Academic dress

Wearing academic dress (regalia) on ceremonial occasions is a university tradition.

When you attend your Victoria University (VU) graduation ceremony you will be required to wear a traditional gown, hood or stole and cap.

Styles of academic dress

If you're graduating at a ceremony, you'll wear the traditional academic dress, based on the Oxford style.

Undergraduate and postgraduate graduands wear a black gown. Doctoral candidates wear a red gown.

The gown distinguishes undergraduate and higher degrees, with the hood or stole testifying to the discipline of the award.

Gown sizes range from size 42 to size 54. Gown size is based on your height.

Caps

Black caps are worn by VE/TAFE, undergraduate and masters graduands.

The cap has a deep point and a shallow point. The shallow point is worn to the front. The cap should be worn so the mortarboard is level and not placed on the back or to the side of the head.

The tassel is worn over the front left temple. Do not use pins to secure the cap as it needs to be removed for the national anthem.

Caps range in size from size 52 to size 63. The most common size is 56.

Doctoral candidates wear a bonnet.

Discipline colours

The colour worn over the gown is called a hood or stole. The table below indicates what colour is worn for each discipline.

Discipline Colour
Arts Ruby
Business Ultramarine
Education Cherry
Engineering Silver grey
Health Science Old rose
Law Parchment
Music Pansy
Psychology and Behavioural Science Buff
Science, Applied Science and Sport Science Spectrum green
Social Studies Gold
Sport and Recreation Gold
Doctor of Business Adonis blue
Doctor of Laws Pearl white
Doctor of Letters Ruby
Doctor of Philosophy Sapphire
Doctor of Psychology Old gold
Doctor of the University Sky blue

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