Academic dress of the University of Glasgow
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Academic dress at the University of Glasgow is worn at ceremonial events throughout the academic year. This primarily entails graduations, but includes Commemoration Day, church services, and the installation of Chancellors and Rectors of the University. The academic dress of all members of the
University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...
, including students, is regulated by the University Regulations. It shares many similarities with the other
ancient universities of Scotland The ancient universities of Scotland () are medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist in the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of dist ...
, most conspicuously that, unlike in the rest of the United Kingdom, headwear is only very rarely worn. Academic dress has been worn in the
University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...
since medieval times .


Officers of the University

The Chancellor wears a gown of "''black
watered silk Moire ( or ), less often moiré, is a textile with a wavy (watered) appearance produced mainly from silk, but also wool, cotton and rayon. The watered appearance is usually created by the finishing technique called calendering. Moire effects ar ...
, with long closed sleeves and square collar, trimmed with gold lace and gold
frogs A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" '' Triadobatrachus'' is ...
.''" There is also a black velvet trencher cap with a gold tassle, although this is very rarely worn. The Vice-Chancellor, normally the Principal (for whom see below), wears identical dress but with silver trimmings,
frogs A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" '' Triadobatrachus'' is ...
and tassel. (The position of Vice-Chancellor at the Scottish universities is not analogous to that in England; see ''
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom they are elected. The office is intended to be held for life. Their principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to them b ...
''.) The
Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
wears a gown of "''black cloth, with square collar and full-length capelike sleeves: five gold bands on each sleeve''". He has an identical cap to the Chancellor, although does not wear it. The Principal wears a gown of "''purple silk, with open sleeves, facings of black silk and a border of purple velvet.''" This gown is rarely worn as the Principal acts as Vice-Chancellor for most ceremonial events. The Dean of Faculties, an honorary position, is entitled to wear a gown of "''black silk, with square velvet collar, full-length capelike sleeves and velvet
frogs A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" '' Triadobatrachus'' is ...
.''" Members of the University Court are entitled to wear
frogs A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" '' Triadobatrachus'' is ...
on the sleeves of their gowns.


Staff

Academic dress is not prescribed for members of the academic staff of the University, who wear the gown and hood proper to their highest degree. The only other member of staff to wear ceremonial dress is the Bedellus, the head of the janitorial staff, who carries the Mace at ceremonial events and wears a black gown with gold trimmings and faced with the University badge.


Graduates

Along with the hood appropriate to their degree, Bachelors wear "black stuff owns with open pointed sleeves reaching to the foot of the gown", whilst Masters wear gowns of "black silk or stuff, with cord and button on the yoke and closed sleeves (with horizontal arm-slit) reaching to the foot of the gown and ending in a crescent shaped cut (the points of the crescent facing back)." Note that the
ancient universities of Scotland The ancient universities of Scotland () are medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist in the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of dist ...
, including Glasgow, award the degree of Master of Arts as a first degree; graduands to receive a Master of Arts degree as their first degree therefore wear the master's gown but with the appropriate hood pertaining to their undergraduate degree. Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) wear as Undress Black silk or stuff, with a collar falling over the yoke and full sleeves half the length of the gown. on top of this there are facings of crimson silk.


Undergraduates

Undergraduate students are entitled, as at the other
ancient universities of Scotland The ancient universities of Scotland () are medieval and renaissance universities which continue to exist in the present day. The majority of the ancient universities of the British Isles are located within Scotland, and have a number of dist ...
, to wear a scarlet gown with full sleeves half the length of the gown.Cooper, J. C. 'The Scarlet Gown: History and Development of Scottish Undergraduate Dress', Transactions of the Burgon Society, 10 (2010), pp. 8-42.
Available here
The Calendar permits students to add "a narrow band of silk on the breast of each side of the gown of the colour of the hood-lining proper to the lowest degree in the Faculty", although the former Faculties of the University have now been removed and replaced by a structure of Colleges. Officers of the
Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885. The GUU organises social affairs for its members, provides catering and entertainm ...
and
Queen Margaret Union The Queen Margaret Union (QMU) is one of two students' unions at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1890, it caters to the social and cultural needs of its members by providing a range of services including volunteering opportuni ...
, the
Sports Association A sports club or sporting club, sometimes an athletics club or sports society or sports association, is a group of people formed for the purpose of playing sports. Sports clubs range from organisations whose members play together, unpaid, and ...
and the Students' Representative Council have their own gowns, as do those of some societies, including the Dialectic Society,
Conservative Association A Conservative Association (CA) is a local organisation composed of Conservative Party members in the United Kingdom. Every association varies in membership size but all correspond to a parliamentary constituency in England, Wales, Scotland and No ...
and Medico-Chirurgical Society.


See also

* Ede & Ravenscroft – official dressmakers to the University


References


External links

* Images of the University's academic dress can be viewed at the following links:
The Chancellor

The Vice-ChancellorThe RectorThe Principal
{{Academic dress
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
University of Glasgow