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:



The University of Winchester

The University of Winchester started out as King Alfred's College, which had its own scarf in black, red, and gold - the livery colours of the college's coat of arms. The old King Alfred's College scarf is available from Ryder & Amis. The university today retains the same coat of arms but has changed branding (and so scarf) colours to navy, with purple and gold stripes. While an image of this scarf appears on the university's Facebook page, it is not on the linked shop.

University of Winchester Scarf:


King Alfred's College Scarf:



Richmond, The American International University in London

Of the six private universities in the United Kingdom, Richmond, The American International University in London is the only one to have adopted an academic scarf. There seems to only be one image of it and a link to a website selling it which didn't load.

Richmond, The American International University in London Scarf:



Wednesday 10 May 2023

The Royal Agricultural University

The scarf of the Royal Agricultural University is a tricolour of burgundy, gold, and black. It can be purchased from the university's online shop.

Royal Agricultural University Scarf:



Edge Hill University

Officially the colours of Edge Hill University are green, gold, and heliotrope. As with the scarves of other institutions founded for women the colours are taken from those used by the suffragettes - in this case only the purple and green. Edge Hill University scarves are available from the Students' Union.

Edge Hill University Scarf:



The University of Chester

The scarf of the University of Chester is, according to Ede & Ravenscroft, a new design in traditional colours. It is black with a bold asymmetrical design, allowing space for an embroidered coat of arms on the right.





University of Chester Scarf:




Bishop Grosseteste University

Bishop Grosseteste University has a curiously single-colour scarf, entirely in purple. It is available from Ede & Ravenscroft.

Bishop Grosseteste University



The University of Dundee

Ede & Ravenscroft sells three different scarves from the University of Dundee, two for faculties (Education and Arts/Social Sciences) and one for the university. Compared to other universities - particularly in Scotland - where every faculty is graced with a scarf this appears somewhat lacking.

University of Dundee Scarf:

University of Dundee Education and Social Work Scarf:

(Note: the gold/yellow stripes on the Education and Social Work scarf could be more of a beige.)

University of Dundee Arts and Social Sciences Scarf:



The University of Stirling

If ever one required a university scarf that could blend into the Scottish countryside then that of the University of Stirling, in green with two grey stripes, would probably be your best bet. This scarf can be purchased from the University of Stirling Students' Union.

University of Stirling Scarf:


The University of Glasgow

A trait shared between Scotland's ancient universities (see Edinburgh) seems to be differentiating university scarves by discipline studied. According to this university run site, the University of Glasgow has twelve scarves (though I can only identify eleven), ten of which represent faculties or subjects of the university, one of which is a general university scarf and one of which is a graduate scarf. These scarves are only available in person from the University of Glasgow gift shops. Unlike the University of Edinburgh, the Glasgow scarves do not follow any particular pattern.

University of Glasgow Scarf:


University of Glasgow Arts Scarf:

University of Glasgow Dentistry Scarf:

University of Glasgow Divinity Scarf:

University of Glasgow Engineering Scarf:

University of Glasgow Law Scarf:

University of Glasgow Medicine Scarf:

University of Glasgow Nursing Scarf:

University of Glasgow Science Scarf:

University of Glasgow Social Sciences Scarf:

University of Glasgow Veterinary Medicine Scarf:


(Note: the Veterinary Medicine scarf should be closer to beige than the gold/yellow which appears in this representation.)

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University has a scarf in a pleasantly simple navy with double blue stripes on either side, compared to a rather complicated coat of arms of the sort institutions in Glasgow seem to be afflicted by. The scarf is available from Ede & Ravenscroft.

Glasgow Caledonian University Scarf:


The University of Aberdeen

The blue scarf of the University of Aberdeen features three yellow stripes with white piping, and can be purchased through the university's online shop. Like other Scottish universities, Aberdeen also has tartan scarves.

University of Aberdeen Scarf



The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh has a wide selection of different academic scarves, largely sorted by department of the university. It also has scarves in university tartan. All Edinburgh scarves (curiously save the university scarf itself) are available from the university's online shop. University of Edinburgh scarves all follow a largely similar pattern of a black background with a wide central stripe, some of which are piped. Interestingly Edinburgh scarves are on the most part for graduates, though there is a university scarf as well.

University of Edinburgh Scarf:


Edinburgh Batchelor of Arts Scarf:

Edinburgh Batchelor of Engineering Scarf:

Edinburgh Batchelor of Medical Science Scarf:

Edinburgh Batchelor of Laws Scarf:

Edinburgh Batchelor of Science Scarf:


Edinburgh Batchelor of Medicine and Surgery Scarf:

Edinburgh Batchelor of Veterinary Science Scarf:

Edinburgh Master of Engineering Scarf:


Edinburgh Master of Laws Scarf:

Edinburgh Master of Education Scarf:

Edinburgh Doctor of Philosophy Scarf: