Convocation attire

Convocation attire is what graduates wear during the graduation ceremony. NSCC provides gowns and stoles for all graduates. These are available in the gown room at your ceremony location. Be sure to arrive at least an hour before the ceremony begins to give yourself enough time to get ready.

Guidelines for all graduates

Convocation is a celebration of academic achievement. The event is approximately 2 hours in duration, and consists of processional, ceremony, moving between seating area to stage to collect credential, recessional, followed by a casual reception. Please choose personal attire worn under the NSCC-provided gown appropriate for the event. Graduates typically wear:

• Semi-formal dresses or suits
• Mi’kmaq/Indigenous regalia, ribbons skirts, medallions, beaded jewellery, etc. Read more about Decolonizing Convocation
• Clothing signifying and celebrating African Nova Scotian and African identity, e.g., Agbada, Dashiki, Boubou, Gele (headdress), etc.
• Semi-formal or formal traditional, culturally-specific clothing, e.g, Sari, vyshyvanka, abaya, etc.
• Cultural headwear, e.g., headwrap, hijab, yarmulke, etc.
• Please do not to wear clothing or attire items that poses a health, safety or security risk (e.g., ceremonial weapons). You will be asked remove these items prior to the commencement of the ceremony.
• Please do not bring signs or other accessories that detract from the integrity of the ceremony.

All graduates wear NSCC gowns, with the following optional exceptions approved by the Office of the Registrar:

• Mi’kmaq/Indigenous regalia instead of a gown
• Active military personnel may wear their dress uniform instead of a gown
• Clergy/members of religious orders may wear their religious apparel instead of a gown
• Any additional exceptions must be approved by the Office of the Registrar. Contact your campus Student Services team for more information

Celebrating NSCC communities

We welcome representation of Mi’kmaq and Indigenous, African Nova Scotian and Black and 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Convocation ceremonies through stoles, ceremony elements and gifts specific to these groups. Learn more about how we celebrate our communities at Convocation

Gowns and stoles

As part of your attire, you wear a black gown and an academic stole representing your program and credential.