Academic dress and photography
Graduation
Your academic dress may vary depending on what type of ceremony you have chosen to attend.
Academic dress
For the virtual graduation you may wish to wear traditional academic dress (gown, cap and hood).
For the in person ceremonies traditional academic dress is a requirement of attendance.
Booking academic dress
Our official gowning company is Graduation Attire. We’ll email you a link when bookings are open. The gowning company has an in-depth knowledge of the University’s academic attire requirements and will provide you with the correct gown and hood based on the award you are due to receive.
You must hire or purchase academic dress in advance through Graduation Attire.
Booking deadlines
- For ceremonies in May 2021 the deadline for booking your academic dress is 3 May 2021.
- For ceremonies in July 2021 the deadline for booking your academic dress is 18 June 2021.
Buying academic dress (optional)
You can also buy University of Portsmouth gowns, hoods and hats from Graduation Attire in advance via their website or on the day of your ceremony.
What to wear with academic dress
We recommend you wear clothing that accentuates the traditional gown.
Suit jackets help to puff out the shoulders, giving the hood more security. Shirts with visible top buttons are recommended, as they attach to the hood via a loop, anchoring the hood and preventing it from slipping back. Low-cut tops provide less security for the hood.
Academic dress will be delivered to you in advance of the ceremony and we will provide a link to show you how to put it on properly. There will be staff from Graduation Attire on campus during the in person ceremonies to provide advice. A returns point will be available on campus for you to drop your academic dress off after the ceremony or if you wish to keep it for a slightly longer period you can return it in the bag provided using the returns label.
Photography
All official photography is undertaken by our official supplier, Marston Photography.
Booking photography
When bookings are open, we'll email you the link to the Marston Photography website.
You need to book your photography time slot in advance. This will save you time and money on the day. It may not be possible to just turn up depending on the restrictions in place at the time. For on the day bookings, a £10 studio session fee will apply.
July 2022 Alumni 30th anniversary weekend
We plan to have our gowning and photography suppliers present at the alumni 30th anniversary weekend in July 2022. This will give you the opportunity to hire academic dress and have professional photography with your family and friends. More information will be provided on this as the event approaches.
