Graduate ceremony etiquette
A doctoral ceremony at a university comes with a dress code, which differs for the doctoral candidate and paranymphs compared to the promotion committee. Within the promotion committee, there are different rules for professors and non-professors. GENTS explains below which dress code belongs to which university.
GENTS offers the tailcoat, most worn by doctoral candidates and paranymphs, at an attractive price and with matching accessories.
Groningen
During the doctoral ceremony, the chairperson, the promoter(s), the members, and the guests of the Promotion Committee wear the protocol-prescribed clothing: - Professors: gown and cap, with ladies wearing sober clothing and black shoes, and gentlemen: dark suit, white shirt, and sober tie, black shoes - Other committee members: ladies: sober clothing and black shoes gentlemen: dark suit, white shirt, and sober tie, black shoes - External professors are invited to wear their own gown and cap. The university also provides a limited number of gowns and caps for professors. - Doctoral candidates and the two paranymphs also wear appropriate festive attire. For gentlemen, preferably a tailcoat with white vest and white bow tie, and for ladies clothing in subdued colors, long is not mandatory.
Leiden
Doctoral candidates are accompanied by 2 paranymphs. Doctoral candidates and paranymphs are dressed in tailcoat with black vest, white bow tie, and black socks.
Utrecht
The clothing must be in accordance with the value that Utrecht University attaches to the promotion ceremony. For the doctoral candidate and the male paranymphs a dark suit with tie or tailcoat suit, for the female doctoral candidate and the female paranymphs a skirt suit, a festive dress, or the equivalent of the tailcoat suit.
Wageningen
The following dress codes apply during the defense for the doctoral candidate, paranymphs and members of the promotion committee: - Doctoral candidate(s) and paranymphs: Appropriate clothing, preferably (tail) suit with matching shoes and socks (men) and formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women). - Promotion committee: - Professors: gown and cap and a dark suit with black shoes and black socks and trousers (men) and formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women). - Non-professors: preferably tailcoat suit or tenue de ville in subdued colors with black shoes and black socks (men) or formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women).
Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit (VU)
The doctoral candidate and male paranymphs: a tailcoat suit with black vest and white bow tie, black shoes and black socksĀ
The female doctoral candidate and female paranymphs: festive clothing (for example tailcoat suit or corresponding clothing)
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
The UvA does not have strict dress codes, but if you still want to dress according to the usual ritual, then for gentlemen (and possibly also ladies) including the paranymphs: a tailcoat suit with white vest and white bow tie. The unwritten rule is: solemn, but not too informal.
Rotterdam
Doctoral candidate: tailcoat suit with white vest and white bow tie, black shoes and black socks; Female doctoral candidate: festive clothing corresponding to the nature of the ceremony; Male paranymphs: like the doctoral candidate; Female paranymphs: like the female doctoral candidate.
Maastricht
The doctoral candidate(s) and paranymphs dress in appropriate clothing, for gentlemen preferably tailcoat suit, for ladies tenue de ville or otherwise appropriate clothing.
Tilburg
The clothing advice for the doctoral candidate and paranymphs is appropriate festive clothing. For gentlemen preferably a tailcoat suit consisting of tailcoat, white vest, white bow tie or clothing adapted to the occasion. For ladies a skirt suit or clothing adapted to the occasion.
Enschede
It is expected that the clothing of the doctoral candidate and any paranymphs is in accordance with the value the University attaches to this ceremony. The doctoral candidate therefore wears a (tail) suit, the possible paranymphs wear a jacquet or suit. For female doctoral candidates, appropriate clothing in shades of gray/black/blue applies. Foreign doctoral candidates may wear appropriate traditional clothing from their country of origin during the defense.
Delft
During the promotion session, the following protocol-prescribed clothing is worn by the chairperson, the promoter, and the other members of the committee, as well as by the doctoral candidate and his/her possible paranymph(s): a. Professors wear the protocol clothing belonging to the academic tradition regarding promotions of the institution to which they belong or make use of a gown with accessories from TU Delft. Underneath, one wears a white shirt with gray tie, white blouse or white jabot, and dark trousers or skirt and black shoes. b. Delft professors wear a gown and beret and a sash over their gown; the chairperson of the promotion committee also wears the chain of office of the Rector Magnificus. c. Other committee members wear a black tailcoat with white shirt, gray vest and gray tie OR a black, dark gray or dark blue dress or skirt with a matching or white blouse and black shoes. d. The doctoral candidate and paranymphs wear a black tailcoat suit with white vest, white bow tie and black shoes or a black, dark gray or dark blue dress or skirt, at least knee-length, with a matching or white blouse and black shoes. e. The beadle wears a gown with sash and beret, beadle's staff and underneath black shoes, a dark suit, white shirt, gray tie or correspondingly appropriate clothing.
Eindhoven
Professors:
ladies: gown, beret, white blouse, dark suit, black stockings
gentlemen: gown, beret, dark suit, white shirt, gray tie, black shoes
Non-professors:
ladies: dark suit, white blouse
gentlemen: dark suit or tailcoat, white shirt
beadle: gown, beret, gray tie
Doctoral candidate and paranymphs:
ladies: dark suit, white blouse
gentlemen: tailcoat suit
N.B. For all participants coming from abroad, clothing that would be worn on a similar occasion in their own country is also allowed at a promotion at Delft University.
Nijmegen
At promotion sessions at Radboud University Nijmegen, the following dress codes apply:
For the members of the promotion committee:
- professors in gown
- non-professors: clothing in accordance with academic dress and as much as possible matching black and white.
