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Academic and Ceremonial Attire

he academic gown and hood worn at graduation ceremonies can be traced back to the 12th
century when the first universities were founded in Europe. Scholars in those days, whether they
were students or monks, wore long gowns to protect themselves from the cold. The hoods which were
attached to the gown could be pulled up over the head depending on the weather.

By the 16th century, the gown and hood were worn only by the religious, legal, and academic professions.
The gown remained relatively the same but the hood had developed into a shoulder-like cape which was
detached from the gown. It was the universities of Oxford and Cambridge that first began imposing a
prescribed style, colour, cut, and material to their academic regalia.

The traditional mortar-board evolved from the ‘pileus’ or hat worn at the Oxford and Cambridge
Universities.

Today, the wearing of the gown, hood, and mortar-board symbolises an honourable and everlasting link
between present scholars and their medieval counterparts.

UTAR’s academic regalia follow the Oxford-Cambridge style, but the design of the academic gown,
hood, and mortar-board worn by UTAR graduands is unique to the university, with the incorporation of
Malaysia’s ethnic kain songket as trimmings for the gowns.

At UTAR, the style and cut of the gown indicate the level of the degree: the Bachelor’s being the most
simple and in black whereas the Master’s gown resembles the Bachelor’s except for trimmings of satin
down the front.

Much more elaborate is the Doctorate’s gown of red, embellished with black and gold kain songket
down the front and around the neck together with trimmed gold kain songket on each of its bell-shaped
sleeves.

Similarly, the festal gowns worn to signify office are based on the traditional British gowns, but feature
some of the colours of UTAR in keeping with the corporate identity of the university.

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