Ceremonial Conferment of Degrees in Arts, Design and Architecture
When
Where
Event language(s)
The Ceremonial Conferment is a festive event with long-standing traditions at Aalto University and its predecessors. In all Finnish universities, the traditions are rooted in medieval Europe, when the first universities were founded in Italy and France. Nowadays, Finnish universities are globally unique in keeping the conferment traditions alive.
In the Ceremonial Act of Conferment, the newly conferred doctors and masters are accepted as full members of the scientific community. A symbol of this inclusion is the specially made hat that doctors receive, and a wreath for the masters, in front of the professors and honorary doctors assembled. The ceremony also traditionally includes speeches, music and the academic procession that starts and concludes the ceremonial act of conferment. The conferment continues with a banquet that brings the academic community together. An elegant dinner, traditional ballroom dances as well as popular party music are part of the celebrations.
In addition to the conferment ceremony and the evening celebration, the ceremony week also includes other traditions and events, such as the wreath binding ceremony and the honorary doctors' seminar.
The Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral and Master's Degrees in Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University takes place 13 June 2025.
The right to participate is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The persons who
• graduated with the Doctor of Arts or Master of Arts degree between 1.5.2019— 30.4.2025
• graduated with the Doctor of Science (Architecture) degree between 1.5.2019— 30.4.2025 and
• graduated with the Master of Science (Architecture) or Master of Science (Landscape architecture) degree between 1.5.2019— 30.4.2025
are entitled to participate in the 2025 Ceremonial Conferment in Arts, Design and Architecture.
For further information:
Master of Ceremonies Sini Myllyniemi, coordinator Cecilia Gustafsson, [email protected].
Week 23
Dance rehearsal 1 (location announced later)
June 11
15-17 Dance rehearsal 2 (location announced later)
19-21 Wreath weaving (Masters) and cape signing (Doctors), cocktail
June 12
13-15 Honorary Doctors seminar
16.30 Rehearsals for Honorary Doctors
17.30-19 Rehearsals for Doctors and Masters
June 13
10-11 Moment of reflection
12-16 Conferment ceremony & reception, Aalto-sali
19-03 Conferment dinner & ball
June 14
Brunch, Suomenlinna
Act of Conferment
The Conferrer of Degrees confers the doctors and masters in the ceremony. The doctors are accepted as full members of the scientific community. The ceremony also traditionally includes speeches, music and the academic procession that starts and finishes the ceremonial act of conferment.
Ceremonial Garland Weaver
A daughter or son of a professor of the Aalto University. The Garland Weaver's duties include instructing the other garland weavers in their task and weaving the garlands of any new conferred Masters who are absent from the Garland Weaving Dinner, and of any promovendi who do not have their own personal garland weaver. The Ceremonial Garland Weaver is hosting the Garland Weaving Dinner on the conferment week.
Conferment Banquet
The Conferment celebrations continue in the Conferment Banquet, which is held after the Act of Conferment. The Conferment Banquet consists of an elegant dinner and ball. In addition to typical couples-dances, older traditional dances for couples are danced at the ball. The older dances are rehearsed in advance under the direction of a teacher.
Conferrer of Degrees
The Conferrer confers the degrees upon the promovendi and hands them the insignia. In the 2025 Conferment Ceremony, the Conferrer of Degrees will be Professor Maarit Mäkelä.
Doctoral gown
During the Act of Conferment, Doctors are dressed in a doctoral gown designed by Päikki Priha. The lining of the gown is signed with the name of every Doctor who wears it.
Doctoral hat and lyre
The doctoral hat symbolises scientific freedom. The Doctors of Arts hat is blue and in place of a classic lyre is a stone disk designed by Olli Tamminen after the helmet of Pallas Athene, manufactured from Ylämaa spectrolite. Every Doctor orders and pays for their own hats (apart from the Honorary Doctors).
Garland
A Master’s garland has traditionally been the symbol of the patron of the Conferment Ceremony, Apollo, god of song, poetry and light. Master’s garlands symbolise achievement in science and arts. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has a different custom. For each conferment ceremony, a garland is specially designed by the promovendi and garland weavers, with the finishing touches made before the day of the Act of Conferment during the Garland weaving ceremony.
Garland Weaver
Each Master’s companion in the ceremonies of the Conferment. Each Master’s own Garland Weaver, usually his or her spouse, puts the final touches on the Master’s garland.
Head Usher
The Head Usher is in charge of the ceremony together with the Master of Ceremonies. They are aided by student ushers. The Head Usher is Professor Juuso Tervo in Conferment 2025.
Honorary Doctor
Doctoris honoris causa. The School honours foreign and domestic persons of outstanding achievement by awarding Honorary Doctorates.
Master of Ceremonies
A professor or associate professor selected by the Conferment Committee to be in charge of the course of the celebrations. The Master of Ceremonies chosen for the School of Arts, Design and Architecture 2025 Conferment Ceremony is Professor Sofia Pantouvaki.
Master’s ring
The golden Master’s ring has been an insignia since the 19th century. Masters participating in the Conferment Ceremony purchase their own Master’s ring. The ring is not mandatory. The Masters of Arts ring bears the motto Pro Arte Utili.
Primus
The School awards an honorary first place to the most able new conferred Master and Doctor during the Act of Conferment. Representing the other conferees, the Primus demonstrates his or her learnedness by answering Masters or Doctoral questions posed by the professor representing the department.
Promovendi
The Master or Doctor to be conferred. Promovendi refers also to the book published for the conferment where all the conferred promovendi are listed.
Ushers
The ushers are students who work together with the Head Usher. The ushers serve as guides and assistants in the conferment ceremonies and festivities.
- Published:
- Updated: