universities were founded. The varying colours of the gowns and hoods and more subtle variations in their style and cut, indicate the award (diploma, bachelor, master or doctor), and the awarding university.
Ordering Your Gown
Graduands are required to wear full academic dress (gown, hood and cap). The University's official academic dress supplier and designer for the specific robes and hoods for each Loughborough University award is Graduation Attire. Orders should be placed online at Graduation Attire's Graduation Services page. Please make sure you complete your gown hire booking in good time. Bookings placed after 6 June 2025 are subject to an additional late booking fee of £10.
| Award | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Certificates/Diplomas of HE | £42.00 |
| Bachelors | £42.00 |
| Masters (extended UG) | £42.00 |
| Masters (PG) | £42.00 |
| PG Certificates/Diplomas | £42.00 |
| PGCE | £42.00 |
| MPhil | £42.00 |
| PhDs and other Doctorates | £45.00 |
The above prices are intended to be an indication and further information can be found on the Graduation Attire website.
The University receives a small amount of commission on gown hires through Graduation Attire. This money is used in its entirety to help cover the costs of running graduation, meaning that we do not need to charge graduands or guests for ceremony tickets.
When to wear academic hats
During the ceremony, both male and female graduands should carry their hats until they have crossed the stage and then put them on.
What to wear on the day
Academic gowns have an open front, so you should wear appropriately smart clothing under your academic dress. For comfort and practicality, it is recommended that you wear a button through top or shirt, which will enable you to attach the academic hood to your clothing without pins.
Refunds on your gown hire
If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, for whatever reason, Graduation Attire will refund your hire payment in full providing they receive your request for a refund SEVEN days before the date of the ceremony. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions on the Graduation Attire booking portal for more information.
Collecting and returning gowns
You are required to collect and return your Academic Dress at specific times of the day, as detailed in the On the Day page.
Colours of Academic Dress
BArch
Bachelor of Architecture
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Turquoise
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
BA
Bachelor of Arts
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Dark green
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
BEd
Bachelor of Education
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Cream
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
BEng
Bachelor of Engineering
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Lilac
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
BLS
Bachelor of Library Studies
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Dark red
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
BSc
Bachelor of Science
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape in purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Grey
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
CertHE
Certificate of Higher Education
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Half shape of purple stuff unlined
- Hood lining
- No lining
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
DipHE
Diploma of Higher Education
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Half shape of purple stuff unlined
- Hood lining
- No lining
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
DLitt
Doctor of Letters
- Gown
- Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
- Hood
- Dark green
- Hood lining
- Scarlet
- Cap
- Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
DSc
Doctor of Science
- Gown
- Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
- Hood
- Grey
- Hood lining
- Scarlet
- Cap
- Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
DTech
Doctor of Technology
- Gown
- Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
- Hood
- Yellow
- Hood lining
- Scarlet
- Cap
- Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
DUniv
Doctor of the University
- Gown
- Oxford shape in scarlet, with sleeves and facings of University purple with degree colour one-inch strips on both the sleeves and facings.
- Hood
- White
- Hood lining
- Scarlet
- Cap
- Velvet bonnet with cord and tassels in degree colour
EngD
Doctor of Engineering
- Gown
- Purple stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of lilac taffeta lined and edged all round with one inch of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Purple
- Cap
- Black cloth bonnet with maroon cord and tassels
MArch
Master of Architecture
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Turquoise with one-half inch edging
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MA
Master of Arts
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
- Hood lining
- Dark Green
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MBA
Master of Business Administration
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
- Hood lining
- Peach
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MChem
Master of Chemistry
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Pale Green
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MDes
Master of Design
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
- Hood lining
- Champagne
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MEng
Master of Engineering
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Lilac
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MMath
Master of Mathematics
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Pale Blue
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MPhil
Master of Philosophy
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple edged all round with one inch of purple ribbon
- Hood lining
- White
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MPhys
Master of Physics
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Pink
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MRes
Master of Research
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff edged all round with one inch of red ribbon
- Hood lining
- Red
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MSc
Master of Science
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff with one-half inch edging
- Hood lining
- Grey
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
MSci
Master in Science
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff
- Hood lining
- Gold
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate of Education
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Half shape of purple stuff unlined
- Hood lining
- No lining
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
PGCert
Postgraduate Certificate
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Half shape of purple stuff unlined
- Hood lining
- No lining
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
PGDip
Postgraduate Diploma
- Gown
- Black stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Half shape of purple stuff unlined
- Hood lining
- No lining
- Cap
- Black cloth mortar board
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
- Gown
- Purple stuff of the London style
- Hood
- Full shape of purple stuff lined and edged all round with one inch of maroon taffeta
- Hood lining
- Maroon
- Cap
- Black cloth bonnet with maroon cord and tassels