– The act of conferment itself was the most memorable, of course. You cannot forget the moment, when we stepped out of the Main Building as a procession, and cannon shots were shot from the Senate Square. That gave me the chills, admits Anna Saura, a Master of Political Science and conferee of 2006. Months of hard work on the Master’s thesis were rewarded with this coronation of the academic career.
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
The four unforgettable days of the Conferment Ceremony form an entity, and you shouldn’t miss any parts of it.
- Definitely it is worthwhile to participate in all events. The sailing trip was really nice; it is not very common to be able to take part in something like that. For me, the nocturnal procession after the Ball on Saturday was particularly unforgettable. We visited different statues and held speeches. It was exciting to see the city in a new light. However, the best thing was the entity, especially when everything was so well organised, Saura says.
- It was an amazing feeling to dress up every day. I celebrated in my mother’s long-sleeved conferment dress from the 1970s. That made the occasion extra special. For the ball I bought a white wedding dress that hasn’t had any use since, Saura says with a laugh.
“A million dinners”
Recently graduated Masters might flinch when they look at the total costs of the Conferment Ceremony. Also Saura was thinking about this at first, but eventually began looking at the matter from a completely different angle.
- For a new Master the costs of participation seem quite pricy, because you might not be in the working life yet. However, you should keep in mind that the Conferment Ceremony includes a million different dinners and a lot of events. When you keep this in mind, the sum is almost minimal. These sorts of traditions don’t exist in the working life, so I truly recommend this distinguished conclusion to student life for everyone.
You can participate in the Conferment Ceremony without an escort. Saura commends the solidarity that developed between the participants.
-You could tell from the colour of the dress who was part of the bunch. There were a lot of people in the Conferment Ceremony that I didn’t know in advance, but who I got to know during the event.
Nearly five years later, Saura remembers the celebration partly with nostalgia.
-In the working life you have to get used to the everyday life, it is rare to experience anything like the Conferment there. The feeling was a bit like graduating from secondary school. A world of opportunities was ahead of you. After the Conferment, I felt a little empty inside – did time really go this fast.
