Publiikki Graduation Event

Please register for the Graduation Ceremony no later than 4 December 2026.

When registering, you will also be asked to provide the names of your guests (1–3 persons) and any dietary requirements they may have.

Detailed instructions for participants will be sent by email approximately one week before the event.

Register for Publiikki

The Graduation Ceremony programme includes:

• a greeting from the Rector
• greetings from the Deans
• individual recognition of graduates on stage
• a speech by a graduate

The event, including refreshments, lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

A professional photographer will be available next to the photo backdrop in the lobby of Restaurant Mathilda. Graduates and their guests are welcome to have their photographs taken, and all registered participants will receive a download link to the photographs after the event.

The Graduation Ceremony is a distinguished academic celebration based on long-standing academic traditions and honours the significant achievements of the graduates. For many graduates, it is an important milestone shared with family members, friends, university leadership, staff, and fellow graduates.

To ensure that every graduate can enjoy this special occasion in a dignified and uninterrupted atmosphere, we kindly ask all participants to observe the following guidelines:

• The ceremony begins promptly at the announced time.
• The auditorium doors will be closed when the ceremony begins. Late arrivals will be admitted only after the Rector's greeting and opening programme have concluded. This practice helps ensure that speeches, performances, and the recognition of graduates can take place without disruption.
• During the ceremony, guests are expected to remain seated and refrain from moving around the auditorium while the programme is in progress.
• Participants are kindly requested to avoid leaving the auditorium during the programme. If it is necessary to leave, re-entry will be permitted only during the next suitable break in the programme.
• Conversations should take place outside the auditorium.
• Mobile devices must be kept on silent mode throughout the event.

Children at the Ceremony

Children are warmly welcome to attend the Graduation Ceremony. Due to the formal nature of the event, we kindly ask that children participate in a calm and respectful manner.

If a child uses a phone, tablet, or other device during the ceremony, it must be used without sound.

Colouring sheets and coloured pencils will be available in the upper foyer area to help make the event enjoyable for younger guests.

Children must remain under the supervision of their parent or guardian at all times. Running, playing, or moving independently in the auditorium, stairways, or on the stage during the programme is not permitted, as this may disturb speakers, performers, and graduates during their moment of recognition.

If a child is unable to remain quiet or seated, we kindly ask the parent or guardian to step outside the auditorium with the child for a while. This helps ensure that speeches, musical performances, and the recognition of graduates can take place without disruption.

Coffee and refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

The University of Vaasa is committed to responsible and sustainable event practices. Refreshments are ordered based on the number of registered participants to ensure that there is enough for everyone while minimising food waste.

To ensure that all guests can enjoy the refreshments, we kindly ask participants to take one slice of cake per person during the first round of serving. Additional servings may be taken once all guests have had the opportunity to collect their refreshments.

We thank all participants for helping us ensure that the refreshments are fairly shared and that sustainable event practices are supported.

The Graduation Ceremony is a formal occasion, and participants are encouraged to dress in a manner that reflects the significance of the graduates' achievements.

Suitable attire includes, for example:

• a suit
• dress trousers with a blazer and collared shirt
• an elegant dress
• a trouser suit

Academic Headwear

The Finnish matriculation cap is not worn at the Graduation Ceremony.

An exception is made for graduates in the field of technology, who may wear the Finnish engineering student cap (teekkarilakki) as part of their formal attire.

All other participants are kindly requested to attend the ceremony without academic headwear.

Degree certificates are not distributed at the Publiikki. On the graduation day, the electronic degree certificate will be available in the student’s Peppi dashboard, from where it can be downloaded.

Certificate folders will be available at the Publiikki.

If you need to cancel your participation, you may do so using the link provided in your registration confirmation.

Please note that cancellations made after 4 December 2026 must be sent by email to events@uwasa.fi.

Questions about the Graduation Ceremony: events@uwasa.fi

Questions related to graduation and degree completion: ohjaus@uwasa.fi