Academic dress

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Academic dress is the traditional clothing worn at universities, especially during graduation ceremonies. It usually includes a gown, a hood, and a cap. It began in medieval Europe to keep scholars warm and has become a ceremonial outfit that many institutions still use today, even though it was once worn daily.

Parts of the outfit
- Gown: a long robe that varies in style by degree and country. In the Commonwealth, gowns are often worn open at the front; in the United States, gowns are usually closed. The sleeve shapes and lengths help identify the degree (bachelor, master, or doctor).
- Hood: a draped piece worn over the shoulders. The outer color and fabric indicate the field of study, while the lining shows the wearer’s university. Some hoods are full shapes with a cape; others are simpler.
- Cap: most commonly a square mortarboard with a tassel. Some places use a tam or other hats for doctors or certain ceremonies.
- Undergarments: there is a traditional “subfusc” dress code in some old universities (not always required today) worn under the gown.

Materials and costs
- Fabrics range from inexpensive to very fine. Climate matters, so lighter fabrics are allowed in warm places and heavier ones in cooler places.
- Many graduates buy or rent gowns. In the US and the UK, renting is common for those who don’t need to wear regalia often; others buy for personal use.
- Gown material can include cotton, polyester, silk, or blends; doctoral gowns are often more elaborate and colorfully trimmed to distinguish them.

Colors and meanings
- The hood’s lining shows the university; the trim color represents the field of study.
- In the United States, a standardized set of colors (the Intercollegiate colors) is used for different fields: white for liberal arts, golden yellow for science, green for medicine, purple for law, scarlet for theology, and dark blue for philosophy (PhDs fall under blue in many cases).
- Some institutions also use sashes, cords, or stoles to indicate additional honors, but the core system is the gown, hood, and cap.

Regional variations
- United Kingdom and Commonwealth: gowns are often open at the front, and many universities use a tradition called subfusc for undergarments at some ceremonies. Gowns are sometimes rented, and older universities have long-standing dress codes.
- United States: a formal, standardized system with mortarbords (mortarboard caps) and hoods that clearly show degree and field. Doctoral regalia is generally more elaborate.
- Continental Europe and elsewhere: many countries have their own styles. Some places use togas or other national forms; in some countries the gown is reserved for ceremonial occasions rather than daily wear.

Special and historical notes
- Some universities and religious institutions use special forms, such as birettas or other hats, for doctors or specific faculties.
- The Groves classification system is a modern way scholars categorize gown shapes and hood patterns. The Burgon Society studies academic dress and promotes its history and present use.
- Pontifical universities sometimes have unique dress traditions tied to canon law and church offices.

Today’s use
- Academic dress is most visible at graduation ceremonies and other formal university events. It remains a symbol of scholarly achievement and university heritage, even as many people wear regular clothes for most daily activities.

In summary, academic dress is a ceremonial outfit that signals a person’s degree, field of study, and university. It blends history with tradition and continues to mark the milestones of academic life around the world.