Vice-Chancellor's Regulations 1 of 2002

Made by the Vice-Chancellor on 20 March 2002

Amended on 24 January 2008, 19 July 2012 and 7 August 2015 (Gazette, Vol. 145, p. 694-696, 23 July 2015)

1. Graduates of the University shall wear robes, gowns, and hoods of the colours, materials, and shapes as shall be from time to time prescribed in the Register of Colours and Materials of Gowns and Hoods for Degrees of the University of Oxford, approved by the Vice-Chancellor after consultation with the Proctors, and deposited in the University Archives.

2. Student members of the University shall wear such gowns and dress as the Vice-Chancellor shall determine after consultation with the Proctors and, where appropriate, the heads of colleges, societies, Permanent Private Halls, and other institutions designated by Council by regulation as being permitted to present candidates for matriculation.

3. (1) Persons who are graduates of other universities, and who also either hold an Oxford degree1 or are members of this University reading for a degree, diploma, or certificate of this University, may (if they so wish) wear the appropriate academic dress of their other university on any Oxford University occasion on which they would otherwise be required to wear the academic dress of this University, except on the following occasions, on which Oxford academic dress shall always be worn by such persons:

(a) a Degree Ceremony (subject to (2) below);

(b) the Encaenia.2

(2) Nevertheless, at a Degree Ceremony, candidates supplicating for a higher degree of this University who are graduates of other universities and who do not already hold an Oxford degree may wear the academic dress of their other university before their admission to the Oxford degree (after which they shall immediately put on the full academic dress of their Oxford degree).

4. Any other persons who are graduates of other universities may (if they so wish) wear the appropriate academic dress of their university on any Oxford University occasion on which they would, had they held an Oxford degree or been otherwise entitled to wear the academic dress of this University, have been required to wear the latter.

5. All members of the University are required to wear academic dress with subfusc clothing (and candidates who are not members of the University are required to wear formal clothing) when attending any university examination, i.e. a dark suit with dark socks, or a dark skirt with black stockings or trousers with dark socks and an optional dark coat; black shoes; plain white collared shirt; a black tie or white bow tie.

Dress should be such as might be appropriate for formal occasions.

Candidates serving in HM Forces are permitted to wear uniform together with a gown. (The uniform cap is worn in the street and carried when indoors.)

6. Notwithstanding regulation 5 above, a woman who is a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, or a Proctor or the Assessor, may, if she wishes, wear a white bow tie and bands in place of a black tie and bands as part of her subfusc clothing when wearing academic dress.

7. Notwithstanding regulation 5 above, examiners attending the first thirty minutes of a taught course examination for the purpose of resolving any queries about the examination paper may, if they wish, wear academic dress with formal clothing rather than with subfusc.

8. The Proctors shall have power, on request, to grant dispensation from any of these regulations to any person who in their opinion has reasonable grounds for seeking such dispensation.


1 Including the MA by Resolution.

2 I.e. the Encaenia itself, and the preceding gathering to partake of Lord Crewe's Benefaction; the academic dress of other universities may however (if desired) be worn at the Encaenia Garden Party in place of the academic dress of this University.

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(Rules for the academic dress to be worn by student members under regulation 2 above are set out in the Proctors' and Assessor's Memorandum.)

Forms:

1. Black gown

2. Black gown and hood

3. Black gown, hood, square (or for women, a soft cap3 if desired), and subfusc (Full Academic Dress)

4. Black gown, hood, square (or for women, a soft cap3 if desired), subfusc, and bands

(Subfusc is defined above.)

Occasions:

 

Chancellor's Court of Benefactors

3

Church Services:

 

  Generally

1

  Certain special days, as determined by the

    Vice-Chancellor and published in the University Gazette

2

Congregation, Ancient House of: see 'Degree Ceremonies'

 

Congregation:

 

  Debates

1

  Orations and Admissions: see 'Vice-Chancellor',

    'Proctors and Assessor'

 

Degree Ceremonies:

 

  Deans presenting

3

  Observers

2

Dinner in colleges (according to status and convention)

1 (generally)

Dinner with Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor present

1 (or as decreed

by him or her)

Encaenia:

 

  Sheldonian Curators and other officers

4

  Others

3

Examinations

3

Garden Parties

2

Lectures, major public:

 

  Lecturer

2

  Others

1

Meetings chaired by Vice-Chancellor

1 (otherwise at the

discretion of the

Chairman)

Proctors and Assessor, Admission of:

 

  Proctors and Assessor (outgoing and new)

(as prescribed)4

  Heads of houses presenting

4

  Pro-Proctors

4

  Others

2

Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and Clerks

  of the Market, Admission of:

 

    Above officers

4

    Others

2

'Vice-Chancellor will be present'

1 (unless

otherwise stated)


3 Women members of the University attending university ceremonies shall either carry a square, or wear a soft cap.

4 See regulation 7.9 of Congregation Regulations 3 of 2002.

Forms:

1. Black gown (laced, except for DD)

2. Black gown and hood

3. Black gown, hood, square (or for women, a soft cap3 if desired), and subfusc

4. Convocation habit (black gown, hood and sleeveless cloak [chemir], square (or for women, a soft cap4 if desired), subfusc, and bands)

5. Scarlet robe and appropriate cap

6. Scarlet robe with subfusc and appropriate cap (Full Academic Dress for D.Phil.s)

7. Scarlet robe with subfusc and bands and appropriate cap (Full Academic Dress for Higher Doctors)

(Subfusc is defined above.)

Occasions:

 

Chancellor's Court of Benefactors:

 

  Higher Doctors

7

  D.Phil.s

6

Church Services:

 

  Memorial Services, weekdays,

    Quinquagesima Sunday, and Lent

1

  Others (including the Court Sermon)

2 or 4

  Certain special days, as determined by the

    Vice-Chancellor and published in the University Gazette:

 

      Higher Doctors

7

      D.Phil.s

6

Congregation, Ancient House of: see 'Degree Ceremonies'

 

Congregation:

 

  Debates

1

  Orations and Admissions: see 'Vice-Chancellor',

    'Proctors and Assessor'

 

Degree Ceremonies:

 

  Candidates after admission to higher doctorate

6

  Candidates after admission to D.Phil.

6

  Deans presenting

4

  Observers

2

Dinner in colleges (according to status and convention)

1 (generally)

Dinner with Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor present

1 (or as decreed

by him or her)

Encaenia:

 

  Higher Doctors

7

  D.Phil.s

6

Examinations

3

Garden Parties

2 or 5

Lectures, major public:

 

  Lecturer

2 or 5

  Others

1

Meetings chaired by Vice-Chancellor

1 (otherwise at the

discretion of the

Chairman)

Proctors and Assessor, Admission of:

 

  Proctors and Assessor (outgoing and new)

(as prescribed)4

  Heads of houses presenting

4

  Pro-Proctors

4 or MA (4)

  Others

2 or 4

Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and Clerks

  of the Market, Admission of:

 

    Above officers

4

    Others

2 or 4

'Vice-Chancellor will be present'

1


3 Women members of the University attending university ceremonies shall either carry a square, or wear a soft cap.

4 See regulation 7.9 of Congregation Regulations 3 of 2002.

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