Regalia
Regalia is required to participate in the hooding and/or main Commencement ceremony. The University's regalia ordering information will be provided here in the Winter Quarter 2025.
Regalia Package Types
- The rental regalia package meets the traditional requirements for doctoral regalia at Northwestern. However, the fabric is more lightweight than the finer-quality regalia. The rental regalia is intended for one-time use, has open sleeves, and has a removable tassel. It does not have embroidered school seals on the panels. It is sized generally according to the weight and height information you provide.
- The finer-quality academic regalia is intended for use for the duration of your academic career. It is made with higher-grade fabric that is dry clean only. It has bell sleeves and embroidered school seals on the panels. The tassel is sewn onto the tam. It is custom-made according to the measurements you provide.
- Graduates should allow eight to ten weeks for fine-quality regalia orders to arrive.
Gown
Please note: these details describe the finer-quality academic regalia package.
The gown body is purple with black velvet front panels softly curving around the neck and sweeping down the length of the gown. A special Northwestern University “1851” embroidered emblem is placed at chest level on each of the front panels. Each of the purple double bell sleeves has three black velvet sleeve chevrons. The gown has a pocket slit on the wearer’s right and a zipper closure.
Hood
The hood is standard doctoral style with a black shell, a velvet trim, and a purple satin lining with a gold satin chevron.
MFA graduates wear a brown hood while PHD graduates wear a dark blue hood.
Cap/Tam
MFA graduates wear a traditional cap while PhD graduates wear a tam.
The tam is a four-corner style cap in black velvet accented with a gold metallic tassel.
Hooding instructions
Faculty hooders may download this diagram with detailed hooding instructions.
Returning Regalia
- MFA graduates may keep their purchased regalia, which includes a cap, gown, tassel with signet, and hood.
- PhD graduates must return their rented regalia, which includes a tam, gown, tassel with signet, and hood. Rental regalia must be returned after the hooding ceremony or the main Commencement ceremony. All rental pieces must be returned except for the tassel.
- Faculty must return regalia rented by TGS before leaving the venue. The accompanying tams belong to TGS and will be dropped off in a separate receptacle nearby. If you wish to wear your rental regalia for post-ceremony photos, it must be returned before 5:00 PM when the venue closes.
Last Updated: October 30, 2024