About academic dress

Origins

Today's academic dress is based on clothing worn by scholars and teachers in the Middle Ages.
It consists of a:

• gown with full-length, flowing sleeves
• trencher cap or bonnet
• hood representing the cowl worn by monks to cover the head and shoulders.

Monash has styled most of its academic dress on that of the University of Cambridge. The dress for higher doctorates is styled on that of the University of Oxford.

Hood

The hood identifies the University and degree by the colours, trimmings and their placement. The Monash hood is turquoise. The colour of the edging identifies the faculty.

Double degree students

If you are graduating with a double degree, you will wear the colour of your managing faculty.

Faculty colours

Click on your faculty to see your colour (shown as a diploma stole).

Faculty	Colour	Photo
Art Design and Architecture	Spectrum orange
Arts	Old rose
Business and Economics	Peacock green
Education	Banana
Engineering	Rose beige
Information Technology	Spectrum green
Law	White
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences	Victrix blue
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences	Buttercup
Science	Primrose

Regalia	Example	Photo
Diplomate	Example of Diplomate
Bachelors	Example of Bachelors
Masters	Example of Masters
Doctorate/PhD	Example of PhD

Headwear

All graduates except doctorates wear a trencher cap. The cap is worn flat or horizontal with the tassel down over the left eye.

All doctorates wear a round black velvet bonnet trimmed with peony red or gold cord and tassels.

Gown

The gown drapes open with the hood or stole draping naturally over the shoulders and back. The hood is equipped with a button loop to keep it in place.

Indigenous stole

The Indigenous stole acknowledges the cultural heritage and history of the Indigenous people of Australia. It is reflective of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Indigenous students and staff have the option to wear the Indigenous stole. You can enter your preference when you apply to graduate.

Related link

• Hire or buy academic dress