Ceremonial Conferment of Degrees in Arts, Design and Architecture

The events of the ceremony week create a communal experience and an exceptional opportunity to get to know the master's and doctoral graduates of the last six years through shared activities. Dance rehearsals, as well as the wreath weaving and cape signing event, prepare for the conferment act. The following evening party and brunch is we collectively unwind after the conferment and strengthen the new connections made. Read more about the conferment tradition at Aalto University. 

Friday June 6 
17–19 Dance rehearsal 1, Kaleva-hall, Dipoli, Otakaari 24 

During the dance rehearsals, four traditional dances are learned that are performed after the conferment dinner. The dances are the polonaise, cicapo, Vienna Waltz, and Mignon waltz. 

Monday June 9 
17.30–19 Dance rehearsal 2, Kaleva-hall, Dipoli, Otakaari 24 

Wednesday June 11  
15–17 Dance rehearsal 3, Marsio, Otakaari 2 

17–20.30 Graduation Party (ceremony starts at 18)
 

19–21.30 Wreath weaving (Masters) and cape signing (Doctors), cocktail, Kipsari, Väre, Otaniementie 14 

At the wreath weaving event, the promoted masters receive a wreath that is placed on the head during the conferment act and worn at the evening party. According to tradition, the wreath is made or finalized by the master's spouse, partner, or another close person. There will also be a general wreath binder at the event to assist with the wreath for those without a close person present. At the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, the tradition is that the wreath material is different at each conferment. In 2025, the wreath materials and base are designed by Barbara Pollini. 

Doctors at the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture do not carry a doctoral sword; the tradition includes a doctoral cape in addition to the doctoral hat. The capes belong to the school, and each promoted doctor signs the cape they wear during the conferment ceremony, thus linking their name to the chain of doctors at the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture.  

Thursday June 12 
13–15 Honorary Doctors panel discussion, Marsio, Otakaari 2 

The honorary doctors of the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture in 2025 will participate in a panel discussion open to everyone. Read more here. 

16.30–19 Rehearsals for Doctors and Masters, Aalto-hall, Otakaari 1 

Participation in the rehearsals is important for all promoted doctors and masters, i.e., the promovendi. The rehearsals go through the ceremonial procession, seating, and the flow of the ceremony. Participation in the rehearsals is a prerequisite for a functioning conferment act. 

Friday June 13 
10–11 Moment of reflection, B-hall, Otakaari 1 

The moment of reflection is a calm moment to prepare for the conferment. During the short moment, texts from different philosophies and beliefs are read, and the program includes musical performances. Traditionally, the Conferment day has started with a church service, but the tradition has been updated to be non-confessional. Please note that the moment of reflection is for calmness and stillness, and participants are encouraged to sit still, and not enter or leave the B-hall during the program. 

 
12–16 Ceremonial Act of Conferment & reception, Aalto-hall, Otakaari 1 

The conferment act, i.e., the ceremony, is the most important part of the Conferment where the actual Act of Conferment takes place. During the conferment act, speeches are heard, music (conferment cantata), and honorary doctors, doctors, and masters are conferred, symbolized by placing the wreath or doctoral hat on the head. Promovendi arrive as part of a ceremonial procession and depart in the same manner. The conferment act has a specific dress code, check it here. 

The doors to Aalto hall close at 12.00. Guests who need to enter the space late, or leave early have the option to follow the live stream of the Conferment Act in the adjacent B-hall.

19–03 Conferment dinner, ball and after party, Marsio, Otakaari 2 

The evening starts with welcome drinks, followed by dinner with speeches and performances, then traditional dances. Later in the evening, celebrations continue more freely with music from a DJ. The evening party has a dress code, check it here. 

Saturday June 14 
12–15 Brunch, Restaurant Sipuli, Kanavaranta 7, Helsinki 

The conferment brunch is a relaxed event concluding the ceremony week, where food is enjoyed and a few speeches are heard. The conferment brunch is based on the tradition of the conferment trip or conferment sailing and is held in a maritime environment. 

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 Wreath Weaver 
A daughter or son of a professor of the Aalto University. The Wreath Weaver's duties include instructing the other wreath weavers in their task and weaving the wreaths of any new conferred Masters who are absent from the Wreath Weaving Dinner, and of any promovendi who do not have their own personal wreath weaver. The Ceremonial Wreath Weaver is hosting the Wreath 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 cape 
During the Act of Conferment, Doctors are dressed in a doctoral cape designed by Päikki Priha. The lining of the cape 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).

Wreath
A Master’s wreath has traditionally been the symbol of the patron of the Conferment Ceremony, Apollo, god of song, poetry and light. Master’s wreaths symbolise achievement in science and arts. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture has a different custom. For each conferment ceremony, a wreath is specially designed by the promovendi and wreath weavers, with the finishing touches made before the day of the Act of Conferment during the Wreath weaving ceremony.

Wreath Weaver 
Each Master’s companion in the ceremonies of the Conferment. Each Master’s own Wreath Weaver, usually his or her spouse, puts the final touches on the Master’s wreath.

Head Marshall
The Head Marshall is in charge of the ceremony together with the Master of Ceremonies. They are aided by student ushers. The Head Marshall 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 Marshal. The ushers serve as guides and assistants in the conferment ceremonies and festivities.