Introduction to the Academic Scarf Registry

The academic scarf traces its roots to the boat clubs of Victorian Oxford and Cambridge. These scarves were initially knitted with horizontal stripes, however the austerity of the second world war led to cheaper production methods where strips of coloured cloth were sewn together, creating the iconic vertical stripes of the modern-day academic scarf. While brightly coloured scarves are not as common a campus feature at British universities today, many universities and colleges still produce scarves. For a full list of institutions head to the page footer.

Wednesday 17 May 2023

University of the Arts, London

The University of the Arts, London, promisingly has a whole section for scarves in its online shop, however none of these are its actual academic scarf, which is navy with two wide grey stripes. Neither colour is prominent on the university's coat of arms.

University of the Arts, London



Friday 12 May 2023

The University of Westminster

The University of Westminster's scarf is a bold pink (technically fuchsia) with blue stripes. The scarf does not seem to be for sale anywhere online, however may be available on campus from the Students' Union's Cavendish Shop.

University of Westminster Scarf:



The University of Salford

The University of Salford's asymmetrical scarf, as sold by Ede & Ravenscroft, is in the university's old livery colours of navy, gold, and white, not the red and black of its new coat of arms, granted in 2017. The university also rows in its old colours. Wikipedia gives a different scarf, which would seem to be closer to the new colours, however the reference returns to the Ede & Ravenscroft page.

University of Salford Scarf:



Thursday 11 May 2023

The University of St. Andrew's

Scotland's oldest university is not generally described as collegiate, however its faculties are organised into three colleges, with another (New College) set to open soon. All of these colleges have scarves, as does the university itself and the Bute Medical School. All save the St. Leonard's College scarf are available from the university's online store; the university scarf is also available from Ede & Ravenscroft and from the Students' Union (naturally all at different prices), and what appears to be the St. Leonard's College scarf is sold by A.E. Clothing. The two graduate college scarves are very similar in design which may explain why only one is sold (as a general graduate scarf) on the university's website.

University of St. Andrew's (Undergraduate) Scarf:

St. Mary's College (Divinity) Scarf:

The United College (Graduate) Scarf:

St. Leonard's College (Postgraduate) Scarf:

Bute Medical School Scarf:



The University of Roehampton

The University of Roehampton is the most recently established collegiate university, with its colleges significantly older than the university itself. The colleges each had scarves dating back to the 1940s, which were all revived in 2013 by Roehampton University historian Gilly King. This page implies that they are available from the university's online store, however seems to be the only image of them online. There is no scarf of the University of Roehampton as a whole.

Digby Stuart College Scarf:

Froebel College Scarf:

Southlands College Scarf:

Whitelands College Scarf:



Imperial College London

Imperial College London has a number of member institutions, and so has five different scarves. The Students' Union sells a rather disappointing and incorrect scarf, however the correct scarf with its bewildering array of six colours is available from Ryder & Amies. The other scarves unfortunately do not seem to be available.

Imperial College London Scarf:

Imperial College London School of Medicine Scarf:


City & Guilds College Scarf:

Royal School of Mines Scarf:

Royal College of Science Scarf:



York St. John University

York St. John University has a scarf without stripes, entirely navy on one side and entirely light blue on the other. The scarf is sold by Ede & Ravenscroft.

York St. John University Scarf: