Ceremonial Conferment of Degrees in Arts, Design and Architecture

In the Ceremonial Act of Conferment, the newly conferred doctors are accepted as full members of the scientific community. A symbol of this inclusion is the specially made hat that doctors receive in front of the professors and honorary doctors assembled. The ceremony also traditionally includes speeches, music and the academic procession that starts and finishes 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.

The Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral and Master's Degrees in Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University took place on 13 June 2019. 

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 21.4.2012-30.4.2019

- graduated with the Doctor of Science (Architecture) degree between 1.6.2018-30.4.2019 and

- graduated with the Master of Science (Architecture) or Master of Science (Landscape architecture) degree between 1.1.2012-30.4.2019

were entitled to participate in the 2019 Ceremonial Conferment in Arts, Design and Architecture.

For further information:

Master of Ceremonies Tatu Pohjola, Aalto University, [email protected], +358 50 5760 125

See also:

Programme of the Ceremonial Conferment

Dress code

Conferment Glossary

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 2019 Conferment Ceremony, the Conferrer of Degrees will be Professor Lily Díaz-Kommonen.

Doctoral gown
During the Act of Conferment, Doctors are awarded a doctoral gown designed by Päikki Priha. The lining of the gown is personalised with the name of the Doctor.

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 spectrolite from Ylämaa. Every Doctor orders and pays for their hats themselves (apart from the Honorary Doctors).

Garland
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 the 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.

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 Turkka Keinonen in Conferment 2019.

Honorary Doctor
Doctoris honoris causa. The School honours foreign and domestic persons of outstanding achievement by awarding Honorary Doctorates.

Ushers
The ushers are students who work together with the Head Usher. The ushers are guides and assistants in the conferment ceremonies and festivities.

Master’s ring
The golden Master’s ring has been an insignia since the 19^th century. Masters participating in the Conferment Ceremony purchase their Master’s ring themselves. The ring is not mandatory. The Masters of Arts ring bears the motto Pro Arte Utili.

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 2019 Conferment Ceremony is Professor Mira Kallio-Tavin.

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.

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.