The opening ceremony will launch the University of Helsinki’s autumn term on 1 September.
The programme of the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the University will include an address by Rector Sari Lindblom as well as greetings from the Chair of the Board of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki Petra Pulli and Chair of the University of Helsinki Chapter of the Finnish Union of University Professors Edward Haeggström. The ceremony will also feature musical performances, and will be streamed live on the University’s YouTube channel and in Think Corner (Yliopistonkatu 4).
Attendance at this year’s ceremony requires prior registration, which will open on Wednesday, 20 August at 14.00. If all places are taken, you can sign up to join a waiting list. Register via this Lyyti link.
After the opening ceremony, the audience are welcome to join an ecumenical service at Helsinki Cathedral or a secular event in the Cupola Hall of the National Library of Finland. At the end of the event, coffee and refreshments will be served in the Main Building foyers from 14.00 on. After the academic celebration, the City Centre Campus will be taken over by the Opening Carnival.
All students, staff and friends of the University are welcome at the opening ceremony.
More information: helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi
Great Hall of the University of Helsinki
The opening ceremony lasts about an hour, and the audience should arrive at the Great Hall well ahead of the scheduled start time. Tickets will be checked at the doors of the Great Hall on the day of the event, September 1, 2025, starting at 11:30 AM.
Entrance: Aleksanterinkatu 5 An accessible entrance to the Great Hall is reached from the courtyard of the Main Building through the archway at Yliopistonkatu 2.
Cloakroom: Aleksanterinkatu 5 (entrance hall Aleksi). Please leave your coats and large bags in the cloakroom (free of charge) before entering the Great Hall. You may bring a small bag and mobile phone to the Great Hall.
Please note that this year the ceremony requires pre-registration and every attendee’s entrance ticket will be checked. Registration will open on 20 August 2025 at 14.00. Register for the ceremony at this link (Lyyti).
The ceremony can also be viewed via live stream at Think Corner (Yliopistonkatu 4) or on the University of Helsinki’s YouTube channel. The live stream includes sign language interpretation.
12.15
Academic procession to the Great Hall
(The University leadership and staff participating in the academic procession will convene in Foyer Rectoria on the Main Building’s second floor on Fabianinkatu at 11.55.)
Procession music: Jean Sibelius: Andante Festivo
String quartet of the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra
Opening address
Rector Sari Lindblom
Conferment poem by poet Elli Leppä
Recited by Mirjami Heikkinen
Music
Matti Johannes Koivu, guitar and vocals
Greetings from the staff and the Student Union
Chair of the University of Helsinki Chapter of the Finnish Union of University Professors Edward Haeggström
Chair of the Board of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki Petra Pulli
Music
Matti Johannes Koivu, guitar and vocals
Academic procession from the Great Hall to Helsinki Cathedral and the National Library of Finland
From approximately 13.30
Ecumenical service at Helsinki Cathedral (Unioninkatu 29)
Sermon: Parish Pastor Petja Kopperoinen
Liturgy: University Chaplain, Vicar Leena Huovinen
Secular event in the Cupola Hall of the National Library of Finland (Unioninkatu 36)
Address: Professor Susanna Lindroos-Hovinheimo
14.00
Coffee and refreshments in the foyers on the second floor of the University’s Main Building
Dress code for participants in the procession: Dark suit and doctoral hat or, for holders of doctoral degrees from universities outside Finland, other academic attire.
Dress code for the rest of the audience: Smart casual
A subtitled recording of the event will afterwards be published on the University’s website and YouTube channel.
Opening carnival on the City Centre Campus from 14.00 to 18.00.
Explore the programme on the website of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki.
Following the official opening ceremony, the opening carnival will take across the City Centre Campus. The carnival is organised by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki in cooperation with student organisations, the University of Helsinki and Think Corner.
Come and learn more about the activities of the student organisations, your Student Union and University community members, add to your student overall badge collection and enjoy the music, cheerful atmosphere and diverse programming in the Main Building, Porthania and Think Corner and on the streets of Fabianinkatu and Yliopistonkatu.
At the beginning of each academic year, the Ask Me! campaign encourages new members of the University community to ask questions about student life and everyday activity at the University. Pink badges and logos identify the people who can answer these questions. Anyone from the University community can register to participate.
You can spot the Ask Me! logo, for example, on the lapels and backpacks of University employees and students, their social media profiles and the University’s accounts in various channels.
The opening ceremony dates back to the ceremonies held at the Royal Academy of Turku for the installation of the new rector, in connection with which students enrolled at the Academy. Today, enrolment at the University appears as a tradition where the rector meets new students, while students have the opportunity to sign the rector’s guestbook, which no longer serves as a register.
The opening ceremony begins with an academic procession. In addition to the University leadership, the University staff are welcome to take part in this procession. Alternatively, the audience can take their places in the Great Hall directly on arrival. The University’s protocol specialist oversees the organisation of the academic procession.
After the procession, the rector gives her opening address, followed by representatives of the staff and the Student Union. The programme also includes music. After the conclusion of the programme in the Great Hall, the academic procession heads for the Helsinki Cathedral for a special ecumenical church service. At the same time as this service, a secular ceremony is held in Cupola Hall at the National Library of Finland.
The opening of the academic year and the church and secular services associated with it are open to everyone interested.
Dress code
The dress code for the participants in the academic procession is dark suit and doctoral hat, if applicable, or other academic attire for those holding a doctoral degree from a foreign university. The rest of the attendees are expected to consider the solemn nature of the event in their outfit choices.
Dates for the opening ceremony of the academic year from 2025 to 2031:
1.9.2025, 31.8.2026, 6.9.2027, 4.9.2028, 3.9.2029, 2.9.2030, 1.9.2031
More information: helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi