Styles of academic dress

In Commonwealth countries such as Australia, it is common for universities to follow the style of Oxford or Cambridge universities in the design of academic dress. VU's academic dress is based on the Oxford style.

Certificants, diplomats and graduate certificants

Academic dress is a black trencher cap, an undergraduate gown and a black stole with a facing in the colour of the discipline to which the award relates.

Indigenous Australians

The academic dress is the habit of their award together with a calf length black and red silk stole. The stole has:

• gold tassels
• a map of Victoria in gold silk
• 'Victoria University' embroidered in gold on the left end of the stole
• the sun in gold silk
• 'Ngaga Jindi Woraback' embroidered in gold on the right end of the stole 

Members of the Council and VU staff 

The academic dress i s the habit of their degrees or a black cap and gown with a facing of sky blue. The Chancellor's gown is faced in gold and the Vice-Chancellor's gown is faced in silver.

Doctoral gowns

Worn with bonnets while other gowns are worn with caps. Bonnets and caps are doffed in acknowledgement of the Office of the Chancellor.

Gowns

All VU undergraduate and postgraduates wear a black gown. Doctoral candidates wear a red gown. The gown distinguishes undergraduate and higher degrees. The hood/stole testifies to the discipline of the award.

The masters gown has a long narrow sleeve extension. The VEFE and undergraduate gowns have a large slit in each sleeve.

Gown sizes range from size 42 to size 54. Gown size is based on the height of the graduand.  The most common size is 48.

This is the gown used for VE/FE and undergraduate graduands.
VE/FE and undergraduate gown sleeves have a large slit in each sleeve.
Make sure that the arm goes straight through the sleeve and not through the slit in the sleeve.
This is the gown used for master graduands.
The master gown has a long narrow sleeve extension.
This is the gown used for doctorate graduands.

Hoods or stoles

The colour worn over the gown is called a hood or stole. The following indicates what colour is worn for each discipline and what the different hoods and stoles look like.

This stole is worn by Certificate graduates. The stole is placed over the head to sit flat on the shoulders and hangs down the front of the gown.
This stole is worn by Associate Diploma graduates.
This stole is worn by Diploma graduates.
This stole is worn by Advanced Diploma graduates.
This stole is worn by graduate certificate graduands.
This stole is worn by graduate diploma graduands. The stole is placed over the head to sit flat on the shoulders and hangs down the front of the gown.
The undergraduate hood is partly lined on the inside. The hood is placed over the head with colour displayed on both sides of the shoulders. The edges are curled so that colour is also displayed at the back of the hood.
The master hood is fully lined with colour on the inside and a coloured stripe along the outside edge. The master hood is placed over the head with the colour on the inside and the coloured stripe on the outside. The colour is displayed on both shoulders and at the back of the hood.
The doctorate hood is the same style as the master hood. The colour is displayed on both shoulders and at the back of the hood.

Caps

Black caps are worn by VE/FE, Undergraduate and Master graduands. Caps range in size from size 52 to size 63. The most common size is 56.

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..
Bonnets are worn by Doctorate graduands.

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