Academic dress (regalia) for graduation ceremonies

Academic dress is available for hire prior to your graduation ceremony. You can do this in the application process to graduate.

At your graduation ceremony you will wear a:

• Cap — the cap for all master's and bachelor's degrees is a black trencher or mortar board. Doctoral graduands (including PhDs) wear a black velvet cap
• Gown — there are four types of gown:
  • A black bachelor's gown
  • A black master's gown
  • A maroon PhD gown
  • A scarlet gown for other doctoral degrees
• Hood — this hangs around your neck and down your back, over the gown; the colour of the hood lining denotes the degree. Coloured hoods are worn with the appropriate academic dress for the University of Otago graduation ceremonies. The Academic Dress Statute details the colours used for the hoods depending on the qualification you graduate in.
  When you apply to graduate with a degree, the system automatically fills the correct hood.
  If you are graduating with a diploma and applying to graduate in eVision, you will be prompted to indicate the degree you already hold as this is the colour hood you will wear.
  Email: academic.dress@otago.ac.nz if you have any queries about the hood colour for your academic dress.

The Academic Dress (Regalia) page has further information about the requirements and photos of regalia:

Academic Dress (Regalia)

You will need to attend the ceremony wearing the gown and hood and carrying the trencher, which you wear once you've been capped and received your degree.

If you're receiving two degrees, you can choose which hood to wear at the ceremony, though you are welcome to hire the second hood for photographic purposes.

If you're receiving a diploma and do not hold a degree, you need only a black bachelor's gown, worn without a hood or trencher.

Regalia for different degrees or qualifications should not be mixed (e.g. a bachelor's hood should not be worn with a master's gown, and a University hood should not be worn with the gown of any other institution).

Further information

Academic Dress — Hiring regalia
Hiring regalia as a staff member