Academic dress prescribed at the Trinity College Dublin follows a relatively complex protocol which, nonetheless, shares some particular characteristics with other universities in Ireland and with its sister institutions at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The 1966 consolidated statutes of the university and the college stated, "The Provost, and every Fellow, professor, other Academic Officer, scholar, and other Student shall have a cap and gown, and shall wear them while performing their Academic duties"; the precise significance of "Academic duties" was not made explicit. [1] As late as the 1960s, gowns were still commonly worn for some lectures and examinations, but in practice the wearing of academic dress is now confined to graduation ceremonies and other formal occasions. Some student societies, such as the College Historical Society and the University Philosophical Society, officially require academic dress at their meetings, but this postulation is never now observed.
After the names of the components, the Groves Classification Number is given in square brackets. [2]
For full academic dress at special occasions, the prescribed clothing for men with degrees is a dinner jacket, worn with dark trousers, a white shirt, white or black bow tie, black socks and black shoes - in other words, following the black tie dress code. (The option to wear a white bow tie is a vestige of previous decades where full white tie formal dress was required for all men at degree ceremonies). Men with diplomas or certificates wear a dark suit instead of a dinner jacket. [3] Women are required to wear formal clothing in black, white, or a combination of both. [4] Members of the military are exempted from these requirements and may wear service dress uniform; similarly, members of the clergy may wear black or white clerical clothing with a shirt in black or grey. [4]
Gowns are open-fronted, like those generally used throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom, but not the United States, and they are largely similar in shape to those of the University of Oxford. The main types seen are the bachelors' and masters' gowns. In addition, for certain formal occasions, Doctors wear special dress gowns, distinguished by the use of scarlet; the sleeves and facings of these are adorned in some cases with various patterns that indicate the exact degree or degrees that they possess, allowing this to be determined even when hoods are not being worn.
Commoners (i.e. those not otherwise classified, including Pensioners (those who pay fees)) wear a gown that is now[ when? ] very rarely[ clarification needed ] seen[ by whom? ]. It consists of a short, sleeveless gown [u8] made of black shtuff stuff with a flap collar. It is similar in shape to the Oxford Advanced Students' gown [u5], but it reaches down as far as the knees, and the "streamers" over the arm are wider and reach only as far as the elbow. It has distinctive decoration: three rows of tassels are found on the flap above each armhole, with another three rows below, and a nine-inch slit upwards from the back midline hem. The streamers may be considered the remnants of closed sleeves, as can still be seen on the laced gowns of the higher faculties.
Scholars (both those on the Foundation and non-Foundation) wear the same gown as bachelors.
Fellow Commoners / Nobles; these were historically enrolled in a special, shorter, intensive course (three years as opposed to four, as they did not want to neglect their estates for too long) and had a particular gown. This was embellished with gold tassels, etc.
Sizars/ Exhibitioners: A Sizar was a poor student, the son of poor parents, often of clergy. From the writings of William Howitt about Goldsmith, 1847 – "The sizer wears a black gown of coarse stuff without sleeves, a plain black cloth cap without a tassel, and dines at the fellows' table after they have retired. It was at that period far worse; they wore red caps to distinguish them, and were compelled to perform derogatory offices; to sweep the courts in the morning, carry up the dishes from the kitchen to the fellows' table, and wait in the hall till they had dined." A distinct gown for Sizars/ Exhibitioners is no longer worn, and they currently wear the Commoners gown, when required or desired.
In addition to undergraduate use, the undergraduate gown is worn as the prescribed academic dress for the conferral of undergraduate diplomas, with an epitoge.
These wear a clerical-type gown [b10] of black Irish Russell cord, in the Oxford BA shape [b1] but with shorter sleeves. It has no collar, but instead has the voluminous material of its back and the open bell-shaped sleeves gathered into a yoke.
![The master's gown design used at Dublin [m3], illustrating the deep crescentic cut in the sleeve end. Dublin MA gown outline.svg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Dublin_MA_gown_outline.svg/90px-Dublin_MA_gown_outline.svg.png)
Masters wear a gown [m3] in black cloth, silk or poplin, similar to the Oxford MA shape [m1] but with a very high cresentic cut in the sleeves giving a deep blunt point to the bases, and with a cord and button on the yoke.
