What is the difference between a bachelor's gown and a master’s gown?

In Australia, the majority of bachelor gowns have open bell-shaped sleeves and are open at the front. Universities in Australia model their bachelor gowns on the gowns worn at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in the UK. Our bachelor gowns are made from a premium recycled polyester blend fabric and feature a tightly pleated yoke.

Master’s graduation gowns are made from the same black “stuff” fabric and have a similarly tightly pleated yoke and open front. The main difference is that the gown sleeves are much longer, crescent shaped and closed at the ends. There is also a horizontal arm-slit just above the elbow.

Both bachelor and master’s gowns are made from our premium fabric that is 70% recycled polyester, manufactured from recycled plastic waste. This is then blended with 30% viscose for a soft finish. Every graduation gown contains a minimum of 550g of recycled plastic waste, which equates to at least 28 500ml plastic bottles. The final result is a soft fabric that feels like a much more expensive wool garment while also being crease resistant, hard-wearing and better for the environment.

What colour is a bachelor gown?

The vast majority of Australian universities such as the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne choose to use black gowns, however, some such as the University of Wollongong and Deakin University wear blue gowns. Please check the our uni specific pages to see what colour gown is used at your university by visiting the Select Your University page.

Origins, History and Purpose of Graduation Gowns

Graduation gowns, also known generally as university regalia, have a long and rich history dating back to the medieval period in Europe. Specifically, the universities of Cambridge and Oxford have played an important role in the development of academic dress and it’s adoption at universities around the world and in Australia. Originally the gowns served a practical purpose, to keep their owners warm during lectures, however, they eventually evolved to become ceremonial, worn by scholars as a symbol of their status and learning. Over time, the tradition of wearing graduation gowns at universities became widespread and is now a staple of academic ceremonies across the world. In Australia we follow the UK tradition of academic dress and our gowns are modelled off those worn at either Cambridge or Oxford. Today, graduation gowns serve as a symbol of achievement, as well as a way for students to show pride in their university and academic accomplishments.

Graduation gowns come in different styles, colours, fabrics and designs, depending on the degree and the university. For undergraduate students, in addition to wearing a bachelor gown, they will often also wear an academic hood (colours) and graduation hat (also called a mortarboard) with tassel, which are part of the academic regalia. The use of graduation gowns and regalia is a tradition that has been passed down through generations and continues to be an important part of university graduation ceremonies and college life.

Wholesale Bachelor Graduation Gowns

Churchill Gowns supplies its bachelor and undergraduate gowns to several wholesale customers in Australia, including high schools, tertiary institutions, residential colleges and universities both in Australia and overseas. If you are interested in ordering wholesale bachelor graduation gowns then please contact us via our wholesale graduation gowns and accessories page. For bulk orders we are more than happy to customize the academic dress to your exact specifications, including the colour and style of the robes. We would also be happy to send you a sample graduation gown so that you can examine the quality and see if it is right for your institution.