Academic

Academic robes are worn mainly in academic settings. They are typically used during formal occasions such as graduations by the faculty or students of a university or college. While in modern times, academic robes are typically only used during ceremonies, in the past the formal dress was worn daily. The full outfit consists of a gown, a separate hood and often a cap of some sort. Academic dresses are used in most universities through the Commonwealth of Nations and the United States. The tradition of academic gowns and hoods began in Oxford and Cambridge before spreading to other areas. It is tradition to wear formal dress beneath the gown, even if the clothing cannot be seen. Matthew F. Sheehan offers a variety of academic gowns to choose from in many styles and designs. Whether you’re looking for doctoral robes, a doctor of philosophy academic gown or another design, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from. Our academic gowns and hoods colors are often coordinated to match common school colors. Decorations on the gown, such as doctoral bars, may be used to signify the degree awarded to the wearer.