Holders of University of Dublin doctoral degrees have two sets of costume: undress, and full dress (or scarlet). Full dress is worn on formal college and university occasions.
Most gowns are scarlet, with the exceptions of the Mus.D. robe, which is white; the D.Mus.Perf robe, which is white rose;[ citation needed ] the D.Clin.Psych robe, which is red; and the D.Ed. robe, which is blue. They are in the Oxford doctors' shape [d2]. There is a cord and button on the yoke, and the sleeves, facings and edgings vary in colour according to the degree.
| Degree | Gown |
|---|---|
| Divinity: DD | Scarlet cloth, faced with black velvet |
| Laws: LL.D. | Scarlet cloth, faced with pink silk |
| Medicine: MD | Scarlet cloth, faced with crimson silk |
| Letters: Litt.D. | Scarlet cloth, faced with blue silk |
| Science: Sc.D. | Scarlet cloth, faced with myrtle green silk |
| Music: Mus.D. | Cream brocade (flowered silk), faced with rose satin |
| Philosophy: PhD | Scarlet cloth, faced with yellow silk |
| Clinical psychology: D.Clin.Psych. | Red, faced with light green silk |
| Education: D.Ed. | Blue cloth, faced with rose silk |
| Dental surgery: D.Ch.Dent. | Scarlet cloth, faced with pale blue silk |
| Counselling psychology: D.Couns.Psych | Scarlet cloth, faced with white silk and edged with light green |
| Music performance: D.Mus.Perf. [ citation needed ] | White rose, edged with pale blue[ citation needed ] |
Doctoral undress is as for masters' gowns.
![The hood design used at Dublin [f2], illustrating the curved liripipe at the inner corner. Dublin hood outline.svg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Dublin_hood_outline.svg/220px-Dublin_hood_outline.svg.png)
Hoods made of silk are worn on the back as an indicator of academic status. The design of hoods as set by University and College Statutes Chapter XXII is below. [5] Their design is distinctive [f2], having a full shape with an inch-wide edging to the cape and cowl, and in some cases they have poplin or fur decoration.
For several years around the turn of the 21st century, the BA hood was erroneously cut in a modified (with a curved liripipe) Belfast simple-shape [s3] and lined with fur differently. Before 1909, the shape was the same as the Belfast shape but was then changed to the full-shape. However, in recent years, the hood had been made in the modified Belfast shape, for unknown reasons, by the university's authorised robemakers. [6] Subsequently, the MB hood had also been cut in the simple shape, apparently without any official authorisation from the university. [7] Since the 2012–13 academic year, both the BA and MB hoods have once again supplied in the Dublin full shape.
| Degree | Hood |
|---|---|
| Arts: B.A. History (dual degree): B.A. (Hist.) conjunctim [8] | Black, half lined and edged with white fur, with a white silk neckband edged with black |
| Divinity: BD | Black, lined and edged with fine black silk |
| Laws: LL.B. Laws and German: LL.B. (Ling. Germ.) | Black, lined and bound with white |
| Medicine: MB | Black, lined and edged to 1 inch with crimson |
| Surgery: B.Ch. | Black, lined with white, edged to 1 inch with dark blue |
| Obstetrics: BAO | Black, lined and edged with olive green |
| Engineering: BAI | Black, lined and edged with green |
| Electrical engineering: B.A.I. (Elect.) Mechanical engineering: B.A.I. (Mech.) | Black, lined with green, edged to 1 inch with orange |
| Music: Mus.B. Theatre studies: BTS | Pale blue, half lined and edged with white fur |
| Dental science: B.Dent.Sc. | Myrtle green, lined with black watered silk, edged to 1 inch with crimson |
| Agriculture: Agr.B. | Black, lined and edged with brown |
