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Practical information for ceremony participants

Invitation

The invitation is sent out to all those who have publicly defended their thesis or will be defending it since the last degree conferment ceremony. The invitation is sent by post in early March to the addresses registered with the faculties.

Date

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony traditionally takes place on the last Friday in May, with a compulsory rehearsal on the preceding afternoon. In order to take part in the ceremony, doctoral students must normally have publicly defended their theses no later than the Tuesday in the week of the degree conferment ceremony.

Participation

All those who have publicly defended a doctoral thesis and passed all required courses in the past year are welcome to take part in the ceremony. Invitations are automatically sent out to those who have publicly defended their thesis since the previous year’s degree conferment ceremony.

Doctor’s hat

All doctors at the Faculties of Theology, Law, Medicine, Engineering and Fine and Performing Arts, as well as Doctors of Philosophy in Business and Economics at the School of Economics and Management taking part in the ceremony are to have a doctor’s hat. Many choose to borrow the hat from their supervisor or from a colleague; otherwise it can be ordered from a hatter such as Torbjörn Petersson, 0704-83 76 15, in good time. The Ceremonies and Events Office has no hats available for loan.

Doctoral graduands from the Faculty of Engineering can order their hat buckle from goldsmith Ingrid Trilk:

Ingrid Trilk's website (in Swedish)

All hats are to be handed in to the main University building before the degree conferment ceremony at the time specified in the invitation.

Laurel wreath

All doctors at the Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Science, along with Doctors of Law and Doctors of Philosophy from the School of Economics and Management taking part in the ceremony are to have a laurel wreath. The wreath is to be ordered during the spring from a florist such as Söderblommor, info [at] soderblomor [dot] se (info[at]soderblomor[dot]se) (head measurements must be provided). There will be an opportunity to meet the wreath-maker and have head measurements taken in April; exact date to be provided after registration.

Doctor’s ring

All doctoral graduands who choose to take part in the degree conferment ceremony are to have a ring. Ordering a doctor’s ring is voluntary; any ring of your choice can be used for the ceremony. All rings are to be handed in to the main University building before the degree conferment ceremony at the time specified in the invitation.

The official doctor’s rings for doctoral graduands at the Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Economics and Management and the Faculty of Science can be ordered from the University’s procured goldsmith Ingrid Trilk.

Ingrid Trilk's website (in Swedish)

Contact the Office of Special Events and Protocol at overmarskalk [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (overmarskalk[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se) to order the official doctor’s ring for the Faculty of Engineering. 

Diploma

All participants in the degree conferment ceremony receive a calligraphed doctoral diploma, provided by the University. The diploma is not a degree certificate and does not replace the proof of completion of a doctoral degree to be obtained from the faculty for the purposes of job applications, etc.

Attire, ceremony

Academic formal wear for those taking part in the procession; tailcoat with black waistcoat and white tie or full length black dress with covered shoulders, or a long skirt and jacket. White gloves are only worn by marshals. For guests in the cathedral who are not part of the procession: business attire. There is no dress code for the ceremony rehearsal.

Wreath-bearers

Graduands with daughters between the ages of 5 and 7 can put their names forward as possible wreath-bearers. There are many applicants for the role so precedence is given to the daughters from the wreath-wearing faculties, i.e. those historically included in the Faculty of Philosophy (Humanities, Social Sciences, Economics and Science). Nine wreath-bearers (representing the nine muses) are chosen from among the applicants. Lots are drawn if there are more applicants than places.

Fee

A degree conferment ceremony fee of SEK 250 is payable by those wishing to participate in the ceremony.

Photography and filming

The degree conferment ceremony is recorded on film and in photographs by a specially appointed photographer. The images and film material will be available for download after the event. 

Guests

Graduands are guaranteed four tickets to the ceremony in the cathedral and one for a guest accompanying them to the dinner. If more tickets are requested, the Ceremonies and Events Office will do its best to accommodate everyone’s wishes. Tickets are to be ordered by graduands at the time of registration.

Children

Small children should not be brought to the cathedral; there have been vehement complaints from audience members in previous ceremonies about children disrupting the event.

Degree conferment ceremonial dinner

All participants are invited to the dinner; the current year’s doctoral graduates are guaranteed a place for one guest each. The dinner takes place at the Academic Society with guests gathering for a drink at 18:30 and sitting down for dinner at 19:00. The dinner is followed by dancing to a big band orchestra. As a doctoral graduand, you are an invited guest to the doctoral degree conferment dinner. The cost of the dinner for an accompanying guest is SEK 650.

Attire for the ceremonial dinner

Formal wear, tailcoat with white waistcoat and white tie or long dress.

Contact information

Carin Brenner
Chief of Protocol

Charlotta Sokulski Bateld
Deputy Chief of Protocol

Annica Blomberg
Deputy Chief of Protocol
overmarskalk [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (overmarskalk[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se)
+46(0)46 222 7006

Visiting address
Stora Algatan 4, Lund

Postal address
Chief of Protocol
Lund University
Box 117, 221 00 Lund

Invoicing address
Chief of Protocol
Lund University
Box 188, 221 00 Lund

Upcoming doctoral conferment ceremonies

  • 26 May 2023
  • 31 May 2024
  • 23 May 2025
  • 29 May 2026