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Academic regalia

The origins of the academic regalia

Universities are heirs to traditions which go back eight centuries. The diversified and often colourful academic robes worn by today's graduates, and by those who take part in the academic procession, are part of those traditions. They are in essence survivors of the everyday dress of the Middle Ages, but as worn by scholars and teachers they have been modified over the years and have acquired a special significance.

For universities in the English-speaking world there are normally three separate garments that make up the academic regalia - the gown, the hood and the cap. The gown was the loose outer garment common to both lawyers and university teachers. For many universities the cut of the sleeve indicates whether the wearer holds a Bachelor's or a Master's degree. Doctor's gowns may be decorated.

The hood was developed from the utilitarian hood which served to keep the head dry and warm. It too might vary according to the degree and to the university. Originally the observer could tell from which university the wearer had graduated by the shape of the hood. At one time Bachelor's hoods were trimmed with white fur but Master's hoods were untrimmed.

It is often said that the long tail of the hood provided a pocket hanging down the back into which students could drop the appropriate fee for teaching, without the teacher seeing how much (or how little) was being paid. A similar story is told of the little pocket on the back of a barrister's gown, which itself is probably a relic of the hood. Nowadays the hood is much larger than it used to be as it is purely ornamental. The lining and occasionally the binding indicate the Faculty or School which presents the candidate for graduation.

Since the hood is no longer worn on the head, graduates of most universities wear a cap. In general, Bachelors and Masters wear a hard cap, known as a mortar board or trencher, and Doctors wear soft velvet caps.

La Trobe University academic regalia

The academic regalia worn by Bachelor graduates is a gown in Oxford blue cloth, together with a Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth with a ten centimetre silk facing in the colour of the discipline, and a black cloth mortar board.

The academic regalia worn by graduate or postgraduate diplomats or graduate certificate candidates is a La Trobe University Bachelor's gown with a stole ten centimetres wide lined with silk in the colour of the discipline. The stole is worn around the neck and drapes down the front of the gown.

The academic regalia worn by Master graduates is a gown in Oxford blue cloth, together with a Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth lined and bound to a depth of two centimetres with silk in the colour of the discipline, and a black cloth mortar board.

The academic regalia worn by Doctor of Philosophy graduates is a gown in Post Office Red cloth with ten centimetre wide facing and cuffs, together with an Oxford doctorate cut hood in Post Office Red lined with blue silk, and a black velvet Tudor bonnet with a Post Office Red cord and tassel.

Other doctoral degrees, including honorary degrees, have the same regalia as for the Doctor of Philosophy, except for the color of the silk facing. For a Doctor of the University the silk facing is Post Office Red, mauve for the Doctor of Laws, Turquoise for the Doctor of Letters and gold for the Doctor of Science.

The academic regalia worn by graduates with professional doctorates is a gown in Oxford blue cloth with a ten centimetre wide Post Office Red silk facing and cuffs, together with an Oxford doctorate cut hood in Oxford blue, lined with Post Office Red silk, and a black velvet Tudor bonnet with an Oxford blue cord and tassel. Professional doctorates include the degrees of Doctor of Education, Doctor of Health Psychology, Doctor of Nursing and Doctor of Psychology and any other doctorates determined by Council to be professional doctorates.

Colours of academic regalia at La Trobe University