Summary of the programme. It is advisable to check the information and more detailed instructions on the more detailed event-specific pages below.
| Date | Event | Target Group | Time and Place |
| 13th May | Flora’s Day | All attendees | Kumtähden kenttä, 12pm. Lunch at Physicum, 1pm. |
| 18th May | Pre-wreath-weaving Workshop | Master graduands who do NOT have companions at the conferment | Ostrobotnia, 1pm-6pm (you can leave when you're ready) |
| 19th May | The Dress Rehearsal | Masters & Doctors & Dancers in the guest and doctor polonaise | The Old Student house (Mannerheimintie 3), 17 - 21. |
| 22nd May | Conferment Act Rehearsal | Doctors & Masters (no companions needed) | University Main Building, Great Hall, 3pm (doctors), 4:30pm (masters) |
| 22nd May | Wreath-weaving | Wreath-weavers (master companions) | University Main Building, Agora, 3pm-6pm (you can leave when you're ready) |
| 22nd May | Rector’s Audience | Honorary Doctors, Doctors & companions | Main Building, after rehearsal, approx. 5pm |
| 22nd May | Wreath-weaving Dinner | Masters & companions | Tapahtumatalo Bank, 6pm (seated at 7pm) |
| 22nd May | Sword-whetting Dinner | Doctors & companions | Kulttuurikasarmi, 6pm (seated at 7pm) |
| 23rd May | Solemn Conferment Act | All attendees, registered family members | University Main Building, Great Hall, 9am (masters), 9:15am (doctors), starts at 10am |
| 23rd May | Laurel Ceremony/Church Service | All Act attendees | Helsinki Cathedral/City Hall, after the Act, 1:20pm |
| 23rd May | Conferment Dinner | Masters, Doctors & honorary guests | Tapahtumakeskus Koskenranta, staggered entry: 5:45pm (masters), 6pm (doctors), 6:20pm (honorary guests) |
| 24th May | Conferment Excursion | All attendees | Starting at Market Square, 9:30am. Lunch at the Grand Marina Congress Center. |
| 24th May | Conferment Ball | Masters, Doctors & honorary guests | Old Student House, staggered entry: 5:45pm (masters), 6pm (doctors), 6:20pm (honorary guests) |
| 25th May | Nocturnal Procession | All attendees (who wish to join) | Starting at Old Student House, 2am (on Sunday) |
In the morning at 10:00, the Promotion Committee gathers at Viikki Biocenter for its Latin-language festive meeting, during which the Official wreath-weaver for the conferment ceremony is chosen. After the meeting, a small group will go to propose to the chosen individual at their parents' home.
We gather at 12:00 at Kumtähden kenttä for the Flora Day park celebration, where the Official wreath-weaver is introduced. At the park celebration, speeches are heard, the traditional national anthem is sung, and a toast is raised to spring.
For those registered for lunch, Flora Day continues at 13:00 at the Kumpula campus Physicum (Gustav Hällströmin katu 2), where Flora Day lunch is served. The program concludes around 15:00.
Where and when: Ostrobotnia, 5th floor (Töölönkatu 3) from 1pm-6pm.
Before the Conferment week, a Pre-wreath-weaving Workshop will be held for those master's graduands attending without a wreath-weaver (companion) to produce their own wreaths with the help of the Official Wreath-weaver and the Conferment Committee. We also welcome those wreath-weavers who cannot make it to the actual Wreath-weaving on Thursday, 22nd of May.
No specific dress code - casual is ok.
13:00 Doors open
13:15 Welcome words & general instructions
Sewing the wreaths begins - you can leave when you are done with your wreath!
18:00 End of the event
Bring with you, if possible: a roll of green thread, a needle, a thimble & scissors. The committee has some to lend, but not enough for everyone.
Accessibility information: There is a ramp by the stairs and an elevator to the 5th floor.
Where and when: University Main Building Great Hall, 15:00 for doctors and 16:30 for masters
The Conferment week starts for all graduands on Thursday afternoon with a mandatory Conferment rehearsal in the university’s Great Hall. The timetable of the following day’s Conferment act is rehearsed.
Accessibility information: From the coat racks, there is a lift to the upper floor, and accessible entry is available via the courtyard, requiring advance notice and someone to open doors. There are stairs in the ballroom, so special arrangements and advance information are needed if necessary.
