London: Cambridge University will allow female Muslim students to wear burqas at graduation ceremonies, it has emerged.
By tradition, students are required to wear dark suits and white shirts under their graduation gowns.
Cambridge has clamped down on breaches of the rules after officials complained students were increasingly wearing casual clothes to ceremonies.
They warned the code "is strictly enforced at ceremonies, and if you do not observe it, you may not be permitted to graduate on a particular occasion". Last week it clarified that clothing linked to religious observance, such as burqas, would still be allowed.
Scottish students who want to wear kilts instead of the regulation dark suits and white bow-ties have already challenged the rules. After an outcry, the university said the wearing of kilts, saris and kimonos would be allowed at the discretion of individual colleges.
On Saturday, it said burqas could also be worn under mortar boards to graduation ceremonies, as well as during tutorials and lectures.
Membership of Cambridge's Islamic Society suggests it has around 600 Muslim students. A university spokesman said: "Religious dress and cultural observations are allowed at graduation.
"If a student has a religious or cultural obligation to wear something then we absolutely respect that."
The news follows a row last week after Burnley College in Lancashire asked a student to remove her burqa as she enrolled for a course.
Shawana Bilqes, 18, wanted to wear the garment, which leaves only her eyes and hands visible, during lessons.
