For Promovendi

Information about participation in the doctoral conferment ceremony

Important information about the doctoral degree conferment ceremony 2026:

The public defence must be completed no later than 17 April 2026
Your doctoral degree must be obtained from Ladok no later than 25 May 2026.
If you are a doctor of technology, medicine or law, you must make arrangements for a doctor's hat. Doctors of philosophy purchase a laurel wreath via registration.
White tie (i.e. tails or long evening dress) must be worn for the ceremony and banquet.

More information is available in our FAQ below.

promotion@liu.se

Academic celebrations - rehearsal film 2025

Academic Celebration at Linköping University - rehearsal film 2025.

Invitation and registration

Will I automatically receive an invitation to this year's Conferment Ceremony if I have defended my thesis since the last ceremony? Where will the invitation be sent?

Everyone who has completed a doctorate during the past year, and up to 17 April 2026, will be invited. In order to be conferred you must have applied for and obtained your doctoral degree before the 25 May 2026. The invitation will be posted in early March, to the address registered in Ladok.

The invitation will be posted in early March, to the address registered in Ladok, and soon after you will receive a digital registration link to the e-mail adress provided in Ladok.

Can I choose to be conferred at another time instead?

It is possible to postpone your conferment to the upcoming two ceremonies, but only if there’s room. If you want to postpone your conferment it is your responsibility to contact promotion@liu.se in January the year you wish to attend and ask for an invitation.

I have received an invitation to this year's Conferment Ceremony and I want to register. How do I do this?

You will receive a digital registration link to the e-mail address provided in Ladok no later than 12 March. If you have not received it, please contact promotion@liu.se.

I have sent an email to promotion@liu.se that I want to attend the Conferment Ceremony. Does that count as registration?

No. You need to register via the link sent to you. Please note that your registration is not valid until you have received a confirmation email.

How much does it cost?

LiU invites you and one guest to the ceremony and the banquet free of charge, but you may invite two more guests.

Fee for guests two and three: SEK 950 per guest
Laurel wreath: SEK 900 mandatory for Doctor of Philosophy
Doctoral hat: SEK 6,400. It is mandatory for Doctors of Technology, Medicine, Economics and Juris to wear a hat, but you may want to consider borrowing or renting one.
Rent or buy a tailcoat or long dress.

How do I know that you have received my registration and that I am registered?

You will receive confirmation to the email address you provided upon registration. Check that the details are correct. If you have not received confirmation, check your spam filter. If you still have not received confirmation, contact us on liu@travelteam.se. Your registration is not valid until you have received confirmation.

Can I register after the registration deadline?

No, unfortunately not.

What do I do if I have submitted my registration but want to edit it?

Email your changes to liu@travelteam.se.

Academic Celebration 2022-05-21. — Photographer: Peter Holgersson AB

Dress code

For promovendi, jubilee doctors and honorary doctors

Doctors, jubilee doctors, honorary doctors, vice-chancellors, promoters, marshals and others who enter the procession and participate in the ceremony must wear white tie during the ceremony and the banquet. This means tails, white waistcoat or cummerbund, white bow tie, black socks and black (patent) shoes or a long formal evening dress in any colour. If you wear an off the shuolder dress, remember to complement your outfit with a shawl or elbow-length gloves during the ceremony. You can also wear formal national costume or folk costume from your culture.

Audience during the ceremony

Optional.

Guests at the banquet

The dresscode for guests at the banquet is white tie. This means tails, white waistcoat or cummerbund, white bow tie, black socks and black (patent) shoes or a long formal evening dress in any colour. Children and young people can wear a white shirt with a tie, dark trousers and black shoes, or a dress of any length.

Audience at the Academic Gala Concert

Optional.

Can LiU help me acquire white tie and/or a doctor's hat?

Unfortunately, this is not possible.

Should I wear white tie at the rehearsal?

If you wish. There will be time between the rehearsal and the ceremony but there are no changing rooms for this at the venue.

Should I change my outfit between the ceremony and the dinner?

No. After the ceremony there will be a short reception before the dinner begins.

Insignia - diploma, hat, laurel wreath and ring

When do I get my diploma and what is its significance?

The diploma is only proof that you have been conferred, it is not a formal document. Those who do not participate in the ceremony will not receive a diploma. The degree certificate from Ladok is the formal document confirming your degree.

As a new doctor, must I wear something on my head for the ceremony?

Yes. The wreath/doctor’s hat is an important symbol in the ceremony.

How much do a doctor's hat and wreath cost?

A doctor’s hat costs SEK 6.400 and a wreath SEK 600. (2026)

As a new doctor, should I wear a hat or a wreath?

