Practical information for participants
Acquiring the doctoral hat and sword
In the Conferment Ceremony, the doctors are awarded the right to use their insignia, the hat and the sword. Every participant must acquire both for the ceremonies at their own expense or borrow them from a colleague.
Doctoral hat
We recommend ordering the hat as soon as possible, as delivery times may be long. The hats are custom-made according to individual measurements, and the university’s own golden emblem is attached to the velvet band of the hat. If you don’t have the chance to visit a hat store for measurements, contact them for more information on how to do the measuring yourself.
All fields of science at the University of Vaasa have the same kind of black hats. The special brimmed hats for technology are not used in our university.
You can also borrow a doctor’s hat from a colleague for the ceremonies. Please ensure that it’s black and has the emblem used in our university.
See contact details and prices of hat makers below.
E.R. Wahlman
Normal price is €745 (includes box). You get a 10% discount if you order by 30 March 2024, and the price will be €670.
The delivery time is usually around four weeks, but it depends on the number of orders. It is longer in the spring because of several conferments.
You can place your order in our store in Helsinki, Oulu or Tampere in Sokos Pukumies. Go to the Wahlam website for details.
When ordering, the head is measured, and the shape is checked with a measuring device.
Hattuateljee Memmu Lankila
The doctor's hat costs €649, including VAT, storage box and emblem. The hats are made entirely by hand in Finland, by a master craftsman.
If you order a hat in 2023, you will get a small discount, and the price will be €629.
Head size and shape can also be measured remotely. Ask for handy do-it-yourself measuring instructions by email. The finished hat can be sent by post.
See the Tohtorinhattu website for more information.
Hattuhuone / modisti Anita Valo
The price of a hat in 2023 is €600. The price includes the hat, emblem, name label and storage box.
Measurements by agreement in Tampere, Kuninkaankatu.
Contact by e-mail anita.valo@hattuhuone.fi or sms/call 040 555 4200
The delivery time is 1–6 months, depending on order quantity.
Go to the Hattuhuone website for more information.
Ab Melanders Hattfabrik Oy
The price of the hat is €699 (€563.71 without VAT).
The price includes the hat, university emblem, storage box, measurements and delivery.
The hats are measured using a formatter. We do measurements constantly all over Finland.
For doctors abroad, we have a special simple measuring tool that allows the recipient to determine the shape of their head.
Our delivery time is about five weeks.
See the Melanders Hattfabrik website for more informationor email info@melandershattfabrik.fi
Tohtorinhatut Harvest EB
Hat price: €635 including emblem, storage box, name label, delivery, and VAT.
Delivery time is 5–8 weeks, express delivery under 4 weeks (extra cost)
Please note: Measurement service Mode Midinetti in Vaasa, contact details and instructions on our website. Measurement service in Oulu, Jyväskylä, Tampere, Turku and Helsinki. The service fee for the measuring service varies from 25 to 35 euros and is paid separately directly to the shop.
Go to the Doctoral Hats website for more information or email info@harvesteb.com
Doctoral sword
The sword used at the ceremonies is Finland's official civilian sword. It comes with a scabbard and a black or golden holder. The university's golden symbol will also be on the sword. Your name and the date of the Conferment Ceremony are etched on the sword.
It is also possible to borrow the sword. However, it must be a civilian sword and have the symbol of our university.
See contact details and prices for sword deliverers below.
Melanders Hattfabrik
Exclusive sale of original German WKC Solingen doctoral swords designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Gold plating is genuine 24k gold. The price of the sword is €405 (€326.61 without VAT). The sword, scabbard, bracket loop, protective bag, engraving and delivery are included in the price.
See the Melanders Hattfabrik website for more information
AU-Holmberg
Offer coming soon.
Go to the Au-Holmberg website for more information.
Dress code
Dress code for the festivities follows the old academic traditions. Doctors are dressed in black at the main events. On Friday, men wear a white tie and women full-length, formal evening dresses. On Thursday and on Saturday, the dress code allows less formal clothing.
Doctors, their companions and other guests have different dress codes so please read the upcoming instructions thoroughly.
Instructions will be published shortly.
Registration
All doctoral candidates at the University of Vaasa who have not participated in a previous Ceremonial Conferment are eligible to participate as doctoral candidates. New PhDs graduating in July 2024 still have time to register.
Doctors usually attend the graduation with their spouse or other companion. The companion will take parti in all three days of the ceremony. It is also possible to participate without a companion.
Registration will open in early 2024.
Accommodation
We have reserved quotas of rooms 19–21 September 2024 at hotels in Vaasa. Each participant will make their own reservation and will pay their own accommodation to the hotel. Please make your reservation in good time.
Sokos hotel Vaakuna
€107 / single standard room / night
€127 / double standard room / night
€122 / single superior room / night
€142 / double superior room / night
Prices include VAT, breakfast buffet, access to hotel sauna and gym.
Use this code: BPROMOOTIO when making the reservation by 12 September 2024.
Make your reservation at Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna | Hotelli Vaasa - sokoshotels.fi using the code above, or call /email the hotel directly : +358 20 780 8850 tai sales.vaasa@sok.fi
Payment and cancellation policy: Room reservations made within this quota must be confirmed by credit card or paid at the time of booking. The final cancellation date for individual bookings from this quota is 7 days before the arrival date. We prefer you make the reservations by phone or online. Please note that for data protection reasons, credit card details may not be sent by e-mail.
Sokos Hotel Royal Vaasa
104 € / single standard room / night
124 € / double standard room / night
119 € / single superior room / night
139 € / double superior room / night
Prices include VAT, breakfast buffet, access to hotel sauna and gym.
Use this code: BPROMOOTIO when making the reservation by 12 September 2024.
Payment and cancellation policy: Room reservations made within this quota must be confirmed by credit card or paid at the time of booking. The final cancellation date for individual bookings from this quota is 7 days before the arrival date. We prefer you make the reservations by phone or online. Please note that for data protection reasons, credit card details may not be sent by e-mail.
Hotell Astor
Single room 108 euro / night
Double room 128 euro / night
Double room with private sauna or jacuzzi 142 euro / night
Extra bed 34 euro / night
Prices include breakfast, internet and VAT.
Make your reservation with the code "Promootio2024" by calling 062369111 or sending an email to astor@astorvaasa.fi by August 19, 2024
Payment: Cash or the most common creditcards (American Express, Eurocard, Diners Club, Visa)
Cancellation Policy: No charge 2 two weeks before arrival day. 1 week before arrival we accept -10% in case of illness.
Hotel Scandic Vaasa & Scandic Waskia
We are happy to offer your guests a discount on the daily rate. Reservations can be made at scandichotels.fi using the booking code FIARB.
Guests can choose their preferred hotel and room type and receive an additional discount when paying at the time of booking.
The cancellation policy for an individual reservation depends on the type of reservation chosen by the guest.
Rooms are subject to availability according to the hotel's booking status, the hotel reserves the right to unilaterally close the availability of the promotional rate.
Make reservation here: https://www.scandichotels.fi/?bookingcode=FIARB
Scandic Friends members should also check the available loyalty offers.