Vice-Chancellor's Regulations 1 of 2002

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.