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.
Showing posts with label Burgundy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Burgundy. Show all posts

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:



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:



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:



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.)

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:


King's College London

 While King's College London is a member institute of the federal University of London, it has a number of scarves so for simplicity has been included outside of the University of London section.

The current King's College London scarf is black with a large central red stripe (similar to the central red stripe on the University of London scarf), and with two thinner white stripes on either side. It can be purchased from the KCL Students' Union, from Ryder & Amis, or from Oxfox. There is also a variant where the black has been replaced with navy, available from the KCL Students' Union.

King's College London Scarf:


King's College London Old Scarf:


King's College London includes a number of other amalgamated institutions. Guy's Medical School has a black scarf with three orange stripes, and the St. Thomas's Medical School is navy, burgundy, and white. Both are only available from Oxfox.

Guy's Hospital Medical School Scarf:

St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School Scarf: