A black doctoral hat and a laurel wreath on white background
Photo: Viktor Wrange, SLU

Our ceremonies

Page reviewed:  27/05/2025

The Doctoral Award Ceremony

In 2025-2027, the ceremony will take place the following dates: 

  • 4 October 2025
  • 3 October 2026
  • 9 October 2027

The following awards are conferred at the ceremony:

Doctors by examination, promovendi (doctores iuvenes)

Doctors who have defended their theses since the last doctoral award ceremony and who have received their doctor’s degree by 31 August the same year are entitled to participate in the award ceremony of that year. In April/early May, an enquiry is sent out to those registered to become new doctors asking if they wish to take part in that year’s doctoral award ceremony. It is possible to postpone participation in the award ceremony for up to three years. 

Practical information to promovendi about the doctoral award ceremony

Honorary doctors (doctores honoris causa)

The dignity of doctor honoris causa is awarded by the faculties to those they particularly want to honour, and tie to their research fellowship.  

Read more about honorary doctors at SLU  

Jubilee doctors (doctores jubilaris)

Jubilee doctors are those who were awarded their doctoral degree fifty years ago. Jubilee doctors are invited by their former faculty to celebrate this as a tribute of gratitude. 

Tradition and history

The doctoral award ceremony is the most important and most traditional of the academic ceremonies. The Swedish word “promovera” originates from the Latin promovere, which means bring forward, to promote. The tradition has its roots in the European Middle Ages and its universities, and it emphasises the transition from one stage of the educational career to the next. The tradition has gone through many changes during time, but the content and the symbolism of the ceremony remain more or less the same as 100 years ago.

During the doctoral award ceremony, certain insignias are handed out, i.e. objects that symbolise the dignity of the doctors.

Doctoral hat – symbolises freedom and power
Laurel wreath – a symbol of honour
Ring – symbolises fidelity to science
Diploma – the written proof of doctoral dignity


Read more about Swedish academic ceremonies and traditions (pdf)

A group picture of eleven festively dressed persons. In the middle, there is a woman in a Vice-Chancellor's chain and a red velvet cape.
SLU's Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel together with the new professors of 2025. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner

Inauguration of new professors

New professors at SLU are formally appointed during a ceremony – the professorial inauguration. These ceremonies are held during springtime in Uppsala.

In 2026-2027, the ceremony will take place the following dates:

  • 24 April 2026
  • 16 April 2027


The ceremony will only be held if a certain number of new professors are taking part.

Professorial lectures

The new professors give lectures in connection with the inauguration ceremony, during one or two days depending on the number of new professors.

Inauguration ceremony

The vice-chancellor of SLU hosts the ceremony in Ultuna. After the ceremony, a dinner is held for invited guests.

Two persons on a stage, one man wearing evening dress, and one woman wearing a dress, a big Vice-Chancellor's chain around her neck and a red velvet cape.
In 2019 Maria Knutson Wedel was inaugurated as Vice-Chancellor of SLU. Beside her on stage is Peter Högberg, Vice-Chancellor of SLU 2015–2018. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner

Inauguration of new vice-chancellors

The inauguration of the vice-chancellor is arranged when a new vice-chancellor has been elected to SLU.

Beside the doctoral award ceremony, the inauguration of the Vice-Chancellor is the most important and oldest tradition. On 6 September 2019, Maria Knutson Wedel was inaugurated as new Vice-Chancellor to the university.

More information on the previous Vice-Chancellors and SLU's history 


 

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