| Forestry: Agr. (Forest.) B. | Black, lined with brown, edged to 1 inch with green |
| Commerce: BComm Business studies: Bachelor of Business Studies | Black, lined and edged with gold |
| Veterinary medicine: MVB | Black, lined with maroon, edged to 1 inch with olive green |
| Social studies: BSS | Black, lined with gold silk or poplin, edged with white |
| Human nutrition and dietetics: BSc (Hum. Nut.) [9] | Academic dress of TU Dublin used |
| Computer science: BSc (Comp.) Engineering: BSc (Eng.) | Myrtle green, lined and edged with black |
| Education: BEd Education (Home Economics): BEd (Home Econ.) | Dark blue, lined and edged with dark blue |
| Architectural science: B.Arch.Sc. | Dark green, half lined and edged with white fur |
| Music education: B.Mus.Ed. | Pale blue, lined and edged with rose |
| Theology: B.Th. | Black, lined and edged to 1 inch with black, with the cowl bordered inside with 1 inch of purple set 1 inch in from the edge |
| Music composition: B.Mus. (Comp.) | Rose pink, lined and edged with white fur |
| Music performance: B.Mus. (Perf.) | Rose pink, lined and edged with pale blue |
| Business and information technology: BSc (Bus. and Inf. Tech.) | Dark green, lined and edged with gold |
| Engineering with management: BSc (Ing.) Manufacturing engineering with management science: BSc (Ing.) | Black, lined with white, edged to 1 inch with green |
| Dental technology: B.Dent.Tech. | Myrtle green, lined with gold, edged to 1 inch with crimson |
| Letters: B.Litt. | Black, lined with dark blue, edged to 1 inch with white |
| Deaf studies: B.St.Su. | Black, lined and edged with yellow |
| Acting: B.Histr. | Pale blue, lined and edged with white fur |
| Science in technology: Sc.BTech | Green, lined with black, bound to 1 inch with orange |
| Degree | Hood |
|---|---|
| Arts: MA | Black, lined and edged with dark blue |
| Surgery: M.Ch. | Crimson, lined with white, edged to 1 inch with dark blue |
| Obstetrics: MAO | Black, lined and edged with purple |
| Engineering: MAI Engineering (Research): M.A.I. (Ind.) | White silk, lined and edged with dark green |
| Dental science: M.Dent.Sc. Dental surgery: M.Dent.Ch. | Myrtle green, lined with pale blue, edged to 1 inch with crimson |
| Agriculture: Agr.M. | White, lined and edged with brown |
| Forestry: Agr. (Forest.) M. | White, lined with brown, edged to 1 inch with green |
| Science: MSc Science (Research): MSc (Ind.) | White, lined and edged with myrtle green |
| Letters: M.Litt. | White, lined and edged with blue |
| Veterinary medicine: MVM | White, lined and edged with maroon |
| Commerce: MComm Administrative studies: MSA | White, lined and edged with gold |
| Education: MEd | White, lined with dark blue, edged to 1 inch with white |
| Economics: MSc (Econ.) Management: MSc (Mgmt) | Gold, lined and edged with white |
| Philosophy: M.Phil. Philosophy (Ecumenics): M.Phil. (Ecum.) | White, lined and edged with yellow |
| Laws: LL.M. | Black, lined with white, edged to 1 inch with pink |
| Social work: MSW | Black, lined with gold silk or poplin, edged to 1 inch with dark blue |
| Theology: M.Th | Black, lined with purple, with the cowl bordered inside with 1 inch of black set 1 inch in from the edge |
| Computer science: MCS | White, lined and edged with plum |
| Fine arts: MFA | Pale blue, lined and edged with pale blue fur |
| Medicine: MM | Crimson, lined with crimson, edged to 1 inch with black |
| Education studies: MES | White, lined with pale blue, edged to 1 inch with navy |
| Music performance: M.Mus.Perf. | White, lined with rose pink, edged to 1 inch with pale blue |
Hoods are edged one inch around the cape and cowl and lined with silk to match the facings of the appropriate full-dress robes.
