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Permission to arrange the Degree Ceremony

It has been a tradition at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ that a Committee from Student Union of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ asks the Rector's permission to arrange the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony, after which the preparations start. Chair of the Student Union Board Venla Suosalo and Executive Director of Student Union Teemu Vasama asked Rector's permission to arrange the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony on 3 February 2025. Rector Jari Ojala gave permission to arrange the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony 2026.

Garland weaving

All promovendi have their own garland weavers (either a companion or another Master promovendus or promovenda) who make them a laurel garland according to the Ceremonial Garland Weaver's instructions, the laurel leaves being sewn by hand into each garland. The earlier Ceremonial Garland Weavers and gratista help weavers. The laurel garland is symbol of knowledge. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel garland on his head. After the weaving there is a dinner with speeches.

Act of Conferment

The actual conferment of degrees and the granting of Honorary Doctor's titles takes place at noon on Saturday. The ceremony follows a precise choreography.

Before conferment, the Primus Masters and Doctors demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the Promovendi by answering the Ceremonial questions, posed by their Professors. 

Once the answers have been approved, the conferment may begin. One by one, the promovendi step up onto the Parnassus to receive their academic insignia (laurel garland and master’s ring or doctoral hat and sword) from the Conferrer of Degrees. Many of the speeches in the Act of Conferment are held in Latin. 

Speeches and music are an important part of the Act of Conferment. Music is usually Finnish classical music and programme will traditionally include at least Andante Festivo by Jean Sibelius. 

A new piece is also commissioned for the Conferment Ceremony, and it receives its premiere in the Act of Conferment. The ceremony ends with the Finnish national anthem.

Degree Ceremony Procession

After the act of conferment a procession forms to go to the church service. The procession is lead by the Master of Ceremonies, followed by the Conferrer of Degrees, Honorary Doctors, the new Doctors and Masters, Rector and Vice rectors, the administrative director, Professors according to their years of service, the Head Marshal, the Ceremonial Garland Weaver, previous Ceremonial Garland Weavers and other garland weavers.

Degree Ceremony Dinner and Ball

In the evening, after the church service, there is a degree ceremony dinner with speeches and music. Part of the programme is the recitation of a poem that has been made for the Conferment Ceremony by Conferment Poet.

After the dinner there is a Ball where the conferred Masters and Doctors perform old dances, such as the polonaise, which have been rehearsed before the Conferment Ceremony. The ball also entails several other traditional elements, such as honouring the people key to the conferment by carrying them on a sedan chair and the release of the marshals from their duties.

After the Ball all the attendants arrange themselves into a procession and dance polonaise on their way out to a beautiful park on the shore of lake Jyväsjärvi. There they admire and address a speech to the rising sun.