Unitec Regalia Guide

Unitec has worked very closely with Academic Dress Hire to ensure the quality of the regalia on hire to students for graduation. This is particularly important for the correct colour of hoods as these are specified in the University’s regulations. Academic Dress Hire then uses the profits generated from regalia hire to support a variety of scholarships, grants and donations at the university and other institutions.

Below you will find the latest tips and guidelines from Unitec about what to wear for graduation.

Certificate/Diploma Bachelor and Masters Degree Cultural Dress The Gown The Trencher The Stole (also called Scarf) The Hood

PostGraduate Diploma Set learn more here

Certificate/Diploma

If you are being awarded a certificate or diploma, your academic regalia consists of a black undergraduate gown only.

If you are receiving a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma you have two choices:

Previous Degree: If you hold a Bachelor or Masters degree you may wear Gown, Degree Hood, Trencher, Diploma Stole

No Previous Degree: If you do not hold a previous degree you wear a Bachelor Gown and Diploma Stole
 

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Bachelor and Masters Degree

If you are being conferred with a degree, your academic regalia consists of a Bachelor Gown, Degree Hood and Trencher. In the old medieval tradition, the hood was replaced with the trencher on graduation as an acknowledgement of the new academic status - so please don't wear your trencher until your degree has been conferred by the Council Chair.

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Cultural Dress

What else you wear is your own personal choice. Academic gowns are quite warm, so lighter clothing is more comfortable. It is also considered appropriate to add a garment of honour from your own tradition - a korowai or ta'ovala, for example - and this may be worn over your academic gown. 

When choosing footwear, please bear in mind the length of the procession and that the route takes you along some uneven paths and steep streets. There are also stairs to and from the stage.

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The Gown

Everyone must wear a gown appropriate to their qualification 

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The Trencher

 The graduate cap (up to the level of Masters) is a black trencher with a tassel. The deeper peak of the cap goes to the back.

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The Stole (also called Scarf)

Diplomates receiving a postgraduate diploma wear a stole over the costume appropriate to the diplomate's degree. If the diplomate is not a graduate, the stole is worn over a black gown.

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The Hood

Disciplines are identified by the colour of the hood lining. The masters hood is dark green, rather than black. Unitec’s hoods have the distinctive raparapa on the V-band. The 'raparapa' in its free flowing form was created by Unitec's’s inaugural Pae Arahi Haare Williams. It signifies the coming together of all cultures in their quest to seek knowledge, skills and understanding. The motif does not acknowledge failure, but focuses on providing appropriate support to succeed. The raparapa allows the students to then flow in both directions to meet the many challenges of society.