The academic dress of University of Melbourne describes the formal attire of robes, gowns and hoods prescribed by the Statutes and Regulations for undergraduates, graduates, officers and honorands of the university. This follows the

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

style for the

gown A gown, from the Saxon word, ''gunna'', is a usually loose outer garment from knee-to-full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the Early Middle Ages to the 17th century, and continuing today in certain professions; later, the term ''gown ...

s and hoods for the

Bachelor A bachelor is a man who is not and has never been married.Bachelors are, in Pitt & al.'s phrasing, "men who live independently, outside of their parents' home and other institutional settings, who are neither married nor cohabitating". (). Etymo ...

s and Masters degrees. For its

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''li ...

s, Melbourne follows the style of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...

. The hoods are all black (of size and shape those of the Oxford MA; i.e. Burgon simple-shape) lined with the colour specified for the relevant faculty or degree, and bound with white (on the lower edge) for bachelors, and no binding for masters. The faculty or degree colours are specified in the University Regulations. Formerly, Pass degrees were bound in

fur Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an insulating blanket t ...

and

Honours Honour (British English) or honor (American English; see spelling differences) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a ...

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the ...

— however the distinction no longer exists. Bachelors wear an Oxford Bachelors gown, and Masters an Oxford Masters gown. The

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...

gown is the same as the bachelors, but the sleeves must not be split. Masters may wear the

mortar board Mortar Board is an American national honor society for college seniors. Mortar Board has 233 chartered collegiate chapters nationwide and 15 alumni chapters. History Mortar Board was the first national honor society for college senior women ...

, however undergraduate students and Bachelors are not permitted to wear the

. This rule is strictly applied and extends to graduation photography as well as the ceremony itself. The academic dress for a PhD consists of an Oxford masters gown, faced in scarlet, with a black hood lined in scarlet, and a bonnet with a scarlet cord.

Higher doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' l ...

s are scarlet, lined and faced in the colour of the faculty/degree, with a larger scarlet hood lined in the colour of the faculty/degree, and a bonnet with a gold cord.

Occasions for academic dress

Dignitaries, officers, staff, graduates and students wear academic dress at public ceremonies of the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...

. These include graduation ceremonies and important public lectures. Dignitaries, visitors and residents of the

residential colleges A residential college is a division of a university that places academic activity in a community setting of students and faculty, usually at a residence and with shared meals, the college having a degree of autonomy and a federated relationship w ...

wear their academic regalia to a

formal dinner Dinner usually refers to what is in many Western cultures the largest and most formal meal of the day, which is eaten in the evening. Historically, the largest meal used to be eaten around midday, and called dinner. Especially among the elite, ...

several nights per week during the lecturing semester (varying depending on the college). Some residential colleges dignify their

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

s with distinct gowns.

Faculty colours

Definition of colour names: Colours

Notes

References

Regalia (Academic Dress) requirements for University of Melbourne degree courses
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Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

University of Melbourne Academia in Australia