Commencement: Regalia
Academic Regalia
Cap and Gown Information
Academic regalia is required for degree candidates at Commencement and Convocation ceremonies. All candidates who do not possess regalia must obtain their regalia from the B&N UD Bookstore.
If you are financially limited, the Office of Sustainability has a limited number of donated and cleaned gowns from previous years available to borrow for free. For additional information, please visit their website.
Associate, Bachelor, and Master Candidates
The B&N UD Bookstore is the only approved vendor for the University of Delaware Commencement items, including official University regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and tassel) from Oak Hall. This exclusively ensures that regalia worn at graduation will be uniform and is required.
If you have ordered regalia online, you can come into the B&N UD Bookstore Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday noon-6pm to pick up your order.
If you did not order online, you need to come into the B&N UD Bookstore during normal business hours (see above) to purchase regalia.
If you are not local and need your regalia shipped, please call 302-831-2424. The fee for shipping is $7.99. The Bookstore is unable to ship internationally.
If you are looking to buy separate pieces (just a tassel, just a hood, just a gown, just a cap), you can do so by coming into the B&N UD Bookstore.
If you are a student graduating with a double major, please come into the Bookstore and the Bookstore staff will help determine what color hoods you need. Depending on your two majors, a second color hood might be needed.
Renting associate, bachelor, or master regalia is not an option. All regalia for associate, bachelor, and master candidates is keeper regalia.
The University of Delaware does not participate in the distribution of Honor Cords.
Doctoral Candidates
To participate in the Hooding Ceremony, doctoral candidates must rent their cap, gown, and hood. The deadline for ordering PhD rental regalia was April 8th, 2024 to ensure delivery by the Hooding Ceremony. If you have missed this deadline, please email Lindsey Collings at lkillmey@udel.edu. Doctoral rental regalia will be available for pick up starting May 15th.
Diploma Frames
Diploma frames can be ordered by using this link: All Diploma Frames - All Diploma Frames - Gifts & Accessories | University of Delaware Official Bookstore (bncollege.com)
Graduation Announcements and Rings
Balfour is the University of Delaware’s official graduation retailer for announcements and rings. You can order custom announcements and rings using this link: https://www.balfour.com/udel Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of announcements and 8 weeks for delivery of rings.
Faculty Rentals
If you need a faculty rental, please email Lindsey Collings at lkillmey@udel.edu. Faculty rental orders were due April 8th, 2024.
How to Wear Your Graduation Hood and Cap
The Graduation hood depends on your major and degree. The pictures below are for a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. Your regalia may be a different color or style, but the instructions for wearing the hood are the same.
- Place the hood around your neck and shoulders so that the major portion hangs down your back and the velvet border is up.
- If possible, fasten the cord on the front of the hood to your shirt or dress to help keep the hood away from your neck.
- Looking from the front, the velvet border should be on the top.
- Looking from the back, the satin lining of the hood should be exposed by rolling the velvet border back. The tip (or tail) should be pointing away from you.
- Caps are to be worn squarely on top of the head with tassel:
- Right side for bachelors’ and associates’ degree candidates, after degrees are conferred, move the tassel to the left side.
- Left side for doctoral and masters’ degree candidates.
