Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin "baccalaureus") or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin "baccalaureatus") is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to seven years (depending on institution and academic discipline). In some institutions and educational systems, some bachelor's degrees can only be taken as graduate or postgraduate degrees after a first degree has been completed. In countries with qualifications frameworks, bachelor's degrees are normally one of the major levels in the framework (sometimes two levels where non-honours and honours bachelor's degrees are considered separately), although some qualifications titled bachelor's degrees may be at other levels (e.g. MBBS) and some qualifications with non-bachelor's titles may be classified as bachelor's degrees (e.g. the Scottish MA and Canadian MD).
Academic dress of University of Melbourne
The hoods are all black
lined with the colour specified for the relevant faculty or degree,
and bound with white (on the lower edge) for bachelors,
and no binding for masters. The faculty or degree colours are specified in the University Regulations.
Formerly, Pass degrees were bound in
fur and Honours
in silk
— however the distinction no longer exists.
Bachelors wear an Oxford Bachelors gown,
and Masters an Oxford Masters gown.
The undergraduate gown is the same as the bachelors,
but the sleeves must not be split.
Masters
may wear the mortar board, however undergraduate students and Bachelors are not permitted to wear the mortar board. This rule is strictly applied and extends to graduation photography as well as the ceremony itself.