Welcome to
GWC Regalia Hire

Changing the world by degrees

Profits from regalia hire fund our scholarships and awards

Hire your regalia here

How to hire

5 easy steps

Hire your regalia here

Our affiliated institutions

How to dress in your regalia

Universities

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Ara

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Some frequently asked questions

If you are graduating with Ara, UC or Lincoln and you have registered and are eligible to graduate, they will email you a link 4-6 weeks prior to the graduation. If you have not received it, please contact them, GWC Regalia Hire cannot send the link to you.
Do not order regalia for a formal graduation via our casual hire section on our website.

On the UC Dovedale Campus | Wairarapa Building. Go to car park 1 off Solway or Parkstone Ave. Follow the signs for Wairarapa Building and you will see our flag and signage along the path/drive.

We are open from 9.30am – 2.30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays but extend our hours during times of UC, Lincoln and Ara graduations for collecting and returning regalia hire. These hours are on your conformation order email. If you have not received one, your order was not submitted correctly.

Yes, you can have a friend or family member collect. You dont need to email to let us know.

Please ensure you have the following;

  1. Put the correct measurements on your order or give your full height in cms, and head circumference (measured above your ears in cms) to the person collecting.
  2. You have funds available on the card you ordered your regalia on so we can capture the security hold/bond. We cannot issue the regalia or take another form of payment for this hold.
  3. Understand that our regalia hire contract is with the person whose name is on the order and not the person collecting/returning on your behalf. You are responsible for any penalty incurred collection, return, damage, or loss.

We fit you on the day you you collect your regalia..

You can still order online however, you WILL pay the late fee.
The tertiary institutions do suggest you order your regalia at the same time you apply to graduate. If you are concerned you may not be eligible to graduate, we can always refund your money or transfer you to the next graduation.

We can give you a full refund if your payment was made within a 6 month timeframe or issue you a credit to use for another graduation or a casual hire.

The hood is the fabric that is draped over your shoulder to signify the degree colour you are graduating with. If graduating with a post graduate qualification, there are PG stoles for UC and PG hoods for LU.

Please take this as your overall height in cms. Our gowns are in certain height measurements and we will fit you to the closest size.

No, we provide regalia for everyone.

Graduate Women Canterbury. A registered charity providing academic regalia hire since 1935 donating profits back to education.

Take a look at the hood lining and/or stole colour specifications for your institution here:

University of Canterbury

Lincoln University

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Who we are

GWC is a non-profit organisation who have been providing the service of hiring high-quality academic regalia to students and staff for tertiary graduations, school prize giving’s and for casual hire within the Canterbury region since 1935.

Profits from this service go towards providing scholarships and prizes for students of UC, Lincoln University and Ara Institute of Canterbury.

This means when you hire your academic regalia from us you are giving back to fellow students!

Our vision is to further education and equality.

Our pioneering and dedicated volunteer group of ‘women power’ helps to keep the costs low enabling us to increase our scholarship funding.

Interested in volunteering?

We welcome extra help, especially at graduation times. If you are interested in helping, please apply using the form link below or come visit us during our open hours.

Your contribution allows us to support our student scholarship programme.

Apply here

Watch our video to see our volunteers in action!

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Get in touch

    GWC Regalia Hire
    UC Dovedale Campus
    Wairarapa Building
    Block ED15

    Ilam
    Christchurch 8041

    EXCEPT FOR GRADUATION WEEK WHERE WE OPEN EXTENDED HOURS