<P> The academic dress of the United Kingdom and Ireland has a long history and has influenced the academic dress of America and beyond . The academic square cap was invented in the UK as well as the hood which developed from the lay dress of the medieval period . </P> <P> Irish academic dress is virtually the same as that in the United Kingdom given the common history and proximity of each other . Many other Commonwealth countries also follow British cuts and design of academic dress, most notably Australia and New Zealand though some are beginning to evolve away from British cuts such as Canada of which University of Toronto has slowly introduced American gowns that close at the front . </P>

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