Academic dress of the University of St Andrews


Academic dress at the University of St Andrews involves students wearing distinctive academic gowns whilst studying at the University of St Andrews. Undergraduate gowns in Scotland were once common at all the ancient universities of Scotland, with each having its own distinctive style. St Andrews undergraduates wear either a scarlet gown if they are part of the United College and studying in the Faculties of Arts, Medicine and Science, or a black gown if they are part of St Mary's College and studying in the Faculty of Divinity.
"St Andrews is the only one of the Scottish universities where the gown is still seen frequently in the twenty-first century. It is worn to chapel services, formal dinners in the halls of residence, meetings of the Union Debating Society, by student ambassadors who give guided tours of the University to visitors and by a few to examinations. Most conspicuously, it is worn for the traditional pier walk, which takes place each Sunday in term-time after chapel."
Until 2012 postgraduate students wore the gown of their earlier academic achievement before joining. In that year The St Leonard's College Society of the university introduced a black gown faced with burgundy for the use of those who do not have academic dress in order to integrate such students into the tradition of gown wearing present at St Andrews. Graduates may continue to use either the academic dress of their earlier degree or the newly introduced St Leonard's College gown. Graduates in St Mary's College, however, always wear the degree gown of a graduate with a violet saltire cross added to the left facing.
The officials of the University, including the Chancellor, Principal, and Rector have distinctive gowns attached to their office, with the claim that the Rector's is based on the mediaeval style of academic dress. Student officers of the University of St Andrews Students' Association and the Athletic Union have gowns which have both the coat of arms of the University and the coat of arms of either the Students' Association or the Athletic Union, which they may wear during their year in elected office.

Use of academic dress

has been worn in the University of St Andrews since mediaeval times. Academic dress is compulsory at official ceremonial occasions, such as graduation and the installations of Rector and Chancellor. Gowns may be worn at any time throughout St Andrews. They are recommended for formal dinners in the halls of residence and are traditionally worn to chapel, to 'Pier Walks', to debates of the Union Debating Society. Gowns are also always worn by University Ambassadors when conducting tours of the University grounds for prospective students and by the collegiate chapel choirs of St Salvator and St Leonard.
Even though most students will buy a gown during their time in the university, its requirement is no longer enforced.

University officials

The officials of the University of St Andrews each have a specific gown specified in regulations, with the Chancellor wearing a black gown trimmed with gold that resembles the state robes worn by the Lord Chancellor or the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Vice-Chancellor, who is the Chancellor's depute for the awarding of degrees, wears a similar gown trimmed with silver. The Principal, the chief executive, of the University wears a purple silk gown, and the Rector wears a purple-blue silk gown. Other officers including Vice-Principals, the Master of the United College, the Principal of St Mary's College, the Provost of St Leonard's College and the Deans of the Faculties wear gowns distinctive to their office. The description of their academic dress in full:
Undergraduate students in the United College, who are members of the Faculties of Arts, Medicine, and Science wear a scarlet cloth gown of knee length with open sleeves half the length of the gown and a burgundy velveteen collar. Undergraduates of St Mary's College who are members of the Faculty of Divinity wear a black stuff gown of knee length with short open sleeves and with a violet cross of St Andrew on the left facing. At formal occasions, undergraduates, especially those in the University's Chapel Choirs, use the gown as part of the subfusc outfit which is required on such occasions. The gowns used to be compulsory in lectures and tutorials, and it was mandatory for students to wear it around town to identify undergraduates, but since the middle of the 20th century the wearing of the gown, while encouraged, is voluntary.
Students in the United College, by tradition, wear the gown differently depending on their year of study:
The red undergraduate gown was a source of controversy in 2018 when the University of St Andrews took legal action against an independent supplier, Churchill Gowns, which had offered the gowns for sale at a lower price than the University Shop.

Postgraduate dress

In 2012 a new St Leonard's College gown was introduced for those members of that College whose original universities do not have academic dress. This is black gown faced with burgundy. It was introduced so as to better integrate those postgraduates whose original universities do not have academic dress into the gown tradition at St Andrews. St Andrews graduates wear the gown of their degree as may those of other universities, or they may choose to wear the St Leonard's College gown. Graduate students in St Mary's College wear the graduate gown with a violet cross on the left facing.
Otherwise graduates wear the gown of the highest degree conferred upon them with or without the appropriate hood, depending upon the occasion. Doctors wear undress, a black stuff or silk gown with long closed sleeves, when teaching and during other informal occasions and full-dress, a silk gown of the colour of the appropriate faculty, on festal occasions.

Graduation

Gowns

All in attendance at graduation ceremonies are expected to wear subfusc, which comprises a dark lounge suit and a white shirt and white bow-tie for gentlemen and dark trousers or skirt and a white blouse for ladies. Gowns and caps appropriate to a person's degree or official position within the university are worn according to the rules set down by the Senatus Academicus.
Hoods of graduates in all faculties are in a modified London pattern, with rounded corners to the cape and an angled liripipe.
The University of St Andrews Students' Association and Athletic Union have several elected positions which entitle the holder to wear a gown emblazoned with the coats of arms of the Students' Association or Athletic Union and the coat of arms of the University.
Additionally, the President of St Mary's College is entitled to wear a graduate dress gown with lace adornments on the sleeve and purple silk lapels. The gown has the shield of St Mary's College on the left breast in fine stitching and bronze filigree.