Where and when: University Main Building, Agora 15:00–18:00 (for wreath weavers, i.e. companions of the master graduands; master graduands may join briefly at the beginning before proceeding to their rehearsal in the Great Hall).
While the graduands are rehearsing the Conferment act on Thursday afternoon, the wreath-weavers, i.e. the companions of the Master graduands, will be weaving the laurel wreaths to be used the following day. The weaving will be done under the instruction of the official wreath-weaver, so no previous preparation is necessary.
The laurel wreath can also be woven on the previous Sunday, when the pre-wreath-weaving will be organised. This event can be attended by those wreath-weavers who will be unable to attend on Thursday. The Master graduands who will be attending the Conferment without wreath-weavers can also attend the Sunday pre-wreath-weaving event to make their own laurel wreaths.
Accessibility information: You can access the main building's dining hall and the Agora through the accessible entrance on Fabianinkatu without any obstacles.
Where and when: Tapahtumatalo Bank (Unioninkatu 20), doors open at 18:00 (seated at tables by 19:00). The programme concludes around 23:00.
The actual festivities of the Conferment start for the Master graduands at the wreath-weaving dinner on Thursday evening. The dinner is hosted by the honoured parent of the official wreath-weaver. The evening will feature speeches, musical numbers and festive anticipation of the following day’s Conferment act.
Accessibility information: You can enter the banquet hall directly from the street.
On Thursday afternoon, while the Master graduands are rehearsing their part of the Conferment act, the Doctor graduands and their companions (the sword-whetters) will have an audience with the rector at the main building, in Christina, beginning at approximately. 17:00. The duration is around 45 minutes.
Accessibility information: See the Conferment Act rehearsal.
Where and when: Kulttuurikasarmi (Narinkka 2), doors open at 18:00 (seated at tables by 19:00). The programme concludes around 23:00.
On Thursday evening, after the rector’s audience, the Doctor graduands and the sword-whetters will attend a dinner honouring the companions of the doctoral graduands. The evening will feature speeches, musical numbers and, of course, the ceremonial sharpening of the Doctors’ swords. Since one night is not enough to sharpen all the swords of the graduands, a handful of them will chosen to represent all the Doctor graduands. The swords will be symbolically sharpened with a whetstone using champagne.
Where and when: University Main Building, Great Hall. Master's graduands arrive at 9:00 (previously 8:45), doctoral graduands arrive at 9:15. The doors of the Great Hall will close at approximately 9:45, and the Conferment will begin at 10:00.
The conferment act is the most important and dignified event of the whole Conferment. The conferment of the academic degrees is performed in the act. In the Conferment Act, the graduand also receive the right to bear the academic insignia associated with their degrees: the Master’s ring or the Doctoral hat and sword. The Master graduand will also receive their laurel wreaths in the Conferment Act. In addition to the new graduands, the Honorary Doctors and the Jubilee Masters and Doctors are also conferred during the act.
Accessibility information: From the coat racks, there is a lift to the upper floor, and accessible entry is available via the courtyard, requiring advance notice and someone to open doors. There are stairs in the ballroom, so special arrangements and advance information are needed if necessary.
Where and when: Helsinki Cathedral or Helsinki City Hall after the Act. A procession leaves from the Great Hall at 13:00. Laudatio Solemnis will conclude around 14:00.
After the Conferment Act, the graduands will exit the university’s Great Hall as one procession that then divides into two groups based on whether the graduand will attend the Conferment church service or the secular Laurel ceremony. The reorganised processions will continue to either Helsinki Cathedral or the Helsinki City Hall. The solemn black and white processions are one of the grandest moments of the Conferment and they attract an audience of onlookers on the Senate Square.
The nondenominational Laurel ceremony is held after the Conferment Act, at the same time as the Conferment service. A procession of graduands will walk from the university's main building to the Helsinki City Hall.
The Laurel ceremony is a chance for the graduands to sit down and have a breather. The ceremony will feature a few speeches and some music. After the ceremony, the graduands will again organise into a procession to walk back to the university to receive their diplomas.
Accessibility information: At the City Hall, there is an elevator to the upper floor on the side, a custodian is needed to assist with guidance.
The Conferment church service is held after the Conferment Act, at the same time as the Laurel ceremony. A procession of graduands will walk from the university's main building to the Helsinki Cathedral.
