Cambridge University Academical Dress. As in British universities, most South African universities have followed the dress set down by Cambridge or Oxford, and in some cases a combination of both. Afrikaans speaking universities tend to have dress which is more continental in style, like that worn in Dutch universities. Most South African universities do not prescribe an undress gown for doctors, and dress is only worn on ceremonial occasions and at graduation. Academic Dress and Insignia of the World.
Some Canadian universities follow the code as well.
The code designates the styles, colours and trim for the various degrees conferred by colleges and universities. Gown styles differ among bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. The code prescribes black for the colour of all graduates' gowns, but the doctoral gown is trimmed with velvet on the facings and has three horizontal bars of velvet on the bell-shaped sleeves. The velvet trim may be black or of a colour prescribed for the field of the degree. Hoods are designed to distinguish degree level by their length, the doctor's hood being the longest at four feet.