Why Do Graduating Students Wear Mortarboard Hats?

The mortarboard hat, with its unique square shape and tassel, is a long-standing institution in British academia. It originated in medieval Europe, where it evolved from the biretta, a similar hat worn by Roman Catholic clergy to indicate scholastic and religious authority. The square board atop the hat is said to represent the shape of a book or a scholar's desk, expressing the ideals of learning, order, and reason. The mortarboard became firmly established in British academia during the nineteenth century, serving as a visible symbol of intellectual attainment and formal research.

Academic attire in the United Kingdom is strictly enforced, particularly at historic universities like Oxford and Cambridge. The mortarboard is commonly worn alongside gowns and hoods at formal academic events such as matriculation, convocations, and graduation ceremonies. It is used for both ceremonial and symbolic purposes, representing not just academic involvement but also the end of arduous study and personal improvement.

One of the more complex traditions related with the mortarboard is the act of 'tipping' or temporarily lifting the cap during graduation ceremonies. While less theatrical than the American tradition of hurling the hat into the air, tipping the mortarboard has its own weight of significance. It is frequently a show of respect—to the chancellor or ruling academic authority, or to the audience and fellow graduates. This motion can be seen as a gracious appreciation of the graduate's support systems, teachers, and peers. At Oxford, for example, as a graduate approaches the dais to accept their degree, they may conduct a customary tip of the mortarboard, which is sometimes followed by a bow or nod.

Surprisingly, there are rigorous rules about who can wear the mortarboard and when. Undergraduates at particular universities are often not permitted to wear it during regular academic activities, limiting its use to special events. In some circumstances, the requirements are even more stringent: for example, Cambridge students do not wear their caps indoors except during a degree ceremony.

The mortarboard also serves to indicate the academic rank. Wearing the hat—and its design—can indicate one's rank at the university. While undergraduates and graduates wear the usual black mortarboard, doctoral recipients or faculty members may wear a Tudor bonnet or other extravagant headgear to represent a higher level of academic attainment.

Despite its simple form, the mortarboard is rich in symbolism. It is not just a symbol of personal academic achievement, but also a link between modern education and the centuries-old traditions of European research. The gesture of tipping the mortarboard, however simple, conveys the humility and gratitude expected of individuals entering the prestigious society of graduates. In this way, the mortarboard is an enduring symbol of British academic life—a ceremonial cap that crowns both intelligence and tradition.