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Practical information for ceremony participants

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony

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Invitation

An invitation is sent by post in early March to everyone who has publicly defended their thesis, or will do so, since the last degree conferment ceremony. The invitation is sent to the postal address you have registered with your faculty.

Date and rehearsal

The ceremony is traditionally held on the last Friday in May. A mandatory rehearsal takes place on the Thursday afternoon before the ceremony. To take part in the ceremony, doctoral students must usually have publicly defended their thesis by the Tuesday of that same week.

Participation fee

There is a fee of SEK 250 for those who wish to take part in the ceremony. 

Ordering insignia

All doctoral graduands who choose to take part in the degree conferment ceremony must have a ring. Ordering an official doctor’s ring is optional, you may wear any ring you prefer during the ceremony.

All rings must be delivered to the Main University Building at the time stated in the invitation before the ceremony.

Ordering your doctor's ring

Official doctor’s rings for graduands can be ordered from the University’s approved goldsmith, Ingrid Trilk. The deadline to order a ring is 26 April.

For more information or to place an order, visit Ingrid Trilk’s website (in Swedish)

All Doctors and Doctors of Philosophy in Business and Economics from the following faculties must wear a doctor’s hat to take part in the ceremony:

  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Theology
  • School of Economics and Management.

Many choose to borrow a hat from their supervisor or a colleague. Please note that the Office of Special Events and Protocol has no hats available for loan.

Ordering a doctor's hat

A hat can be ordered well in advance from a hatter, such as Torbjörn Petersson (phone: +46(0)70 483 7615).

All hats must be delivered to the Main University Building at the time stated in the invitation before the ceremony.

The laurel wreath is compulsory for all doctors and Doctors of Philosophy at the

  • Faculty of Humanities
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Social Sciences and
  • School of Economics and Management.

The laurel wreath is made of leaves from the bay laurel tree. The University's laurel leaves come from Italy.

Ordering a laurel wreath

You can order your laurel wreath from Söderblommor, Södra Förstadsgatan 19, Malmö. The deadline for wreath orders is 29 April.

If you are unable to visit the wreath-maker in person, you can email your order to info [at] soderblommor [dot] se (info[at]soderblommor[dot]se). In that case, please include the following in the order:

  • your name and faculty
  • your head measurement: the head circumference must be measured from 'the hairline on the forehead around to the hairline at the nape of the neck'. Thus, your wreath measurement is usually not identical to your hat size.

Note that the laurel wreath must be paid for at the time of ordering (SEK 950), Swish 123 229 44 03.

Bringing guests

Each graduand is guaranteed four tickets for guests to attend the ceremony in the cathedral, and one ticket for a guest to join them at the dinner.

If you would like extra tickets, the Office of Special Events and Protocol will do its best to meet your request.

Graduands must order all tickets when they register for the ceremony.

Children

We kindly ask you not to bring young children into the cathedral during the ceremony. 

Diploma

Everyone taking part in the degree conferment ceremony receives a hand-written (calligraphed) doctoral diploma from the University.

Please note that this diploma is not an official degree certificate. It does not replace the formal proof of your doctoral degree, which you must obtain from your faculty.

Dress code for the ceremony

For those taking part in the procession, academic formal wear is required. You may choose one of the following:

  • black tailcoat with a black waistcoat and white bow tie, and black shoes.
  • full-length black dress with covered shoulders and black shoes.
  • long black skirt with a black top, black jacket, and black shoes.

Guests attending the ceremony in the cathedral (but not taking part in the procession) should wear business attire.

There is no dress code for the ceremony rehearsal.

Wreath-bearers

Graduands who have daughters aged between 5 and 7 can apply for them to be considered as wreath-bearers during the ceremony. HOW?

As there are usually many applicants, priority is given to daughters of graduands from the wreath-wearing faculties – traditionally part of the Faculty of Philosophy. 

Nine wreath-bearers are chosen to represent the nine muses. If more than nine children are eligible, the final selection is made by drawing lots.

Photography and filming

The degree conferment ceremony will be filmed and photographed by an official photographer appointed by the University.

After the event, the photos and video will be available to download. HOW?

Degree conferment ceremonial dinner

All participants in the ceremony are invited to the dinner. Each doctoral graduand is guaranteed a place for one guest.

The dinner takes place at the AF building. Guests are welcomed with a drink at 18:30, and dinner begins at 19:00. After dinner, there will be dancing to live music from a big band orchestra.

As a doctoral graduand, you are an invited guest at the dinner. The cost for your accompanying guest is SEK 650.

Dress code for the ceremonial dinner

Formal evening wear is required. This means:

  • black tailcoat with white waistcoat and white bow tie, or
  • long evening dress.

Contact

The Office of Special Events and Protocol

Email: overmarskalk [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (overmarskalk[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se)

Phone: +46(0)46 222 7006

Staff at the Office of Special Events and Protocol

Visiting address

Paradisgatan 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