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University of Bologna -

Ceremonies for graduating students date back to the first universities in Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The first degree-awarding institution of higher learning is the University of Bologna in Italy. Founded in 1088, it is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world.

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University of Oxford -

The world's second-oldest university in continuous operation is Oxford in England. It was founded in 1096.

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University of Salamanca -

Spain's University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 and is the oldest university in the Hispanic world.

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University of Coimbra -

The University of Coimbra in Portugal is also among the world's oldest universities, having been established in 1290.

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Origins of the degree -

The concept of receiving a degree, however, is rooted in Islam. The ijazah, a license authorizing its holder to transmit a certain text or subject, is accepted by many historians as the origin of the university academic degree, as well as the doctorate. Pictured is an ijazah from the 13th century certifying competency in calligraphy.

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Academic dress and regalia -

Graduation gowns evolved from the long and loose-fitting clerics' garments worn by medieval scholars in the 12th century.

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Gowns and hoods -

The gown and the hood also served a more practical purpose in that it provided a way for scholars to keep warm in the draughty and unheated stone-clad buildings of the era.

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The graduation cap -

The graduation cap descended from the upright cap with three or four peaks worn by Roman Catholic clergy.

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Wearing the right colors -

While graduation gowns signify academic achievement, academic regalia colors are determined by the field of study undertaken. Here, doctorates are pictured wearing the Spanish doctor's academic dress with colors used for the various academic fields.

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A study in color -

Colors were assigned to signify certain areas of study in the 1800s. This portrait of Fernando Bissaya Barreto depicts the Portuguese scholar and politician wearing academic regalia. He was a professor of medicine at the University of Coimbra. Image: José Malhoa (1855–1933)

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Oxbridge dons -

By the 19th century, most scholars in Great Britain and Europe had discarded the traditional gown for more conventional dress. However, Oxford and Cambridge are two of the few universities worldwide that still require their professors to wear the gown within the classroom.

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Degrees of excellence -

In Europe in the 12th century, Latin was the language of scholars. "Degree" and "graduate" come from gradus, meaning "step." The first step was admission to a bachelor's degree. The second step was the masters step.

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Bettisia Gozzadini (1209–1261) -

The University of Bologna was the first university to confer the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in the late 12th century; it also conferred similar degrees in other subjects, including medicine. Interestingly, Bettisia Gozzadini graduated in law from the university in 1237, one of the first women in the world awarded a degree. She later taught at the university.

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Categories by degrees -

There are generally four categories of degrees: associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral.  The bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree ceremony dates back to 1432 at Oxford University.

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A uniform education -

In the United States, meanwhile, a group of American colleges and universities attempted to standardize their gowns, giving special attention to the sleeves, cut and styled according to the type of degree being studied for.

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Dress code -

All gowns were to be black with "each cap ornamented with a long tassel attached to the middle point at the top," according to the 'Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume,' published in 1895. Pictured is writer Mark Twain in his mortarboard and academic gown.

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Ceremonial mace -

Maintaining a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages is the toting by a school president or chancellor of a ceremonial mace during graduation ceremonies. It's meant to symbolize the authority of the academic institution.

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Symbolic hood -

In the United States, master's and doctoral graduates are given symbolic hoods that originate back to the Celts. Hoods and capes were worn by Druid priests as a representation of their high status and superior intelligence.

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Flipping the tassel -

In American high schools and colleges, students flip their mortarboard tassels from right to left upon receiving a diploma or degree. It's to signify the moving on from one stage of life to the next.

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Class ring -

Graduate cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point receive class rings, a tradition that dates back to 1835. The rings are customized for each cadet and worn to show pride and a sense of accomplishment. The ring pictured here belonged to John F. Kennedy.

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'Pomp and Circumstance' -

The music used to accompany the traditional graduation march in the US is 'Pomp and Circumstance.' Composed by Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1934), the music was first performed in England in 1902 to honor the coronation of King Edward VII of Great Britain. It made its US graduation debut in 1905 when Yale bestowed an honorary degree on Elgar.

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Celebrity speakers -

Graduation ceremonies at some of the more prestigious US seats of learning often feature celebrity speakers. For instance, in May 2023 actor Tom Hanks was a guest at the 372nd Commencement at Harvard.

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Commencement address -

In 2022, Taylor Swift delivered the commencement address to New York University graduates.

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The class of '23 -

Pictured: a group of female graduates from the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, relax in graduation robes after receiving their degrees in this candid 1923 photograph. Founded in 1410, St Andrews is another one of the world's oldest existing universities in continuous operation.

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Richard Theodore Greener (1844–1922) -

Pioneering African-American scholar Richard Theodore Greener was the first African American to graduate from Harvard, in 1870. He also graduated from law school at the University of South Carolina, only to also be hired as its first black professor. He went on to serve as dean of the Howard University School of Law.

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Cap tossing tradition -

The tradition of tossing graduation caps into the air began in 1912 at the United States Naval Academy. This is because Navy graduates had to serve their first two years as midshipmen before becoming full-fledged officers, and they needed to wear a different hat during this period. When new headwear was presented to the officers, they threw their old caps skywards. The tradition quickly spread to universities across the nation, and eventually the world.

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Up in the air -

Here, graduates throw their caps into the air as they celebrate after their graduation ceremony at the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

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The mortarboard -

The graduation cap is also known as a mortarboard, so named because it resembles the boards bricklayers used to hold mortar. It's long been a tradition to decorate them with messages. In a sign of the times, this solitary graduate at Indiana University has decorated her mortarboard with a peace symbol.

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The tradition continues -

In this photograph, female graduates in gowns throw their mortarboards into the air at Goldsmiths, University of London in England. But not all graduates at British universities can indulge in this time-honored tradition.

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Up in arms -

In 2016, the University of East Anglia in England banned the customary mortarboard toss due to health and safety concerns. The university cited a number of students hurt by falling hats as the reason, according to the BBC.

Sources: (JSTOR) (History) (The Daily Universe) (American Council on Education) (College Board) (Academic Apparel) (The Intercollegiate Registry of Academic Costume) (Graduation Source) (BBC) 

See also: Take a look at some of the world's most beautiful university campuses

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