Academic Colour Guide

Our range of coloured pieces – from cap and gown, through the tassel and the sash to the velvet facing on doctoral gowns – has its origins in the North American market. There they were defined by the „Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume“. They were later consolidated by the „American Council on Education“ in the „Academic Costume Code“.

The colours are not assigned strictly to a single course of study; what matters is the closest possible match to one of the defined colours for each faculty. Bachelor’s and master’s gowns carry no facing, while doctoral gowns feature velvet facing (revers, sleeves and chevrons on the arm) in the corresponding colour.