Gown hire and photography for your graduation

Our graduation ceremonies are formal occasions, and you are required to wear the LJMU academic dress with suitable formal clothing.

You must order a gown when you register

Ede and Ravenscroft are the official gown suppliers for the university. You will need to order a gown with them when you register for your graduation.

Steps for ordering your gown and photography

Spring Graduation – Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 March 2027
You must order both your gown and photography before midnight on Monday 1 March 2027.

Summer Graduation – Monday 12 to Friday 16 July 2027
You must order both your gown and photography before midnight on Friday 2 July 2027.

  1. Register to attend your ceremony.
  2. Order your gown hire and book your photography session with Ede and Ravenscroft.

Gown hire

It is very important that you order your gown before the registration and ordering period closes.

If you do not preorder, there will be limited opportunities to hire a gown on the day, and we cannot guarantee availability.

Please make sure your hat measurement is correct when you order, because you will not have an opportunity to exchange on the day. See the guidance of how to measure your head. We strongly recommend you bring your own hair grips to secure your hat in place.

Gowns for wheelchair users

If you use a wheelchair, please let Ede and Ravenscroft know when you order your gown so they can provide one that fits correctly. These gowns are only available if requested in advance.

Not wearing your graduation gown

If you arrive at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral without a gown, LJMU reserves the right to not allow you to take part in the ceremony.

Photography

Official photography takes place at the same location as gown collection.

We strongly recommend you pre-book your photography to avoid the payment queue. You will still need to queue for your photography session because time slots cannot be booked.

Gowning and photography on the day

Gowning and photography for our ceremonies will take place at LJMU Sport Building, 85 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5AJ.

Allow at least one hour for gowning and photography.

See the Getting to the graduation ceremonies page for details about transport and parking.

Gown return on the day

After the ceremony, please return gowns and hoods to the Gown Return room next to the Reception in the LJMU Sport Building.

LJMU Sport Building opening times

Spring graduation – Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 March 2027

Wednesday 10 March: 7.45am to 7pm
Thursday 11 March: 7.45am to 7pm
Friday 12 March: 7.45am to 7pm

Summer graduation – Monday 12 to Friday 16 July 2027

Monday 12 July: 7.45am to 7pm
Tuesday 13 July: 7.45am to 7pm
Wednesday 14 July: 7.45am to 7pm
Thursday 15 July: 7.45am to 7pm
Friday 16 July: 7.45am to 7pm

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your gown and photography before your ceremony, you must contact Ede and Ravenscroft through their contact form to request a full refund for your gowning and photography booking.

Gown and photography queries

If you have any queries about gown hire or photography, please contact Ede and Ravenscroft.

Please note:
Ede and Ravenscroft are an independent supplier of gown hire and photography services for LJMU graduation ceremonies.
All transactions and queries should be directed to Ede and Ravenscroft. LJMU are not able to respond on their behalf.

Our gowns

  • LJMU mortar boards are dark blue.
  • The Certificate of Higher Education gowns are dark blue, with a grey silk hood embossed with the university coat of arms.
  • The Diploma of Higher Education gowns are dark blue, with a grey silk hood embossed with the university coat of arms.
  • The Undergraduate gowns are dark blue, with a grey silk hood embossed with the university coat of arms.
  • The Masters gowns are dark blue with a border hem in grey silk embossed with the university coat of arms. The Masters hoods are lined in grey silk embossed with the university coat of arms.
  • PhD robes are scarlet with a border hem in dark blue silk embossed with the university coat of arms, and the velvet dark blue cap has a scarlet red cord.

  • Bachelor's degree

  • Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND)

  • Foundation degree (FDeg)

  • Postgraduate certificate (PGCert) and postgraduate diploma (PGDip)

  • Masters and MPhil

  • PhD

  • Doctorate

Souvenirs

You will be able to buy LJMU merchandise at the LJMU Sport Building on the day.

The LJMU Alumni Shop has a wider choice of merchandise and you can order form their website at any time. You can choose for your order to be delivered to your home or collected at the LJMU Sport Building on the day.

Your Alumni Network

LJMU Connect is our online graduate community that connects you with fellow graduates and helps you to stay in touch.

The community provides opportunities for alumni to employ and act as a mentor to our graduating students, as well as providing the chance to expand your professional networks.

Please make sure that you have activated your account on LJMU Connect.