Choosing what to wear for your graduation can be a challenge. While your graduation robes are mandatory in order to attend the ceremony, the rest of your outfit is up to you! Click on the drop downs below to see further guidance on what to wear for your ceremony.
All graduands attending a graduation ceremony must wear academic dress. This is made up of a gown, a hood and a hat. It is your responsibility to order the appropriate academic dress from the University’s only official gown supplier, Ede & Ravenscroft, ahead of your graduation ceremony.
All eligible graduands will be sent an email with full details on how to hire gowns and book your tickets by the end of October.
You must hire your academic dress by 12:00pm Friday 15 November.
Graduation is a formal occasion, and you should wear smart clothing beneath your gown. Jeans, hoodies, tracksuits, trainers and flip flops are strongly discouraged.
- It is useful to wear a buttoned blouse or shirt. This makes it easier to attach the hood of your gown to your clothing. Magnetars will be available to purchase on the day to help your gown stay in place if your outfit does not have buttons.
- It may be helpful to bring safety pins to ensure the hood stays in place, as well as hair grips if you have long hair.
- You won’t be able to carry any personal belongings with you during the ceremony, so please leave handbags and any other items with your guests if you can, or you can use our cloakroom facilities in the Windsor Building.
- We strongly advise that if you choose to wear high heels, you pick block or wedge heels and not stilettos.
You must pre-order your gown hire online through Ede and Ravenscroft during the initial booking period. All eligible graduands will be sent an email in the near future with full details on how to hire gowns and book your tickets. The deadline for all bookings is still to be confirmed.
You can find a step-by-step guide for booking you gown and tickets here.
Please note in order to hire your gown and hat you will need to know your head circumference and height, please have this ready when placing your order.
Once you have ordered your gown you will collect it on the day of your ceremony in the Windsor Building. Before you collect your gown, you must register your attendance and collect your red registration card. You can collect your gown during the following times:
|
Details
|
|
Gown pick up
|
Gown pick up will open one and a half hours before you ceremony.
We ask that all graduands collect their gown no later than 30 minutes before in order to attend the ceremony.
Gown pick up will be located on the first floor of the Windsor Building in 102/03.
|
|
Gown drop off
|
Gown drop off will close one and a half hours after the last ceremony of the day has finished.
Late returns may incur additional charges.
Gown return will be located in the Emily Wilding Davison Foyer (library foyer).
|
If you miss the deadline to order your gown, you will need to contact us as soon as possible by emailing Student Services on StudentServices@rhul.ac.uk
A limited number of gowns will be available to hire on the day, provided you have contacted us ahead of the ceremonies
If you are hiring on the day, you should give yourself extra time as you will need to fill in an order form and complete your payment (card only). The correct size and type of gown cannot be guaranteed if you do not order in advance.