This page has collected information about student culture in Tampere! You will find information about student symbols, such as overalls and caps, as well as academic celebrations, such as sitsis and anniversary celebrations.
At the heart of our student community are our student associations, student tutors and various student events. You can read more about all of these on their own subpages – check out the sidebar!
Symbols
Finnish students have many symbols. The most visible of them are the student overalls, student caps and the engineering students’ caps (teekkarilakki).
Caps
Student cap
The student cap is a part of the university traditions, and it has a history of over 150 years. Originally a part of the graduate uniform, the remaining symbol became more common in Finland at the turn of 1870, based on the models of Sweden and Denmark. In the ’50s, the cap was still used generally from the beginning of May until the end of September, but nowadays it’s only used at Wappu.
The Finnish black and white student cap is lower and slimmer than the Swedish Finn’s version. The cap’s lining is usually blue and white or in the colours of the student nation. In addition to the student cap, other graduation caps are in use. The cap of people with double degrees has a dark purple velvet band instead of a black one. The student cap is not the only graduation cap, and vocational school’s graduates have their own caps in their own field’s colours.
Teekkari cap
The engineering students’ most explicit and visible symbol is the teekkari cap. The use of this playful cap with a tassel begun in Sweden at the end of the 20th century. After various development phases, five different versions of the cap are now in use: Oulu’s pixie cap-like version, Jyväskylä’s 8-cornered version, Lappeenranta’s and UEF’s 7-cornered one, Turku’s round one and Otaniemi, Tampere and Vaasa’s 6-cornered versions.
The engineering students of Tampere put their caps on at the same time, as the cap is put on the Suomen neito statue on Wappu night. The cap can be used freely during the summer, until the last day of September, when it is laid to rest for the winter. During winter, the cap can only be used with a separate permission. The teekkari cap is almost like a sacred item to the engineering students, but it is not meant to sit on a shelf gathering dust, but it’s for frequent and dignified use. The rights to use the cap is granted by Tampereen Teekkarit ry.
Tampereen Teekkarit ry takes care of selling the teekkari caps. The teekkari cap is tried on, ordered and paid during the academic year. A cap ordered and paid in time is cheaper than one ordered at the last minute. Teekkari cap fittings are done at the Student Union’s Service Office in Hervanta. Note! The size of the cap you ordered cannot be changed, so decide carefully. The order is binding. You can order the teekkari caps from Tampereen Teekkarit’s website.
TREY cockade
Each Student Union has their own cockade that can be attached to the graduation cap. All members of our student union can wear the cockade on their graduation cap. The first year students will change the old cockade for the new TREY cockade on their graduation cap on Wappu, after the joint Wappu Oath. Students of later years can exchange TREY’s cockade on their student cap right away! TREY’s cockade is only used in the graduation cap. The cockade of Teekkari Union of Tampere is used in the teekkari caps, and it is already attached to them when arriving.
You can buy TREY’s cockade from our Service Offices by the price of three euros.
Overalls
The student overalls are one of the most visible symbols of students. Almost every association has their own overalls, and you can recognise the association they belong to by the colour of the overalls. You should note, though, that different associations can have the same colour overalls. Some hobby associations also have their own overalls. The overall culture landed in Tampere in the beginning of 1980.
The overalls are used in various student events, and they are decorated with overall patches and various memorabilia. You can also exchange one trouser leg with your partner. Some students that have switched degree programmes have also combined their new and old overalls together. All overalls look like their owners.
Automation technology guild Autek
Overalls: yellow
Bioengineering guild Bioner
Overalls: champagne
Biotechnology association Biopsi
Overalls: purple
Blebeijit
Overalls: white
Elram
Overalls: black
Erasmus Student Network, Finns and Internationals in Tampere ESN FINT
Overalls: green
International Teekkari Guild INTO Tampere ry
Overalls: bright green
Koneenrakentajakilta KoRK
Overalls: red
Materials engineering guild MIK
Overalls: burgundy
PILE
Overalls: black
Porin Teekkarit – PoTka ry
Overalls: Grey
University Consortium of Pori, Pointer
Overalls: burgundy
Rankat Ankat
Overalls: orange
Signal Processing and Communications Engineering association TeLE
Overalls: mint green
Sähkökilta ry, Skilta
Overalls: electric blue
Tampere International Global Society Students (TIPSY)
Overalls: Purple
Tampere University Students of Sustainable Urban Development Urbanum ry
Overalls: Baby blue
Tampere Architects’ Guild TamArk
Overalls: cheery black
Tampereen Lääketieteen Kandidaattiseura TLK ry
Overalls: white
Psychology student’s association Cortex ry
Overalls: red
The Guild of Civil Engineering TARAKI
Overalls: dark blue
Guild of Information Technology TiTe
Overalls: black
Tampere University Philosophy student’s association Aatos
Overalls: black
Tampere University association of Administrative Science Staabi ry
Overalls: dark green
Tampere University association of History students Patina ry
Overalls: burgundy
Tampere University association of Information Studies and Interactive Media UDK ry
Overalls: green
Tampereen University association of Journalism and Mass Communication Vostok ry
