Finland has a unique way of acknowledging students who earn a PhD. Once the university is satisfied that the academic requirements have been met, candidates are formally awarded their doctoral degree certificates, which can be collected during graduation ceremonies similar to those in the U.S., or picked up from the university at a later date. While on paper a person is considered a PhD holder in most countries, in Finland a person is not considered to be a proper “Dr.” until they’ve been through the official ceremony of Conferment, which involves receiving a doctoral hat and sword. In fact, doctoral degree holders who haven’t gone through Conferment are not allowed to wear their doctoral hats at any future ceremonies requiring them and must instead carry them in their hands. The doctoral hat is considered a symbol of liberty, scholarship and freedom of research, while the doctoral sword is a symbol for the scientist’s fight for what he or she, in rigorous research, has found to be good, right and true. Conferment ceremonies take place every couple of years.
