Finland’s doctoral rite: Why new PhDs receive a top hat and sword

In Finland, doctoral graduation is not complete with just a diploma. New PhDs participate in one of Europe’s most distinctive academic rites: they are presented with a ceremonial top hat and a sword as part of a formal conferment ceremony known as promootio.

This tradition goes far beyond quirky pageantry — it reflects centuries-old academic values that remain alive in Finnish universities today.

The custom stretches back to the early modern era, arriving in Finland through Swedish academic practices more than three centuries ago, with roots in Europe’s medieval university system.

Ceremonies similar to promootio were recorded in Western universities as early as the 12th century — long before Finland’s first doctoral rites in the 1640s.

Hat and sword: Symbols with meaning

At the heart of the ceremony are two insignia: the doctoral hat and the doctoral sword.

The hat — a tall silk top hat worn with formal attire — symbolizes the freedom of research that comes with becoming a scholar. Its design evolved over time, influenced by 16th-century academic fashion. Today, the color may vary according to discipline — black being most common, while theology, law, medicine and other fields sometimes use purple, red, green or other shades. Each hat carries a lyre-shaped emblem representing the university or faculty.

The sword, meanwhile, is not a weapon but a symbolic instrument of intellect. Often described as the “weapon of the spirit,” it represents a scholar’s duty to defend truth, righteousness and the pursuit of knowledge.

The sword used in ceremonies is Finland’s official civilian sword, designed in the 19th century and adorned with the university’s emblem.

Traditionally carried on the left side during the ceremony and subsequent formal events, it underscores the idea that academic work serves society by cutting through ignorance.

A ritual full of tradition

Promootio is more than a moment on stage — it is a multi-day academic celebration. Many universities in Finland hold a sword-sharpening event on the eve of the main ceremony, where new doctors wheel their swords against a grindstone and reflect on the symbol’s meaning.

At the next day’s official conferment, students walk in procession with faculty members and dignitaries, donning the hat and sword as they receive their degree certificates.

Participation in the ritual also grants the right to wear the insignia at future academic events, such as doctoral balls and other ceremonial occasions — a privilege reserved for those who complete the formal ceremony.

Not just a gift — a right and a cost

Universities typically do not provide the hat and sword free of charge; graduates usually commission and pay for their own insignia. Production can be costly — often amounting to hundreds of euros — because the hat is custom-made and the sword is a high-quality ceremonial piece.

For many PhD holders, owning these items becomes a lifelong emblem of accomplishment — a blend of personal triumph and a symbolic role as custodian of knowledge.

In a world where academic traditions are often fleeting, Finland’s promootio continues to fuse historical symbolism with contemporary scholarly identity, making its doctoral graduations truly unforgettable.