| Degree | Hood |
|---|---|
| Divinity: DD | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged with black velvet |
| Laws: LL.D. | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged with pink |
| Medicine: MD | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged with crimson |
| Letters: Litt.D. | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged with blue |
| Science: Sc.D. | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged myrtle green |
| Music: Mus.D. | Cream brocade (flowered silk), lined and edged with rose satin |
| Philosophy: PhD | Scarlet cloth, lined and edged with yellow |
| Clinical psychology: D.Clin.Psych. | Red, lined and edged with light green |
| Education: D.Ed. | Pale blue, lined with rose, edged to 1 inch with dark blue |
| Dental surgery: D.Ch.Dent. | Scarlet cloth, lined with pale blue, edged with myrtle green |
| Counselling psychology: D.Couns.Psych | Scarlet cloth, lined with light green, edged with white |
| Music performance: D.Mus.Perf. | White rose, lined with pale blue, edged with rose pink |
Graduates of diploma or certificate programmes wear academic dress consisting of an epitoge [e1], a strip of material worn over the left shoulder, on top of the relevant (undergraduate or bachelor's) gown. Those holding an undergraduate diploma or certificate wear a blue epitoge, while those with a postgraduate diploma or certificate wear a blue-and-black epitoge. The gown and epitoge are mandatory for those attending diploma conferral ceremonies, but are optional for certificate ceremonies. [3]
A form of a black hat known as a square cap (also mortarboard) [h1] is worn or carried. The Consolidated Statutes of the college (Chapter XVIII) state that: "The caps to be worn by Graduates and Undergraduates shall be black, and of the ordinary academical shape; the cap to be worn by Scholars and ex-Scholars shall be covered in velvet, and all other caps in fine cloth; and the caps of Graduates shall in all cases have a black silk tassel added in the usual manner. Students shall salute the Provost and Fellows by doffing their caps."
Certain officers wear distinctive dress.
The Chancellor of the university is elected by the Senate (i.e. Masters and Doctors) of the university. For ceremonial occasions, she or he wears on ceremonial occasions a black corded silk lay-type gown with a long train, decorated with a row of gold lace along the sleeves and with two rows down the front and along the cope, similar to the gowns of the Lord Chancellor. The Chancellor's velvet mortarboard has a gold tassel, like that of the former noble undergraduates.
The Proctors wear the ancient form of the BA hood with their gown. The hood is in the Belfast simple-shape and lined with ermine (white fur with black spots).
Academic dress is a traditional form of clothing for academic settings, mainly tertiary education, worn mainly by those who have obtained a university degree, or hold a status that entitles them to assume them. It is also known as academical dress, academicals, or academic regalia.
The University of Oxford has a long tradition of academic dress, which continues to the present day.
The University of Cambridge has a long tradition of academic dress, which it traditionally refers to as academical dress. Almost every degree which is awarded by the University has its own distinct gown in addition to having its own hood. Undergraduates wear college gowns, which are all subtly different; these differences enable the wearer's college to be determined. Academic dress is worn quite often in Cambridge on formal, and sometimes informal, occasions, and there are a number of rules and customs governing when and how it is worn. Black gowns (undress) are worn at less formal events, while on special occasions full academical dress is worn, consisting of gown, hood and headdress with Doctors in festal dress. The University's officials also have ancient forms of academic dress, unique to the University.
The academic dress prescribed by the University of Bristol is a mixture of that prescribed by Cambridge and Oxford. Bristol has chosen, for graduates, to mainly specify Oxford-style gowns and Cambridge-style hoods. Unlike many British universities, the hood itself is to be "University red", lined with a specified colour. University red is defined to be Pantone 187. Bristol also specifies that undergraduates are to wear gowns "of the approved pattern" in certain circumstances, although the pattern itself is not specified. This is not too important since, in practice, undergraduates are only required to be gowned when graduating or at dinner as a member of Wills Hall.
Academic dress at the University of St Andrews involves students wearing distinctive academic gowns whilst studying at the University of St Andrews. Undergraduate gowns in Scotland were once common at all the ancient universities of Scotland, with each having its own distinctive style. St Andrews undergraduates wear either a scarlet gown if they are part of the United College and studying in the Faculties of Arts, Medicine and Science, or a black gown if they are part of St Mary's College and studying in the Faculty of Divinity.