For the doctoral candidate and paranymphs:
- man: tailcoat suit or clothing adapted to the occasion
- woman: coat suit or clothing adapted to the occasion
GENTS offers the tailcoat, most worn by doctoral candidates and paranymphs, at an attractive price and with matching accessories.
Groningen
During the doctoral ceremony, the chairperson, the promoter(s), the members, and the guests of the Promotion Committee wear the protocol-prescribed clothing: - Professors: gown and cap, with ladies wearing sober clothing and black shoes, and gentlemen: dark suit, white shirt, and sober tie, black shoes - Other committee members: ladies: sober clothing and black shoes gentlemen: dark suit, white shirt, and sober tie, black shoes - External professors are invited to wear their own gown and cap. The university also provides a limited number of gowns and caps for professors. - Doctoral candidates and the two paranymphs also wear appropriate festive attire. For gentlemen, preferably a tailcoat with white vest and white bow tie, and for ladies clothing in subdued colors, long is not mandatory.
Leiden
Doctoral candidates are accompanied by 2 paranymphs. Doctoral candidates and paranymphs are dressed in tailcoat with black vest, white bow tie, and black socks.
Utrecht
The clothing must be in accordance with the value that Utrecht University attaches to the promotion ceremony. For the doctoral candidate and the male paranymphs a dark suit with tie or tailcoat suit, for the female doctoral candidate and the female paranymphs a skirt suit, a festive dress, or the equivalent of the tailcoat suit.
Wageningen
The following dress codes apply during the defense for the doctoral candidate, paranymphs and members of the promotion committee: - Doctoral candidate(s) and paranymphs: Appropriate clothing, preferably (tail) suit with matching shoes and socks (men) and formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women). - Promotion committee: - Professors: gown and cap and a dark suit with black shoes and black socks and trousers (men) and formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women). - Non-professors: preferably tailcoat suit or tenue de ville in subdued colors with black shoes and black socks (men) or formal festive clothing in subdued colors (women).
Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit (VU)
The doctoral candidate and male paranymphs: a tailcoat suit with black vest and white bow tie, black shoes and black socksĀ
The female doctoral candidate and female paranymphs: festive clothing (for example tailcoat suit or corresponding clothing)
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
The UvA does not have strict dress codes, but if you still want to dress according to the usual ritual, then for gentlemen (and possibly also ladies) including the paranymphs: a tailcoat suit with white vest and white bow tie. The unwritten rule is: solemn, but not too informal.
Rotterdam
Doctoral candidate: tailcoat suit with white vest and white bow tie, black shoes and black socks; Female doctoral candidate: festive clothing corresponding to the nature of the ceremony; Male paranymphs: like the doctoral candidate; Female paranymphs: like the female doctoral candidate.
Maastricht
The doctoral candidate(s) and paranymphs dress in appropriate clothing, for gentlemen preferably tailcoat suit, for ladies tenue de ville or otherwise appropriate clothing.
Tilburg
The clothing advice for the doctoral candidate and paranymphs is appropriate festive clothing. For gentlemen preferably a tailcoat suit consisting of tailcoat, white vest, white bow tie or clothing adapted to the occasion. For ladies a skirt suit or clothing adapted to the occasion.
Enschede
It is expected that the clothing of the doctoral candidate and any paranymphs is in accordance with the value the University attaches to this ceremony. The doctoral candidate therefore wears a (tail) suit, the possible paranymphs wear a jacquet or suit. For female doctoral candidates, appropriate clothing in shades of gray/black/blue applies. Foreign doctoral candidates may wear appropriate traditional clothing from their country of origin during the defense.
Delft
During the promotion session, the following protocol-prescribed clothing is worn by the chairperson, the promoter, and the other members of the committee, as well as by the doctoral candidate and his/her possible paranymph(s): a. Professors wear the protocol clothing belonging to the academic tradition regarding promotions of the institution to which they belong or make use of a gown with accessories from TU Delft. Underneath, one wears a white shirt with gray tie, white blouse or white jabot, and dark trousers or skirt and black shoes. b. Delft professors wear a gown and beret and a sash over their gown; the chairperson of the promotion committee also wears the chain of office of the Rector Magnificus. c. Other committee members wear a black tailcoat with white shirt, gray vest and gray tie OR a black, dark gray or dark blue dress or skirt with a matching or white blouse and black shoes. d. The doctoral candidate and paranymphs wear a black tailcoat suit with white vest, white bow tie and black shoes or a black, dark gray or dark blue dress or skirt, at least knee-length, with a matching or white blouse and black shoes. e. The beadle wears a gown with sash and beret, beadle's staff and underneath black shoes, a dark suit, white shirt, gray tie or correspondingly appropriate clothing.
Eindhoven
Professors:
ladies: gown, beret, white blouse, dark suit, black stockings
gentlemen: gown, beret, dark suit, white shirt, gray tie, black shoes
Non-professors:
ladies: dark suit, white blouse
gentlemen: dark suit or tailcoat, white shirt
beadle: gown, beret, gray tie
Doctoral candidate and paranymphs:
ladies: dark suit, white blouse
gentlemen: tailcoat suit
N.B. For all participants coming from abroad, clothing that would be worn on a similar occasion in their own country is also allowed at a promotion at Delft University.
Nijmegen
At promotion sessions at Radboud University Nijmegen, the following dress codes apply:
For the members of the promotion committee:
- professors in gown
- non-professors: clothing in accordance with academic dress and as much as possible matching black and white.
For the doctoral candidate and paranymphs:
- man: tailcoat suit or clothing adapted to the occasion
- woman: coat suit or clothing adapted to the occasion