What is the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony?
In the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony, the new Masters and Doctors will be given their degree in the ceremonial act of conferment, and will receive a Master’s laurel and ring or a Doctor’s hat and sword as the sign of it. Distinguished persons will also be appointed as honorary doctors in the ceremony. The Conferment of the Degrees Ceremony emphasizes the high value of education.
The tradition of the Conferment of Degrees in Finland
The first Conferment of Degrees Ceremony was arranged by the academy of Turku in 1643. The founding document of the Turku Academy from 1640 connected the institution to the traditions of Uppsala University, and through Uppsala to medieval Bologna and Paris. For centuries Doctor's, Master's, and Baccalaureus' degrees have been conferred according to this tradition.
In Finland, the traditional degree ceremonies have taken place throughout the history of our universities. Traditions are an important part of the conferment festivities, even though the degree ceremony does change with the times.
The previous Conferment of Degrees Ceremonies at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ were in 1969, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2023. Faculties have also conferred Honorary Doctorates during other festivities.
The Conferment of Master’s Degrees is organized at four Finnish universities. This is internationally unique – nowhere else in the world are conferment ceremonies held for masters. It is included in the National Inventory of Living Heritage maintained by The Finnish Heritage Agency.