The academic and official dress of the University of Warwick dates originally from the mid-1960s, shortly after the university's foundation. Despite persistent offers from Charles Franklyn the theatrical costume designer Anthony Powell was commissioned to design robes for officials and graduates of the university. Due to pressure of other work, and some apparent differences of opinion, Powell withdrew from the project, and the robes for graduates subsequently designed in consultation with J. Wippell and Company of Exeter, with Ede and Ravenscroft designing and making the robes for officials.
Academic dress of the University of London describes the robes, gowns and hoods which are prescribed by the university for its graduates and undergraduates.
As the oldest college in the United States, Harvard University has a long tradition of academic dress. Harvard gown facings bear crow's-feet emblems near the yoke, a symbol unique to Harvard, made from flat braid in colours distinctive of the wearer's qualification or degree. Crow's-feet are double for earned degrees, and triple for honorary degrees.
This page describes the different types of academic dress allowed at the University of Exeter. Definitions of the academic dress for the award holders and officials of the university are set out in the university's regulations.
Academic dress at the University of Edinburgh is compulsory at official ceremonial occasions, such as graduation and the installations of Rector and Chancellor, and otherwise optional, usually only worn for events.
Academic dress of the University of Manchester describes the gowns, hoods and headwear which are prescribed by the university for its graduates and officers.
Graduates and associates of Imperial College London wear its academic dress. After gaining its independence from the University of London in 2007, graduates began wearing Imperial academic dress in 2008. The unifying colour for Imperial's academic dress is purple after the work by William Henry Perkin.
Academic dress at the University of Glasgow is worn at ceremonial events throughout the academic year. This primarily entails graduations, but includes Commemoration Day, church services, and the installation of Chancellors and Rectors of the University. The academic dress of all members of the University of Glasgow, including students, is regulated by the University Regulations. It shares many similarities with the other ancient universities of Scotland, most conspicuously that, unlike in the rest of the United Kingdom, headwear is only very rarely worn. Academic dress has been worn in the University of Glasgow since medieval times.
The academic dress of the United Kingdom and Ireland has a long history and has influenced the academic dress of America and beyond. The academic square cap was invented in the UK as well as the hood which developed from the lay dress of the medieval period.
Academic dress has a history in the United States going back to the colonial colleges era. It has been most influenced by the academic dress traditions of Europe. There is an Inter-Collegiate Code that sets out a detailed uniform scheme of academic regalia that is voluntarily followed by many, though not all institutions entirely adhere to it.
The academic dress of McGill University describes the caps, gowns and hoods which are prescribed by the university for its degree candidates/holders. Until the mid-20th century, McGill also prescribed academic dress for its matriculating or enrolled students as well as its faculty. Founded in 1821, McGill University is consistently ranked as one of Canada's pre-eminent universities, and among the top 20 universities in the world.
The academic dress of the Robert Gordon University is normally only worn at graduation ceremonies and occasionally at other very formal events. In common with most British universities, a graduand of the Robert Gordon University begins the ceremony wearing the dress of the degree to which they are being admitted except for the hood. This is in contrast to the practice at some universities such as Oxford where a graduand only dons the dress of a degree after it has been conferred. The current pattern of academic dress dates from 1992 when the institution became a university.
The current academic dress of the National University of Ireland was simplified following a review in 1999. The design of the gowns generally follows that of Oxford. The hoods are primarily green, representing Ireland, and generally follow the design of Dublin or Belfast.
The academic dress of the University of Tasmania describes the formal attire of robes, gowns and hoods prescribed by the ordinance of academic dress of the University of Tasmania. The ordinance prescribes the Oxford style for the gowns and hoods for both undergraduate and postgraduate academic dress.
The academic regalia of Columbia University are the robes, gowns, and hoods which are prescribed by the university for its graduates. As one of the oldest universities in the United States, Columbia University has a long tradition of academic dress dating back to its founding in the 18th century, when it became the second university in the country to formally adopt academic robes. The development of Columbia's academic regalia has strongly influenced those of most universities in the United States. Since the passing of the Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume in 1895, the style of academic dress worn at the university in the late 20th century has served as the basis of those of most other universities in the country. Though once worn daily by students at the university, caps and gowns now are only worn during commencement.
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