The University of Cambridge, legally The Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, maintains a heraldic logo built around its coat of arms. The current University logo consists of the coat of arms as the symbol paired with the University name as the wordmark, and the two must always be used together. The coat of arms must never be used on its own. The University states that it has been able to use substantially the same image for over 450 years, and that it is protected by law. The University also notes it has no right to change the coat of arms without Royal Authority, as it must remain true to its heraldic design granted as an honour from The Crown. [1]
Design and History
The University was granted its arms in 1573 by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms and a graduate of St John’s College. The arms are for use by the Chancellor, Masters, Fellows and Scholars as a corporate body. The official heraldic description reads: “Gules on a Cross Ermine between four Lions passant guardant Or a Bible fesswise Gules clasped and garnished Or the clasps in base.” In plain terms, the shield has a red background, a cross of ermine fur between four gold lions walking with one fore-leg raised and facing the observer, and at the centre of the cross a closed book with its spine horizontal, with clasps and decoration pointing downward. [2]
The University’s motto, “Hinc lucem et pocula sacra” (literally “From here, light and sacred draughts”, non-literally “From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge”), is not an official part of the original grant and can be used under or around the coat of arms. [2]
According to the University’s brand guidelines, the lettering in the University logo has been slightly adjusted to make it clearer for digital use. The logo consists of the coat of arms and the University of Cambridge logotype, and the logo only appears in four colour variants: black, red Pantone 032, yellow Pantone 109, and white shield with black (or white name), plus single colour black or white. These colours are unique to the identifier and should not be used elsewhere on communications. [3]
Meaning and Symbolism
The University’s coat of arms and, by association, its logo represent more than 800 years of excellence and serve as an international symbol of the University’s reputation for high quality and standards. [2] The University describes the Cambridge logo as “a seal of approval and a promise of excellence.” [1]
The coat of arms and the names “University of Cambridge”, “Cambridge University” and “Cambridge” are all registered trade marks. The standalone word CAMBRIDGE, without “University of”, is the University’s global brand name and is itself a registered trade mark (UK TM No. 3523931). [4]
Typography and Design
The University’s official brand guidelines specify Feijoa as the primary font, used for headlines, titles and quotes, and Open Sans as the secondary font, used for subheadings and body copy. [5] The brand colour palette anchors on Cambridge Blue, described as the University’s signature colour, with Pantone 7471 and hex #8EE8D8. The palette offers 24 different colours providing flexibility, with Cambridge Blue forming the base of all communications as a highly recognisable element of the identity. [6]
It is worth noting that the “Dear World… Yours, Cambridge” campaign, created by Johnson Banks and publicly launched in October 2015, was a fundraising campaign for the University and Colleges, not a replacement for the University logo. The campaign was framed as a letter to the world, beginning “Dear World” and ending “Yours, Cambridge”, and was designed to help create a coherent theme for the alumni and development fundraising campaign. [7] The campaign launched publicly in October 2015 with a target of £2 billion and closed in July 2022, having raised £2.2 billion from more than 130,000 donors globally. [8] The University’s official logo, featuring the coat of arms, remains the primary identifier for the institution. [1]
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