Regalia Guidelines

Guidelines for academic regalia at convocation

The purpose of the university's guidelines for academic regalia at convocation is to allow for inclusion while maintaining the tradition of academic regalia.

General protocol:

• Graduands are to wear the appropriate gown and hood for the degree being conferred at the convocation ceremony.

• Graduands from certificate programs wear blue bachelor gowns without a hood.

• Graduands from professional master’s diploma programs wear black master’s gowns without a hood. 

• At Toronto Metropolitan University mortarboards are only worn by graduands receiving their PhD.

Exceptions and other considerations:

• Indigenous graduands are encouraged to wear their traditional attire to convocation. They may choose to wear the academic gown and hood over top of their traditional attire, they may choose to wear only the hood, or they may choose to participate wearing only their traditional attire.

• Graduands who are in the Canadian Armed Forces, police services or fire and emergency services may choose to wear their uniform without an academic gown. The hood should still be worn and placed directly on the uniform or carried over the left arm.

• Along with their academic regalia, graduands may wear honour cords signifying their academic achievements.

• Any cultural or identity based groups on campus are permitted to wear academic stoles as a symbol of pride. It is required that any new stoles be endorsed by an official office or committee on campus, and that the Ceremonials Office be made aware of this initiative.

• Items that are not permitted to be worn over or along with academic regalia are: country flags, sports team fan items (flags, hats, scarves etc.), student group buttons or other items affixed to the gown or hood. If a graduand is wearing any of these items along with their academic regalia they will be asked to remove it.