Graduation ribbon colours: choosing one for your laurel wreath
The ribbon on a laurel wreath is one of the most visible details at graduation. Red and burgundy are classic choices, but it is increasingly common to personalise a wreath with a colour linked to the degree course, the outfit or simply the graduate's taste.
When you search online for graduation colours by faculty, it is easy to find very different charts. The reason is simple: there is no single official colour scheme in Italy that applies to every university. Traditions and conventions can vary from one university to another, and even between related courses.
Is there an official colour for every faculty?
Not at national level. Some colours are traditionally associated with particular areas of study and are used quite frequently, but they should not be treated as a universal rule.
If you would like to follow your course's tradition, the best advice is to check any guidance from your university or look at the customs followed at previous graduations at the same institution.
Red and burgundy: classic graduation colours
Red is probably the colour most immediately associated with graduation in Italy. This is why a wreath with a red or burgundy ribbon remains an elegant, reliable choice, even if you do not want to follow a particular faculty colour.
Burgundy creates a deeper, more understated effect, while bright red makes the wreath more vivid and recognisable in photographs. You can explore the different options in our collection of graduation wreath ribbons.
Colours associated with faculties: how to interpret them
Various associations between colours and academic fields have developed over time. You may come across different shades for economics, law, sciences, humanities, medicine or engineering, for example. However, these associations are not consistent across all universities.
For this reason, we prefer not to present a chart as though it were an absolute rule: a useful guide should distinguish tradition from official requirements.
Can you choose a different colour from your faculty's?
Of course. The wreath belongs, first and foremost, to the person wearing it. Many graduates choose their ribbon colour to suit their outfit, their favourite colours or the flowers used in the composition.
A wreath with roses, baby's breath, lagurus or other details may look more harmonious when the ribbon is chosen to complement the entire composition rather than the faculty alone.
How to match the ribbon to your laurel wreath
For a classic result, choose a red, burgundy or deep-toned ribbon. Light and pastel colours work well for a more delicate wreath, while brighter shades create a clear contrast with the green of the laurel.
Your outfit matters too: in photographs, the wreath sits very close to your face and the upper part of your clothing, so a coordinated colour can give the whole look more balance.
Personalising the ribbon
As well as its colour, details and personalisation can make the ribbon more individual. Your choice might reflect your university journey, an aesthetic preference or something with a particular meaning for the graduate. If you would like to add a name, date or wording, find ideas in our guide to a personalised ribbon for your graduation wreath.
At Corone Laureae, we offer different ribbon shades precisely because we do not believe there is just one right wreath for every faculty: tradition can be a starting point, but the final composition should represent the person who will wear it.
So which colour should you choose?
If you want to follow the tradition of your degree course, first check the customs at your university. If there is no specific rule, you are free to choose the colour that best complements the wreath and the graduate.
A red or burgundy ribbon is always a classic choice; for a more personal wreath, colour can be one of the details that makes it truly unique. To consider the whole look, start with our guide to choosing a laurel wreath or compare all our customisable laurel wreaths directly.