Graduation Attire PhD/Doctoral Tudor Bonnet

Product Information

a b Robinson, N F (1905). "The Pileus Quadratus: An enquiry into the relation of the priest's square cap to the common academical catercap and to the judicial corner-cap". Transactions of the St Paul's Ecclesiological Society. 5: 1–16 . Retrieved 14 May 2015.

There are various styles and patterns of academic dress used throughout different universities and higher education facilities in the UK. Because each university may design its own academic dress based on the available hood and gown patterns, colours and materials, there are innumerable variations within the UK.In the UK, the tassel is shorter and is gathered at the button at the centre of the board. The U.S. style is slightly longer, gathered at a cord attached to the button. A. Unfortunately, we are unable to tell you what you have been studying for, please ask your course tutor or the university or college registry. Uniquely, the mortarboard has a mourning version, which is to be worn when mourning family relatives or friends. Instead of a tassel and button, two wide ribbons are attached to the cap from corner-to-corner, forming an X. In the center of the X, a rosette of ribbon is traditionally attached. The wearing of doctoral regalia is an important tradition in academia. It symbolizes the wearer's academic achievement and expertise in their field of study. It is also a way to honor and recognize the years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that went into earning a doctoral degree. This has often been misinterpreted – urban legends at many universities like Trinity College, University of Bristol, and University of Cambridge state that men stopped wearing the cap to protest the admission of women into the university. This is not true – it was simply a matter of changing times and traditions that caused many men to stop wearing their hats.

Most of the universities in UK founded from the early nineteenth century onwards opted to put all doctors when wearing the full-dress robes in a round bonnet or some variant like a John Knox soft cap. The first PhD in the UK was introduced in 1917. Some universities distinguish PhDs and the newer professional doctors from higher doctors by putting them in a mortar-board or giving them a bonnet in cloth rather than velvet or in other ways.” Furthermore, wearing doctoral regalia is a sign of respect for the institution and the academic community. It shows that the wearer is part of a larger network of scholars who are committed to advancing knowledge and making a positive impact on society.

At the University of Cambridge, undergraduates by ancient convention used to cut their tassels very short so that the tassel does not extend beyond the edge of the board. After they graduated, they wore the square cap with the tassel at the normal length. [10] This convention has now fallen into disuse; few people now wear headgear with academic dress at any time and undergraduates in particular have no need to wear the cap. Doctoral regalia also serves as a visual representation of the academic community. It creates a sense of unity and belonging among scholars and helps to identify individuals who have earned a doctoral degree. It also promotes a sense of pride and accomplishment among those who wear it.

Mortarboards are often seen in party supply shops in the United States in May and June, when they appear in the form of party decorations, on commemorative gifts such as teddy bears, and on congratulatory greeting cards. At the University of Oxford, caps are mandatory dress for matriculation events and for all examinations. It is a commonly repeated myth at Oxford that the cap must be held and may not be worn at all except at the student's graduation; however, there is no rule in the university to this effect, and undergraduates wearing formal academic dress may either carry the cap or wear it. In particular, women undergraduates who exercise the right to wear a soft Canterbury cap must wear it on their head, rather than carrying it. Additionally, all undergraduates appearing before the Proctors' Court are required to present themselves wearing their caps, before removing them as proceedings start.

Frequently Asked Questions

The hood is the most distinctive feature of doctoral regalia. It is worn over the gown and is usually made of silk or satin. The color of the hood represents the field of study or academic discipline of the wearer. For example, a blue hood signifies a degree in philosophy, green for medicine, and purple for law. The color of the lining of the hood represents the institution that conferred the degree. The academic cap is also sometimes called the “square” or, more commonly, “mortarboard.” It has become a symbol of higher education and academia, and in some universities it is worn by undergraduates as well as graduates in lieu of the traditional hood.