Academic Regalia

The full academic regalia consists of a traditional gown, a hood and a mortarboard or a cap with tassel. The origin of academic dress dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when universities were taking form. The original dress of a scholar was the dress of a cleric. As buildings in those days were unheated, long gowns with hoods were worn for protection against the cold.

Gown

Black is the most common colour for academic gowns. The gown for the bachelors’ degrees has pointed sleeves, while the gown for masters' degrees has oblong sleeves. The doctoral gown is faced down the front with black or coloured velvet and with three bars of the same colour across the sleeves, and typically has bell-shaped sleeves. All SMU gowns are designed to be worn closed.

SMU Ceremonial Gowns

For the Patron, Chancellor, Chairman and Guest of Honour

SMU Official Gowns

For the President, Provost, Vice Provosts & Deans

Mortarboard

The mortarboard is usually square with a tassel attached to the middle point of the top of the cap. The tassel is usually black but may be gold for the doctoral degree. At commencement, graduates traditionally wear the tassel on the right side, moving it to the left when their degrees are conferred. Faculty participating in academic ceremonies wear the tassel to the left throughout the proceedings.

Hoods

The colours of the hood signify the field of study.

  • Bachelor of Science (Economics)
  • Master of Science in Economics
  • Master of Science in Financial Economics
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

  • Bachelor of Social Science
  • Master of Philosophy in Psychology
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

  • Bachelor of Business Management
  • SUTD-SMU Dual Degree Programme in Technology and Management
  • Executive Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Human Capital Leadership
  • Master of Science in Applied Finance
  • Master of Science in Communication Management
  • Master of Science in Innovation
  • Master of Science in Management
  • Master of Science in Quantitative Finance
  • Master of Science in Wealth Management
  • Doctor of Business Administration
  • Doctor of Innovation
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Business (General Management)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Business (Operations Management)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Business (Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Business (Strategic Management and Organisation)

  • Bachelor of Accountancy
  • Master of Professional Accounting
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in CFO Leadership
  • Doctor of Business Administration (Accounting and Finance)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting

  • Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
  • Bachelor of Science (Information Systems)
  • Master of Information Technology in Business
  • Master of Philosophy in Information Systems
  • Master of Science in Computing
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Juris Doctor
  • Master of Laws

Gonfalons & Mace

Gonfalons

The school gonfalons carry the SMU crest in the centre against a white backdrop. The lower portion of each gonfalon has the school's name fully spelt out in white against the designated colour of each School.

University Mace

The university mace represents the university's power to grant degrees. Featuring a 'retro-modernist' design, the mace incorporates the traditional metaphors of a mace with modern aesthetics suitable for the 21st century beginnings of a university.

The “SINGAPORE 2000” text at the top of the headset suggests hierarchy, with the country and state at the very pinnacle. The three sectional banners of the headset bear the symbol of the "Tangram Lion", representing SMU. The three sectional banners also represent the values of SMU in innovative pedagogy, research and educational excellence. The three jadeite inserts on the sides symbolise the staff and students of SMU, the community at large and Singapore.