The doctoral degree conferment ceremony

The faculties at Lund University have organised and held joint doctoral conferment ceremonies ever since the University's early days in the late 1600s.

At that time, there were only four faculties – Theology, Law, Medicine and Philosophy. Today there are nine. While the Faculties of Theology, Law and Medicine still exist and retain their original names, the historical Faculty of Philosophy was later split into two faculties. Today, it is represented by the Faculties of

• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Science and
• the School of Economics and Management (LUSEM).

The most recent additions are the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) and the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts. 

For the purposes of the ceremony, the nine faculties are still arranged according to the original number of faculties.

The Swedish name for the ceremony, 'doktorspromotion'

In Swedish, the ceremony is known as 'doktorspromotion' or 'promotion', from the Latin verb promovere, meaning 'to advance' or 'to promote'. This is related to the original function of the ceremony, which was to promote doctoral graduands from students to academics.

At exactly 12 noon CEST, the doors of the Main University Building are thrown open to the procession. The doctoral graduands, or promovendi, led by the Chief of Protocol and escorted by ceremonial officers, then make their way through the Lundagård park to Lund Cathedral. This is where the actual ceremony takes place.

After the ceremony, the procession returns to the Main University Building. Graduates are photographed with their diplomas and other insignia.

The ceremony at Lund Cathedral lasts about three hours. The vice-chancellor's opening speech as well as a speech by a new doctor after the conferment are held in Swedish. The rest of the ceremony is held in Latin.

Opening speech by the vice-chancellor

After everyone has taken their seats, the Vice-Chancellor welcomes the participants and guests to the ceremony with his opening speech.

Degree conferment by faculty

The degree conferment begins with graduands at 

• the Faculty of Theology
• the Faculty of Law, and 
• the Faculty of Medicine

which were once considered the 'higher faculties'.

Once they have received their diplomas, it's the turn of the next two faculties:

• The Faculty of Engineering
• The Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts

Laurel wreaths are then carried in by the so-called 'wreath-bearers'. They are young girls dressed in white, representing the nine muses, who arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. 

The wreaths are for the doctoral candidates of the last four faculties, which historically belonged to the Faculty of Philosophy:

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

These faculties also share a presenter during the ceremony.

The celebrations continue in the evening with a formal dinner in the Great Hall of the Academic Society (AF). Nearly 500 people usually attend the dinner. These include the new graduates and the jubilee and honorary doctors with their family members, invited honorary guests and lecturers.

Honorary doctors

The doctoral degree conferment ceremony is also an occasion for the faculties to honour highly deserving researchers from other universities and other members of the public, by appointing them 'honorary doctors' (doctor honoris causa).

Honorary doctors are people who have made a significant contribution to the University or to society. This is a way for faculties to recognise them and associate them with their research community. Although honorary doctors are often academics from other universities, they can also come from outside academia.

Jubilee doctors

As a tribute to previous generations, the ceremony also celebrates those who obtained their doctoral degrees fifty years ago, by awarding them them the title of 'jubilee doctor' (doctor jubilaris).

After everyone has taken their seats, the Vice-Chancellor welcomes the participants and guests to the ceremony with his opening speech.

After the Vice-Chancellor's welcome speech, the degree conferment begins. The first to receive their diplomas are the graduands from the three faculties that were once known as the 'higher faculties':

• the Faculty of Theology
• the Faculty of Law, and
• the Faculty of Medicine.

Then it's the turn of the graduands of the two youngest faculties:

• the Faculty of Engineering
• the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts

Laurel wreaths are then carried in by the so-called 'wreath-bearers'. They are young girls dressed in white, representing the nine muses, who arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. 

The wreaths are for the doctoral candidates of the last four faculties, which historically belonged to the Faculty of Philosophy:

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

As a sign of their affinity, these faculties also share a presenter during the ceremony.