The Conferment service is a short, ecumenical service. After the service, the graduands will again organise into a procession to walk back to the university to receive their diplomas.
Accessibility information: At the stairs of the cathedral's main entrance, there are ramps on the Church Street side. You can access the chancel via the crypt using the elevator, but this must be arranged in advance because the crypt is closed and the sexton must come to open it.
Where and when: Tapahtumakeskus Koskenranta. Staggered entry: Masters and companions 17:45, Doctors and companions 18:00, honorary guests 18:20. The programme concludes at 23:45.
Friday culminates in the Conferment dinner, which is the most dignified and festive dinner of the Conferment week. The night will feature speeches, traditional Conferment poetry and other entertainment, as well as a beautiful three-course meal, to finish the long but rewarding day. The Conferment dinner will be attended by the new Master and Doctor graduands, their companions and all honorary guests.
Accessibility information: Accessible passage using ramps.
Where and when: Starting from Kauppatori at 9:30, lunch at Grand Marina Congress Center (Katajanokanlaituri 7) around 12-14.
The Conferment excursion will take the form of a short cruise around the Helsinki archipelago. The excursion takes off from the Market Square. The boats can’t wait for latecomers, so make sure to be on time. Remember to bring your student cap! The excursion will end with the excursion lunch at the Grand Marina Congress Center. It is possible to join for the lunch only.
Accessibility information: There is accessible entry to all vessels, but Vispilä is the only one that has an accessible toilet. There is an accessible route to the lunch venue.
Where and when: Vanha Ylioppilastalo (The Old Student House). Staggered entry: Masters 17:30, Doctors 18:00, honorary guests 18:15.
The Conferment Ball is held at the Old Student House. The night will feature ceremonial dances, open ball dances and a buffet dinner. The Conferment Ball will last until about 02 a.m.
The academic dances will include the following, which can be rehearsed in-person at a general dance rehearsal, or at home through these YouTube videos.
1) Mignon
2) Cicapo
3) Pompadour
4) Krakowiak
5) Pas d’Espagne
6) Grande valse
Accessibility information: Accessible entry to the upper floor can be arranged in advance by request, the restaurant manager is needed, and access is via the outside by detouring through elevator 3B and the connecting passage, which are otherwise locked.
Where and when: Starting from Vanha Ylioppilastalo, 2:00 (on Sunday)
After the Ball, the Conferment will continue with the Nocturnal Procession. The procession will walk through the city centre spreading the Conferment spirit and stopping at certain statues to listen to the last speeches of the Conferment week. The procession will end up in front of the Main Building of the University on the Senate Square, where a final speech will greet the rising sun at 04.20 a.m.
After the procession, those celebrators who are so inclined, can head to the Conferment after party, where the last few hours of Conferment spirit welcome the early Sunday morning.
Accessibility information: Nocturnal procession in an accessible outdoor area in the city centre. The afterparty will be held at the new student building on the 6th floor, which has a ramp, a person lift, and an elevator.
WHO:
Anyone who wishes to participate can do so, but the dances available depend on the participant. Master’s contredanse francaise practice sessions can be attended by willing master’s graduands and their partners. Only those master’s graduands with their partners who have attended the practice sessions can dance the francaise at the ball. Having a pre-agreed partner is not an absolute requirement to participate in the master’s francaise. During the first dance practices, participants without partners can find a dance partner among other partnerless participants.
Everyone participating in the promotion can attend the general dance practices. The dress rehearsal is intended for all those participating in the performances (both doctoral and master’s graduands and their partners).
WHEN:
March, April, and May 2025. More details on the Conferment Ball page.
WHERE:
See the Conferment Ball page.
ACCESSIBILITY:
Locations will be published nearer the time. For further information, please contact the promotion committee: fil-promootio@helsinki.fi
DRESS CODE:
Casual clothing and indoor shoes.
WHAT IS CONTREDANSE FRANCAISE:
Contredanse Francaise is a historical seven-turn show dance for young masters, participation in which requires commitment to all practice sessions (absence due to illness or other sudden events can, of course, be accepted). Since pairs dance facing each other, the absence of a counterpart makes the practice very difficult, and dropping out midway automatically removes the counterpart from the entire francaise. Participation in the first practice session is mandatory to be included in the dance. Francaise practice sessions will also include practice for other festive dances, so those participating in francaise do not need the general practice sessions.