Overalls: orange
Tampere University association of Life Long Learning and Education Mentor ry
Overalls: dark green
Association of Business Students of Tampere University – Boomi ry
Overalls: navy blue
Tampere University association of Literature, Teema ry
Overalls: black
Tampere University association of Translation Studies, Transla ry
Overalls: black
Tampere University association of Logopedics Ääni ry
Overalls: dark turquoise
Tampere University association of Class Teacher Education OKA ry
Overalls: dark blue
Tampere University Mathematic Class Teacher’s Kalma ry (activity ceased)
Overalls: dark green
Tampere University association for Mathematics, statistics and computer sciences Luuppi ry
Overalls: dark grey
Tampere University association of Political Science and International Relations Iltakoulu ry
Overalls: dark green
Tampere University association for Social Sciences Interaktio ry
Overalls: turquoise
Tampere University association of Social Work, SOS ry
Overalls: white
Tampere University association for Finnish language Kopula ry
Overalls: blue like in the Finnish flag
Tampere University association of Health Sciences, Salus ry
Overalls: fuchsia
Tampere University association for Early Childhood Education ITU ry
Overalls: dark green
Tampere University association for foreign languages Lexica ry
Overalls: red
Tampere University association of Communication Reettorit ry
Overalls: black
TaSciEn – Tampere Science and Engineering Students’ association ry
Overalls: scientific cyan
Science and engineering guild Hiukkanen
Overalls: purple
TEA-club
Overalls: white with a pink stripe
Textile and clothing engineer club TVIK (activity ceased)
Overalls: pink
Guild of Information and Knowledge Management Man@ger
Overalls: grey
Industrial Engineering and Management guild Indecs
Overalls: white
Uranaisten Opiskelijaseura UrOs
Overalls: brown
Guild of Environmental and Energy Engineering YKI
Overalls: green
The Student Union’s sash
Current and former members of the student union as well as employees have the right to carry the student union’s sash. Each member of the student union may get the sash for free from the student union’s service offices.
The student union sash is 30 mm wide and is carried from the right shoulder over the chest diagonally to the left. The sash should not touch exposed skin. The sash can also be carried as a 95 mm wide three-leaf rosette in the left lapel.
Start the first fold from either end of the ribbon. Fold one end of the ribon against the rest of the ribbon. This first fold forms the base of the rosette which is 8 cm wide.
Lay the base of the rosette as shown in the picture.
Turn the rosette base the other way around and start folding the rosette layers. Fold three layers on the rosette.
Finish the rosette with a knot. Fold the last layer half way over the layer on top and then fold the ribbon upwards. Fold the end of the ribbon behind the rosette.
Bring the end of the ribbon to the front of the rosette from below the rosette.
Tighten the knot of the rosette and cut the remaining ribbon so that it is the right length. The remaining end is best to be sewn onto the rosette with a few stitches. Attach the rosette on to your dress on the left side of your chest with e.g. safety pin.
Academic celebrations
Academic dinner parties are a popular type of student party in Finland. This page contains information about anniversary dinners and sitsits and a guide to equality in sitsit parties.
Sitsit
Smaller and less formal than the anniversary dinner, a sitsit is a popular kind of Finnish academic seated party. Associations organise sitsits e.g. to celebrate their anniversaries or just for fun. Some associations also organise fun themed sitsits and joint sitsits with other associations. In Tampere, the sitsit tradition means good food, lots of drink and joyful singing. Food is usually served from a buffet. In between eating, a sitsit can include speeches, presents from one association to another or performances: anniversary sitsits often include dancing. These parties often go on until dawn.
Guides
Sitsit is a party concept typical to Finnish student culture as well as a great way to get to know new people and have fun. In the guide below we’ve described ways in which sitsit participants and organisers can take different kinds of party-goers into consideration and make their sitsit safe and comfortable for all students. TREY’s quide for more qual sitsis contains some useful tips for your or your organisation’s parties! You can find the guide in TREY’s material data bank here.
If you need any help in organising a sitsit or help in preventing harassment or discrimination at your events, you can always contact TREY’s anti-harassment persons or equality sector. Their services are strictly confidential and they’ll help in matters large and small.
Anniversary celebrations
A couple of times a year, the students put on their fanciest clothes and attend anniversary celebrations. The dress code is white tie or dark suit and a floor-length formal gown for women. Academic decorations are also used in the celebrations.
Remember to act according to the etiquette, although the intention isn’t to be too formal but to have fun. Before the actual main event, the programme often contains a cocktail reception, where different communities give out gifts. The majority of the guests, however, only arrive to the main party. After the welcome toast, the dinner begins, during which drinking songs are sung loudly. Various speeches are held in between courses. After coffee and cognac, the dancing begins and continues at the first after party. At the crack of dawn, the party often continues at another after party, where a warm sauna is usually waiting for the guests. The biggest celebrations also include a “sillis” brunch on the next day.
Banner picture: Konsta Kaukonen / TT-kamerat