Academic dress
Universities are heirs to traditions that date back eight centuries.
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 hat. The gown is the loose outer garment common to lawyers and university lecturers. Often, the cut of the sleeve indicates whether the wearer holds a Bachelor's or a Master's degree. Doctor's gown sleeves tend to be decorated.
La Trobe University academic regalia
La Trobe University graduates are required to wear the appropriate academic dress, also called academic regalia, to participate in graduation ceremonies. Graduation attendance consists of a registration fee and academic dress hire fee. You may also choose to purchase your own regalia gown set as part of the online graduation registration process.
Diploma
Stole: 10 cm wide lined with silk in the colour of the discipline, worn around the neck and drapes down the front of the gown
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
No trencher (hat) is worn
Bachelor degree
Hood: Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth with a 10 cm silk facing in the colour of the discipline; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on the right shoulder.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
Trencher (hat): Black cloth
Bachelor (Honours) degree
Hood: Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth with a 10 cm silk facing in the colour of the discipline; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on the left shoulder.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
Trencher (hat): Black cloth
Graduate certificate and diploma
Stole: 10 cm wide lined with silk in the colour of the discipline, worn around the neck and drapes down the front of the gown.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
Trencher (hat): Black cloth
Master degree
Hood: Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth lined and bound to a depth of 2 cm with silk in the colour of the discipline; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on the right shoulder.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
Trencher (hat): Black cloth
Master (Honours) degree
Hood: Burgon style Oxford hood of Oxford blue cloth lined and bound to a depth of 2 cm with silk in the colour of the discipline; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on the left shoulder.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth
Trencher (hat): Black cloth
Professional Doctorate
Hood: Oxford doctorate cut hood in Oxford blue, lined with Post Office red silk; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on both shoulders.
Gown: Oxford blue cloth with a 10 cm wide Post Office red silk facing and cuffs
Bonnet (hat): Black velvet Tudor bonnet with a Post Office red cord and tassel
Doctor of Philosophy
Hood: Oxford doctorate cut hood in Post Office red lined with blue silk; the hood is worn with the hood's silk exposed on both shoulders.
Gown: Post Office red cloth with 10 cm wide facing and cuffs
Bonnet (hat): Black velvet Tudor bonnet with a Post Office red cord and tassel
Double and multiple degree graduands
- Double degrees wear the colour of the discipline that runs the course. For example, Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts wears the colour for Law.
- Multiple degrees wear the academic dress for the highest award. For example, Graduate Diploma in Education/Bachelor of Arts wears the academic dress for the Graduate Diploma.
Indigenous graduands
Graduands of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent may also opt to wear, in addition to the appropriate academic dress, a stole 10 centimetres wide of the following colours:
- Aboriginal: Equal bands of Jet Black, Saffron and Post Office red silks
- Torres Strait Islander: Larkspur silk edged on each side with Juniper silk, each colour separated by a narrow band of black piping
Hoods, facings and stole colours
Colour references are to the British Colour Council Dictionary of Colour Standards.
Discipline | Colour |
---|---|
Agriculture | Brunswick green |
Business, Economics | Tangerine |
Education | Claret |
Engineering | Nutmeg |
Health Sciences | Signal red |
Humanities and Social Sciences | Turquoise |
Law | Crocus (mauve) |
Psychological Sciences | Sulphur |
Science, Technology | Saffron |
Social Work | Smalt (cornflower blue) |