Graduation gown hire

As your graduation ceremony is a very special occasion, marking your academic achievement, it is mandatory that all graduands wear full academic dress (gown, hood and mortarboard) and, therefore, it is not possible to participate in the ceremony without it.

Gowns can be hired via our preferred suppliers, Ede & Ravenscroft. It is important to note Ede & Ravenscroft require 3 weeks’ notice to hire a gown so order yours in plenty of time. You can source your gown from elsewhere but please note that a student arriving in inappropriate academic dress or not gowned will be unable to join the procession and will not be presented for their award during the ceremony.

University of Cumbria style and colours

The colours and style of the gowns and hoods indicate both the award (eg diploma, foundation, bachelor, postgraduate or master) and the awarding university.

It's very important that you order the correct academic dress for your qualification as the style is different for each level of award - if in doubt, contact us and check!

Gowns can be hired via our preferred suppliers, Ede & Ravenscroft, who will be in attendance on the day. Please be aware that you can source your your gown from elsewhere but please note that a student arriving in inappropriate academic dress or not gowned will be unable to join the procession and will not be presented for their award during the ceremony.

If you choose to place your order with Ede & Ravenscroft, you must order your gown at least 21 days before your ceremony. The link to gown ordering will become live once booking has closed and the exact dates will be confirmed via email nearer the time. Although it may be possible to pay on the day, only limited stock will be available and this will be allocated on a strictly first come, first served basis and there is no guarantee of availability. In addition, you will pay substantially more for your gown.

Before you book online, make sure you have the following information ready:

• Your student ID. (Do not include the "S" at the beginning of your number. If your student number starts with a 0 then enter your number without the 0 at the beginning)
• Your head circumference, chest and height measurements
• Your credit/debit card details. If the payment is being made on someone else's card, it is important that you still make the booking in your name.

Bring a copy of the confirmation with you when you collect your gown on the day of your ceremony, so your order can be processed quickly.

You can also order your photographs at the same time as ordering your gown which will be quicker and save you time on the day.

Ede & Ravenscroft can be contacted directly here

We don't have a specific dress code for what you should wear under your gown but we do suggest that both you and your guests dress smartly.

We offer the following tips to help you look smart:

• wear a shirt or button up blouse to which you can attach your hood.
• wear securely fitting shoes, as there will be some walking over cobbles and flags and you will also need to make your way up and down some steps. If you wish to wear high heels, you may find wedges easier and safer than stilettos!
• bring some hair grips to help secure your mortarboard.

The academic gown and hood must be worn on top of any other clothing to clearly display your award. If you have any questions regarding appropriate attire, please contact the ceremonies team who will be able to advise.

You can collect your gown from the Fratry approximately 2 hours before the ceremony.

You should return your gown to the Drawing Room, Crown & Mitre Hotel shortly after the ceremony.

Find out more about the schedule for the day or information about a particular venue.