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Convocation regalia
Academic regalia is the traditional outfit worn at convocation to celebrate everything you’ve worked toward. From medieval universities — where gowns and hoods kept scholars warm and showed their academic standing — to today’s ceremonies, regalia has always symbolized achievement. Now, it represents a major milestone: the completion of your credential. During the ceremony, faculty and academic staff also wear regalia that reflects their own academic journeys and the institutions where they studied, connecting generations of scholars in one shared moment of pride.
Regalia is provided on the day of your convocation ceremony for those students who register to attend.
Regalia | What should I wear? | Personal items | Regalia as unique as you | Academic hoods | Returning regalia
Gown
The gown is a classic, formal layer worn over your outfit, marking your place in the academic community and bringing everyone together in a shared moment of ceremony. For bachelor’s graduates, the gown is traditionally navy blue and understated — its clean, simple design symbolizing the foundations of your university journey and the achievement you’ve earned.
Hood
The credential type determines the length and shape of the hood. The colour of your hood represents your program of study and symbolizes the expertise you’ve developed in your chosen field.
Mortarboard (Graduation Cap)
The mortarboard is the iconic square cap worn during convocation — one of the most recognizable symbols of academic achievement. Your tassel begins on the right side and at a special moment in the ceremony, you’ll be invited to move it to the left in the traditional “tassel toss,” marking the moment you officially become a graduate.
Best of all, your mortarboard is yours to keep. It’s a lasting reminder of everything you’ve accomplished.
Wearing your Mortarboard
The cap is traditionally worn level on your head with the point of the square facing forward. You are welcome to personalize your cap if you’d like. To do so, you’ll need to pick up your cap early, otherwise a cap will be provided on the day of your convocation. Personalizing your cap is a great way to honour the people who supported you, show your personality or celebrate how far you’ve come. Please ensure any decorations remain respectful and appropriate for a formal university ceremony.
Your comfort and self-expression matter. There are many ways to take part in the mortarboard tradition while staying true to what you wear every day. Whether you have a specific hairstyle or hair texture, personal preferences or wear a head covering, your regalia can be thoughtfully adapted to suit you.
What should I wear?
Graduates are encouraged to dress in business casual or semi-formal attire. You’ll be provided with your regalia for the ceremony — including a long gown — so most of your outfit will be covered. Still, many graduates choose to dress up to mark the occasion and feel their best when celebrating and taking photos with family, friends and supporters.
Keep in mind, you’ll be walking across the stage. Choose footwear that helps you feel confident and comfortable.
Personal items
Regalia can be quite warm. We recommend leaving sweaters, coats and suit jackets with your supporters. Try to limit personal belongings, as you’ll need your hands free to receive your credential when you cross the stage.
You’ll be seated for at least two hours — we recommend using the washroom before the ceremony begins.
To learn more about what exactly to expect on the day of your ceremony, view our Convocation Day webpage.
Academic hoods: Colours by field of study
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Child Studies
Bachelor of Communications
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Health and Physical Education
Bachelor of Interior Design
Bachelor of Midwifery
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Science
Applied Degree
Diploma and Certificate
Returning regalia
Outside of your mortarboard, which you get to keep, all regalia must be returned within 30 minutes of the conclusion of your convocation ceremony. Failure to return your regalia on time will result in fees.