Pembroke College Cambridge

Dress Code for Graduation

 

The Proctors have given notice that anybody of inappropriate appearance will not be allowed to proceed to their degree. The College strictly enforces this rule.  

The point of all these regulations is for all graduands to wear the same simple, formal style of dress, so that all graduands are presented as equals.

General Admission in June - specific guidelines for gowns and hoods can be found here.

Appropriate Academic Gown and Hood 

Which Academic Gown and Hood - postgraduates

Follow the guidelines below to determine the appropriate gown and hood for your graduation:

1. I already have a Cambridge degree and am having my new degree conferred - you should wear the gown and hood of the highest Cambridge degree that you have. This is not the degree that you are about to receive (eg. If you are having your MPhil conferred but have previously graduated with a Cambridge BA, wear the BA gown and hood). 

2. I already have a Cambridge degree and am celebrating my new degree (which was conferred in absence March 2020 - March 2022) - you should wear the gown and hood of the new degree (eg. if you are celebrating your MPhil but have previously graduated with a Cambridge BA, you should wear the MPhil gown and hood, as this is highest degree you hold).

3. I do not already have a Cambridge degree - then one of these two will apply to you:

a) If you are 23 years old or younger, then you wear a BA status gown and the hood of the degree that you are about to receive.

b) If you are 24 years old or older, then you wear an MA status gown and the hood of the degree that you are about to receive.

Which Academic Gown and Hood - undergraduates

Candidates for the BA wear an undergraduate College gown and a BA hood.

Those graduating as BA and MEng wear an undergraduate College gown with an MEng hood.

Those graduating as BA and MSci wear an undergraduate College gown with an MSci hood.

Those graduating as BA and MMath wear an undergraduate College gown with an MMath hood.

The Cap (mortarboard)

 

The Cap (mortarboardis optional for Cambridge graduands and not worn as standard. If you do decide to wear one on the day then you will be asked to take this off and carry it in your left hand once inside the Senate-House so please bear this in mind when making your decision.

Academical Dress Hire

You should order your gown and hood online from Ede and Ravenscroft or Ryder and Amies.  Please ensure you order in good time as sometimes gowns run out on popular dates.

Collection - This will not be from College - kindly follow the instructions given by the dress hire company regarding where and when to collect/return your gown.

Ede & Ravenscroft, 71-72 Trumpington St, 01223 350048, email: student@edeandravenscroft.co.uk

Ryder & Amies, 22 King's Parade, 01223 350371, email: enquiries@ryderamies.co.uk

Securing your hood

Securing your hood- If your hood will not stay in position, then you can use safety pins to secure it to your gown at the collarbone. 

For Option One, hoods go straight underneath the bands and do not need to be attached to a button; the hood should rest against the collar of the shirt.

For Option Two, hoods should be attached to the highest button possible on the blouse or shirt. Guidance and assistance from Pembroke staff will be provided at the attire check on the day.

PDF icon how_to_pin_a_hood_onto_a_gown.pdf

 

Appropriate Dress options for Graduation

All candidates must wear the attire specified in either Dress Option One or Dress Option Two below. 

General guidelines
  • All garments must be of one colour only, no checks, stripes or other patterns
  • White means white (not cream or similar)
  • Black means black (not dark brown, blue or grey).
  • Jewellery may be worn but should be subtle and not draw attention; any facial jewellery should be inconspicuous
  • Hair should be worn as you would normally wear it (not be specifically coloured or styled in an eye-catching way for the occasion).
Dress Option One

All of 1-5 are required:

  1. Plain black trouser suit OR dinner jacket + black trousers (dress or suit trousers)
  2. Plain white shirt, long-sleeved (dress shirt or ordinary; wing collar or standard collar)
  3. White bow-tie + academic bands (compulsory). (No bow tie without bands. No business ties)
  4. Plain black socks (not grey or navy, (they will be checked).
  5. Plain black covered shoes without buckles - both toes and heels must be covered.  No boots, no extreme high heels or platforms, No coloured soles.
Guidelines for Dress Option Two
  • Kindly note: no bare legs or arms allowed. 
  • Dresses and skirts must be knee length or longer
  • Trousers must be worn with a jacket (no trousers without jacket)
  • White bow tie & academic bands (together) may be worn with 2 & 3 if desired, and only with a jacket.
Dress Option Two
Choose ONE from 1-3 + 4:
  1. Plain long sleeved black dress, and black or nude tights  OR
  2. Plain black skirt and optional black jacket, with plain long-sleeved white blouse/shirt and black or nude tights*  OR
  3. Plain black trousers + mandatory black jacket, with plain long-sleeved white blouse/shirt, and plain black socks. AND  
  4. Plain black covered shoes without buckles - both toes and heels must be covered.  No bootsno extreme high heels or platforms, No coloured soles.  Kindly note that graduands will be walking, standing for a while and kneeling - high heels can make standing up difficult and will  also sink into Sentate House lawn.