Practical information for Participants

Ceremony Rehearsal, Sword-whetting -ceremony

Option 1: Dress or jacket suit colorful preferred, can be a jacket/dress combination or a sophisticated trouser suit.

Option 2: Dark suit (black or dark blue)

Conferment Ceremony

Option 1: Black full-length dress with long sleeves and no décolletage, black shoes with closed toes, black socks/tights, black gloves, no handbag, fur or heavy jewellery

The dress must be full-length, with long sleeves and no décolletage. The fabric must be discreet; glitter, strong patterns and large frills are not appropriate for the daytime ceremony. A practical solution is to wear a long-sleeved jacket with a high neckline on top of a low-cut dress during the daytime ceremony. This removes the need to get a different outfit for the evening. For hair, it is advisable to consider the demands set by the doctoral hat. Heavy jewellery, fur or handbag is not to be worn.

Option 2: White tie: tailcoat, black vest, white shirt and bow tie, white gloves, black leather shoes (no patent leather), no pocket handkerchief, no wrist watch

Conferment Dinner and Ball

Option 1: Black full-length ball gown, black shoes, small and elegant evening bag, jewellery

The dress for the evening events can be low-cut and strapless. The shoes must be delicate and closed-toed, and the evening handbag must be elegant and small enough to be carried in hand. Jewellery can be extravagant.

Option 2: White tie: tailcoat, white vest, white shirt, white bow tie, white pocket handkerchief, no wrist watch

Patent leather shoes are allowed at the dinner and at the ball. Socks must be black. Pocket handkerchief pocket handkerchief can be worn at the dinner and at the ball as long as honorary medals are not worn.

Informal excursion

Informal suit, student cap

Further information

Doctoral Hat: New doctors wear the hat on all events on Friday. 

Doctoral Sword: The doctoral sword can only be used by the newly conferred doctors, honorary doctors, conferrers of degrees and officiants

Option 1 have to carry the sword in a manner suitable for their outfit because the material of the evening gowns cannot support the scabbard. The dresses of the female doctors should have a belt or some type of a clip for the sword that matches with the dress. The sword supplier's selection includes belts that suit this purpose or you can use the belt loop that comes with the sword. If using the belt or planning how to attach the sword to the dress is unreasonably difficult, the sword can also be carried on the left hand.

Option 2 wear the sword in a clip, for which a sturdy loop needs to be sewn in the vest. The sword comes with a belt loop that can also be used. If you use the belt loop, two buttons needs to be sewn to trousers.

Decorations: Decorations are to be worn on the conferment day only (act, dinner, ball). White pocket handkerchief should not be worn with the medals.

Gloves: Only doctors and honorary doctors wear gloves during Friday’s daytime events. Gloves are mandatory at the Conferment Ceremony.

Prosession: A separate overcoat is not to be worn in the procession. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Ceremony Rehearsal, Sword-whetting -ceremony

Option 1: Dress or jacket suit colorful preferred, can be, a jacket/dress combination or a sophisticated trouser suit.

Option 2: Dark suit (black or dark blue)

Conferment Ceremony

Option 1: Black, no décolletage dress, length optional (not ankle length), long sleeves, black shoes, no gloves

The fabric must be discreet; glitter, strong patterns and large frills are not appropriate for the daytime ceremony.  Heavy jewellery, fur or handbag is not to be worn.

Option 2: White tie: tailcoat, black vest, white shirt, white bow tie, no pocket handkerchief, no wrist watch, no gloves, black leather shoes and black socks.

White tie on the conferment day, using a black vest in the daytime ceremony and a white vest in the evening events. Shirt and bow tie must be white in all the events. 

Conferment Dinner and Ball

Option 1: Black or colored full-length ball gown, black shoes, small and elegant evening bag, jewellery

The dress for the evening events can be low-cut and strapless. The shoes must be delicate and closed-toed, and the evening handbag must be elegant and small enough to be carried in hand. Jewellery can be extravagant.

Option 2: White tie: tailcoat, white vest, white shirt, white bow tie, white pocket handkerchief, black patent leather shoes, no wrist watch

Patent leather shoes are allowed at the dinner and at the ball. Socks must be black. Pocket handkerchief pocket handkerchief can be worn at the dinner and at the ball as long as honorary medals are not worn.

Informal excursion

Informal suit, student cap

Further information

Doctoral Hat: The doctoral hat can be worn on Friday's events by all participants should they have a hat. 

Doctoral sword: The doctoral sword can only be used by the newly conferred doctors, honorary doctors, conferrers of degrees and officiants

Decorations: Decorations are to be worn on the conferment day only (act, dinner, ball). White pocket handkerchief should not be worn with the medals.

Conferment Ceremony

Option 1: Black jacket suit or dress (length optional), long sleeves, black shoes, no gloves

Option 2: Dark suit OR White tie: tailcoat, black vest, white bow tie, black shoes, no gloves, no wrist watch

Conferment Dinner and Ball

Option 1: Colourful full-length evening gown (not completely black nor white)

Option 2: White tie: tailcoat, white vest, white shirt, white bow tie, no wrist watch (or dark suit)

Further information

Audience participating in the Conferment Ceremony only must also follow the dress code for the event i.e. the female or male guest's dress code. This also applies to the personnel of the university and doctors' own guests.

In the Conferment Ceremony, at the dinner and at the ball the guest can also wear a dress uniform, like a clerical uniform or a formal military uniform, instead of white tie or dark suit. The national dress is not an academic evening dress.

Doctoral hat: The doctoral hat can be worn on Friday's events by all participants should they have a hat.

Doctoral sword: The doctoral sword can only be used by the newly conferred doctors, honorary doctors, conferrers of degrees and officiants.

Decorations: Decorations are to be worn on the conferment day only (act, dinner, ball). White pocket handkerchief should not be worn with the medals.

Gloves: Only doctors and honorary doctors wear gloves.

Procession: University of Vaasa staff participating in the procession: A separate overcoat is not to be worn in the procession. Comfortable shoes are recommended.