Academic dress, consisting of a robe, hood, and cap, is worn at graduations. Its origin is credited to Oxford and Cambridge universities, but each country has its own system for distinguishing degrees and specializations. The gown and hood vary in shape and color depending on the degree level and field of study. The cap, with a silk tassel, is usually worn on the right side until confirmed and then switched to the left.
Academic dress is the traditional dress of those who study in school. The dress consists of a robe, hood and cap. Academic dress, also sometimes called academic dress, is usually only seen at graduations.
The origin of academic dress as seen in the United States and Great Britain is the same. The British universities Oxford and Cambridge are credited as the originators of the style. Although this may be true, each country has its own system for distinguishing varying levels of degrees and specializations.
In the American and British tradition, the dress is similar in makeup for all grades. It commonly zips up the front, extends to below the knees, and has long, convex sleeves. In the United States, sleeves vary slightly in shape for grade levels. The gown worn by those earning bachelor’s degrees has slightly pointed and comparatively longer sleeves, while the one worn by master’s level graduates has crescent-shaped ones. The doctoral gown is distinguished by its wide sleeves and velvet details, which are featured around the neck of the garment and on the front.
The hood used in academic dress was once a functional part of clothing, but has since been relegated to a primarily decorative piece. At some universities, the bell grows in length with the advancement of degrees. In others, only master’s and doctoral candidates are allowed to wear the hood. Its color varies depending on the type of study program the candidate is pursuing, such as white for English and pink for music. Sometimes a college chooses to add a velvet sash to the bonnet, and this can be extended with advanced grade levels.
The final component of academic dress is the cap, also called a mortarboard. It is placed directly on the head with the board parallel to the ground. Sometimes it can be seen worn towards the back of the head, but this is not the standard approved look. A silk tassel is usually attached to the top of the cap and hangs to the side of the face.
In many United States traditions, the tassel is flipped from one side to the other, once a degree is awarded, but the exact location varies depending on the specific school tradition. The most prevalent tradition is for it to be worn on the right side of the head until confirmed and then switched to the left side. Some colleges will ask otherwise, or vary the address depending on the level of degree awarded.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
