Academic dress of the University of Kent

The Academic dress of the University of Kent is normally only worn at graduation ceremonies. In common with most British universities a graduand begins the ceremony wearing the dress of the degree to which they are being admitted. This is in contrast to the practice at some universities such as Oxford where a graduand only dons the dress of a degree "after" it has been conferred.

Graduation ceremonies were originally held on campus, first in Eliot and, then in Rutherford Dining Halls; but as numbers grew were transferred to Canterbury Cathedral. Since 2003, graduates of the University of Kent's Medway campus have had separate graduation ceremonies at Rochester Cathedral in Medway.

The academical costume was designed by the Queen's dressmaker Sir Edwin Hardy AmiesGeorge W. Shaw, "Academical Dress of British and Irish Universities" (Chichester; Phillimore & Co. Ltd., 1995) page 135 ISBN 0-85033-974-x] and is as follows:Brochure produced by the "University of Kent" for the 17 November 2006 Degree Congregations ceremony. pages 2-3]

Gowns

For Bachelors, Masters, and MPhil graduates a plain black gown is worn. For PhD graduates the gowns have facings of scarlet velvet. For Higher Doctorates the gown is scarlet with scarlet velvet facings and two bands of scarlet velvet on the sleeves. The Doctor of Civil Law (an honorary degree) has facings of purple velvet. The Chancellor's gown is elaborately trimmed with gold lace, whilst the Vice-Chancellor's gown is black, adorned with gold lace in an oak leaf pattern.cite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/index.html | title = Academic Dress of the University of Kent | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]

Hoods

The hoods are a rare shape and represent a rare attempt by a 1960s university to break with the traditional design for academic dress.The other university with such notable variation is the University of East Anglia. Groves, Nicholas "The Academical Dress of the University of East Anglia" (North Walsham; The Burgon Society, 2005), page 4. ISBN 0-9544110-4-8] They are two-dimensional in a heart-shape and contain two colours, with the colour of the bulk of the hood indicating the rank of degree whilst a central panel denotes the faculty. [George W. Shaw in Haycraft, Frank W.; revised and enlarged by Rogers, Frederick R. S., Franklyn, Charles A. H., Shaw, George W. & Boyd, Hugh Alexander "The Degrees and Hoods of the World's Universities and Colleges" [Fifth edition] (Lewes; W. E. Baxter, Ltd, 1972), page 12] Because of the rareness of the hood design it has its own code [a3] in the "Groves Classification of Academic Dress" used by the Burgon Society.cite web| url = http://www.burgon.org.uk/design/groves.php | title = Classification of Styles | accessdate = 2008-01-10| publisher = Burgon Society] The actual title of the award does not make any difference and thus a holder of a Bachelor of Laws will have an identical hood to anyone holding a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a social science.

Rank

*Foundation Degree - Bronzecite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/foundation.html | title = Academic Dress - Foundation Degrees | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Bachelor's - Silvercite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/undergrad.html | title = Academic Dress - Undergraduate Bachelor Degrees | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Undergraduate Master's - Silvercite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/masters.html | title = Academic Dress - Masters Degrees | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Postgraduate Master's - Gold
*PhD - Cardinal redcite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/postgrad.html | title = Academic Dress - Postgraduate Degrees | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Higher Doctorates - Scarletcite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/honorary.html | title = Academic Dress - Honorary Degrees | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]

Faculties

*Humanities - Green
*Social Sciences - Grey
*Science, Technology & Medical Sciences - Royal blue
*Affiliated & Associate institutions - Pale blue cite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/assoc.html | title = Academic Dress - Degrees from Associate Colleges | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Doctor of Civil Law - Black

Non-degree awards

Non-degree awards use a different shaped hood of the Aberdeen style ( [a3] in the "Groves Classification") made up of one or two colours:

*Certificates - Navy bluecite web| url = http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/certs.html | title = Academic Dress - Certificates and Diplomas | accessdate = 2008-09-27| publisher = University of Kent]
*Diplomas - Burgundy
*Postgraduate awards - Navy blue and Burgundy
*Edexcel Higher National Diplomas & Higher National Certificates - Bright blue and red

Headdress

All Foundation degree holders, Bachelors and Masters wear a plain black mortarboard. Doctors wear a plain black cloth Tudor bonnet with a coloured cord and tassel - gold for Doctors of Civil Law and maroon for all others. The Chancellor wears a bonnet of forest green silk satin damask. The Vice-Chancellor wears a mortarboard with a gold netted button and black silk tassel.

References

Bibliography

*Shaw, George W. (1995), "Academical Dress of British and Irish Universities". (Chicester; Phillimore & Co. Ltd.) ISBN 0-85033974-X

External links

* [http://www.kent.ac.uk/cdo/congregations/dress/index.html Academic Dress of the University of Kent (official site]