Academic Black Tie

[Midnight Blue]

A British college student has been invited to an event that calls for "academic black tie" and has asked me for a definition of the dress code. I'm afraid I've never heard of it and although I could simply tell him to contact the event host for clarification I would like to know myself what this means. Anyone have any idea?
Peter Marshall
www.blacktieguide.com

[rogiercreemers]

I would imagine this would be regular black tie, with any academic accoutrements that the invitee would be permitted to wear (such as gowns, etc.).

[Concordia]

Maybe it means that you have to buy the dinner jacket from a thrift shop? Keezer's in Harvard Square used to be a place freshmen that would buy the vintage clothing that departing seniors had unloaded.

[cathach]

Is this in the students college? It all depends on the college in question, some wear full academic dress and white tie for all their college dinners, others do not. Most of the liberal colleges stopped wearing such dress in the 1960s and so it could just be a lounge suit under the robes.

[Midnight Blue]

Thanks everyone for your input.

The student did not indicate which college he was associated with. I was able to determine he was British only by his .co.uk email domain. Sounds like the best bet is to contact the college in question.