The wearing of academic costume is a tradition that has persisted from the Middle Ages, when the first Universities were founded. The regalia vary slightly from one University to another, and within a University, according to the status of the wearer. At the University of British Columbia, the undergraduate's and Master's gown are black.
For a unique look at UBC's academic regalia, see Fashionable Congregation Wear (UBC Reports, May 8, 2003).
Doctoral Degrees
Graduate Degrees
Undergraduate Degrees
Degree |
Name |
Colours |
Ph.D. |
Doctor of Philosophy |
Gown - Maroon with front panel & sleeves of university blue with gold piping |
Ed.D. |
Doctor of Education |
Gown - Black with front panel and sleeves of university blue with gold piping |
Pharm.D. |
Doctor of Pharmacy |
Gown - Black with front panel and sleeves of olive green with gold piping |
D.M.A. |
Doctor of Musical Arts |
Gown - Black with front panel and sleeves of university blue with gold piping |
Degree |
Name |
Colours |
M.A.S.A. |
Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture |
Fully lined scarlet with white and grey cord |
M.A.S.L.A. |
Master of Advanced Studies in Landscape Architecture |
Fully lined maize with scarlet cord |
M.A.Sc. |
Master of Applied Science |
Fully lined scarlet |
M.Arch. |
Master of Architecture |
Fully lined scarlet with white cord |
M.A.S. |
Master of Archival Studies |
Fully lined university blue with silver and yellow cord |
M.A.S./M.L.I.S |
Master of Archival and Library Information Studies |
Fully lined yellow with blue and silver cord |
M.A. |
Master of Arts |
Fully lined university blue |
M.A.(A.P.P.S.) |
Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies |
Fully lined university blue |
M.A.(Child.) |
Master of Arts in Children's Literature |
Fully lined university blue with yellow cord |
M.A.(Plan.) |
Master of Arts in Planning |
Fully lined university blue with green and grey cord |
M.B.A. |
Master of Business Administration |
Fully lined grey with black and grey cord |
E.M.B.A. |
Executive Master of Business Administration |
Fully lined grey with black and grey cord |
I.M.B.A. |
International Master of Business Administration |
Fully lined grey with red cord |
M.Ed. |
Master of Education |
Fully lined white with university blue cord |
M.E.T. |
Master of Educational Technology |
Fully lined white with university blue and yellow cord |
M.Eng. |
Master of Engineering |
Fully lined scarlet with dark blue cord |
M.F.A. |
Master of Fine Arts |
Fully lined university blue with magenta cord |
M.F.S. |
Master of Food Science |
Fully lined maize with gold and red cord |
M.F. |
Master of Forestry |
Fully lined brown with green cord |
M.H.A. |
Master of Health Administration |
Fully lined scarlet with blue cord |
M.H.Sc. |
Master of Health Science |
Fully lined scarlet with grey cord |
M.H.K. |
Master of Human Kinetics |
Fully lined malachite green |
M.J. |
Master of Journalism |
Fully lined university blue with black and white cord |
M.L.A. |
Master of Landscape Architecture |
Fully lined maize with scarlet cord |
L.L.M. |
Master of Laws |
Fully lined amethyst violet |
L.L.M.(C.L.) |
Master of Laws (Common Law) |
Fully lined amethyst violet with white cord |
M.L.I.S. |
Master of Library Information Studies |
Fully lined cadium yellow |
M.M. |
Master of Management |
Fully lined grey with black and gold cord |
M.Mus. |
Master of Music |
Fully lined university blue with light pink cord |
M.N.(N.P.) |
Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner |
Fully lined scarlet with blue and white cord |
M.O.T. |
Master of Occupational Therapy |
Fully lined royal blue with scarlet and white cord |
M.P.T. |
Master of Physical Therapy |
Fully lined royal blue with scarlet and white cord |
M.P.H. |
Master of Public Health |
Fully lined scarlet with blue cord |
M.R.Sc. |
Master of Rehabilitation Science |
Fully lined royal blue with scarlet and white cord |
M.Sc. |
Master of Science |
Fully lined light blue |
M.Sc.(Bus.) |
Master of Science in Business Administration |
Fully lined grey with black and grey cord on light blue |
M.S.N. |
Master of Science in Nursing |
Fully lined scarlet with blue and white cord |
M.Sc.(Plan.) |
Master of Science in Planning |
Fully lined university blue with dark green and white cord |
M.S.W. |
Master of Social Work |
Fully lined magenta |
M.S.S. |
Master of Software Systems |
Fully lined light blue with grey and green cord |
Degree |
Name |
Colours |
B.A.Sc. |
Bachelor of Applied Science |
Scarlet |
B.A. |
Bachelor of Arts |
University blue |
B.B.R.E. |
Bachelor of Business in Real Estate |
Light grey with black and red cord |
B.Com. |
Bachelor of Commerce |
Light grey with black and grey cord |
B.C.S. |
Bachelor of Computer Science |
Light blue with grey and green cord |
B.D.Sc. |
Bachelor of Dental Science |
White with lilac and red cord |
B.Ed. |
Bachelor of Education |
White with university blue cord |
B.En.D. |
Bachelor of Environmental Design |
Old Gold |
B.F.A. |
Bachelor of Fine Arts |
University blue with magenta cord |
B.H.E. |
Bachelor of Home Economics |
Turquoise |
B.H.K. |
Bachelor of Human Kinetics |
Malachite green |
L.L.B. |
Bachelor of Laws |
Amethyst violet |
J.D. |
Juris Doctor |
Amethyst violet |
B.M.L.Sc. |
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science |
White with scarlet and blue cord |
B.M.W. |
Bachelor of Midwifery |
Maroon with emerald green cord |
B.Mus. |
Bachelor of Music |
University blue with light pink cord |
B.Sc. |
Bachelor of Science |
Light blue |
B.Sc.(Agri.) |
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture |
Maize |
B.Sc.(Agro.) |
Bachelor of Science in Agroecology |
Maize with gold and green cord |
B.Sc.(F.N.H.) |
Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health |
Maize with gold and white cord |
B.Sc.(For.) |
Bachelor of Science in Forest Sciences |
Brown with light blue cord |
B.S.F. |
Bachelor of Science in Forestry |
Brown with green cord |
B.Sc.(G.R.S.) |
Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems |
Maize with gold and blue cord |
B.Sc.(N.R.C.) |
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation |
Brown with red cord |
B.S.N. |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
Scarlet with blue and white cord |
B.Sc.(Pharm.) |
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy |
Dark green with scarlet cord |
B.Sc.(W.P.P.) |
Bachelor of Science in Wood Products Processing |
Brown with yellow cord |
B.S.W. |
Bachelor of Social Work |
Magenta |
D.M.D. |
Doctor of Dental Medicine |
Lilac and red |
M.D. |
Doctor of Medicine |
Scarlet and royal blue |