What to wear

At graduation, graduands wear formal academic dress. This is a gown and hood, plus a:

dark lounge suit or dress kilt outfit, with white shirt, white bow tie and dark shoes

dark skirt or dark trouser suit or dress kilt outfit, with white blouse and dark shoes.

Jeans, trainers and other casual clothing are not permitted. You may be excluded from the graduation ceremony if you are not wearing proper academic dress.

All graduands may wear the national costume or dress of their country of birth or ordinary residence.

Video transcript

At graduation at the University of St Andrews, graduands wear a formal dress.

You can either wear a dark skirt or trousers, a white shirt or blouse and dark shoes.

Or you can wear a dark lounge suit, a white shirt and white bow tie and dark shoes.

Or you can wear your country's national dress.

Here's what it will look like on the day.

When instructed, walk onto the stage and stand to one side.

When your name is called, move to the centre of the stage and hand your folded hood to the bedellas.

Kneel on the cushion in front of you.

You will then be capped by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor and the hood placed over your head by the bedellas.

Stand up and bow your head to the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor.

Continue walking across the stage and leave by the side door.

Congratulations, you have now graduated.

Gown and hood hire

Gown and hood hire can be arranged with Ede and Ravenscroft. Gowns should be ordered at least 21 days before your graduation ceremony.

Please note that if you are studying for the MA (Master of Arts) you should select the 'Bachelors/1st Degrees- MA U/Grad' option on the Ede and Ravenscroft website.

If you hire a gown and hood from another provider, they must meet the requirement below. If they don't, you may not be allowed to graduate in person, or may have to hire the correct academic dress on the day from the official provider at additional cost.

Gowns

Graduands (except higher degree graduands who wear full dress - see below): wear a black stuff gown of the Scottish MA pattern.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) graduands: wear a black stuff gown of the Scottish MA pattern with gold silk facings.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduands: wear a black stuff gown of the Scottish MA pattern with cherry silk facings.

Higher-degree graduands

Undress

For honorary Doctors, a black silk cassock with buttons and cincture of the colour of the appropriate degree hood and with full sleeves.
For ordinary Doctors (DProf, DPerf, PhD), a black stuff gown of the Scottish MA pattern with the appropriate degree hood.

Full dress

For honorary Doctors, a silk gown of the colour of the appropriate degree hood or a black silk cassock with buttons and cincture of the colour of the appropriate degree hood and with full sleeves.
For ordinary Doctors
- DProf: Blue silk gown with white facings with the appropriate degree hood.
- DPerf and PhD: Blue silk gown with the appropriate degree hood.
- EngD: Peacock blue silk gown with the appropriate degree hood.
- MD: Medici crimson silk gown with the appropriate degree hood.

Hoods

Synthetic fur is used for the trim on the University’s hoods. Please note that on the Ede and Ravenscroft website the colour of the BSc hood is referred to as ‘cerise’.

- Master in Biochemistry (MBiochem): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Biology (MBiol): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Chemistry (MChem): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Geology (MGeol): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Marine Biology (MMarBiol): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Mathematics (MMath): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Physics (MPhys): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master in Science (MSci): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth border.
- Master of Arts (MA): Black silk with cherry silk lining.
- Master of Theology (MTheol): Black silk lined with violet silk or cloth.
- Bachelor of Arts (International Honours) (BA): Saffron yellow silk or cloth bordered with white fur and faced inside with cherry silk lining.
- Bachelor of Divinity (BD): Violet silk or cloth bordered with white fur.
- Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB (ScotGEM)): Black silk lined with Medici crimson silk or cloth bordered with white fur and faced inside with cherry silk lining.
- Bachelor of Science (BSc): Purple-lilac silk or cloth bordered with white fur.
- Doctor of Divinity (DD): Violet silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Languages (DLang): Green silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Letters (DLitt): Saffron yellow silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Science (DSc): Purple-lilac silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Medicine (MD): Medici Crimson. Darker version of the BSc hood lined with an ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf): Blue silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Engineering (DEng/EngD): Midnight blue silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Performing Arts (DPerf): Blue silk lined with dark purple cloth.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Blue silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil): Black silk lined with gold silk or cloth.
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Black silk with cherry silk lining.
- Master of Research (MRes): Black silk lined with spectrum blue.
- Master of Letters (MLitt): Black silk lined with saffron yellow silk or cloth.
- Master of Science (MSc): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth.
- Master of Studies (MSt): Black silk lined with saffron yellow silk or cloth.
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip): Black silk with spectrum blue silk or cloth border.
- Doctor of Divinity (DD): Violet silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Laws (LLD): Pimento silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Letters (DLitt): Saffron yellow silk lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Medicine (MD): Medici Crimson. Darker version of the BSc hood lined with an ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Music (MusD): Sky blue silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Doctor of Science (DSc): Purple-lilac silk or cloth lined with ivory white satin.
- Master of Arts (MA): Black silk with cherry silk lining.
- Master of Science (MSc): Black silk with purple-lilac silk or cloth.