If you are conferred a doctoral degree which in Swedish is called 'ekonomie doktor', 'teknologie doktor' or 'medicine doktor', you wear a doctor's hat at the ceremony. If you are conferred a doctoral degree which in Swedish is called 'filosofie doktor', you wear a laurel wreath.

How do I go about buying a wreath?

You order a wreath on the registration page, which will then be taken care of by the Master of Ceremonies . Take care to specify the correct head measurement: place the lower edge of a tape measure at the upper edge of your eyebrows, and measure horizontally around your head.

When ordering a wreath, I am to specify my head measurement. How do I measure this correctly?

Place the lower edge of a tape measure at the upper edge of your eyebrows, and measure horizontally around your head.

I need to get a doctor's hat. How do I go about this?

A doctor’s hat can be purchased from Hattsmedjan AB (hatter Marie Fredsberg Lindström). The hat is custom-made, and the hatter will be available at Campus Valla on 26 March at 3 pm - 5 pm to take measurements and orders (appointments can be booked on the registration page). You can also contact Marie directly. Please note that the last date for ordering a hat is 7 April. Phone number hatter: 073-268 99 69.

If you do not wish to buy a hat, you can hire or borrow one. If you hire or borrow a hat, ensure that it has your faculty’s hat mark. The hat mark is ordered from Hattsmedjan. Hats made by the hatter are delivered directly to the venue. If you rent or borrow a hat it must be delivered to Godsmottagningen on Campus Norrköping 11 May and Campus Valla 12 May, between 9.30 am and 4 pm. Make sure the hat and the box are marked with your name.

If I purchase a hat from the hatter, where will it be delivered to?

The Master of Ceremonies ensures that it is transported to the venue.

If I buy a hat from the hatter/order a wreath and it is delivered directly to the venue, will I be able to try it on before the ceremony?

Yes, there will be time to try it on during the rehearsal.

What do I do if my doctor's hat/wreath does not fit?

The hatter will be at the venue during most of the day and can make minor adjustments (not on borrowed or rented hats). The marshals can help you adjust your wreath at rehearsal.

As a new doctor, if I borrow or hire a doctor's hat, should I bring it to the rehearsal, or do I hand it in?

A hired or borrowed hat should be delivered to Godsmottagningen on Campus Norrköping 11 May and Campus Valla on 12 May between 9.30 am and 4 pm. Make sure the hat and the box are marked with your name.

The Master of Ceremonies ensures that it is transported to the venue.

Can I have a friend drop off a borrowed doctor's hat to the Master of Ceremonies, or do I have to bring it in myself, at the times specified?

You can have someone else bring it in. However, make sure the hat and the box are marked with your name. If the specified times do not work for you, contact us and we will sort it out.

Do I wear the doctor's hat only during the ceremony, or do I also wear it at other times, later in the evening?

Only at the ceremony. Hats may not be taken into the banquet venued; they are to be left in the staffed cloakroom.

At the ceremony, doctor's rings are not presented to new doctors. Can I still buy one, and wear it during the ceremony?

You can buy a doctor’s ring if you wish. A jeweller will be present at Campus Valla on 20 March between 3 pm and 5 pm to take measurements and orders (bookings on registration page) You put the ring on after the ceremony. Phone number jeweller: 072-311 03 65. Please note that the last date for ordering a ring is 9 May.

The Academic Ceremony and rehearsal

Is it mandatory to attend the combined meeting and rehearsal taking place the same day as the ceremony?

Yes. This is necessary, so that you know where to sit, stand and walk. New doctors will also have the opportunity to try their hats/wreaths.

Should my guest join me at the rehearsal?

No.

What is meant by 'white tie'? (In Swedish 'högtidsdräkt')

This means tails, white waistcoat or cummerbund, white bow tie, black socks and black (patent) shoes or a long formal evening dress in any colour. There may be other types of formal attire – please contact the Master of Ceremonies beforehand to find out more. If you intend to wear an off the shoulder dress, please remember to wear a shawl or elbow length gloves for the ceremony.

Accompanying guests wear formal attire at the banquet. Children and young people generally wear a white shirt with a tie, dark trousers and black shoes or a dress.

Can children attend the ceremony?

On the whole, the ceremony is not an event for children. The ceremony is long, and it can be difficult for them to sit still and quiet for such a long time.

What are the rules for taking photos and filming the ceremony?

Photography and filming are permitted, but you must remain in your seat, not use a flash, and avoid blocking other people’s view. Tripods or similar may not be used. LiU will take photographs during the ceremony, but cannot guarantee that photos are taken of everyone in attendance.

How long is the ceremony?

It depends on the number of new doctors, but expect about 2 hours.

Can anyone attend the ceremony?

Yes, it is open to everyone and free of charge. The audience may sit where they like apart from in reserved seats at the front. Seats should be taken at 16.00.

What is the academic procession?

The Academic Ceremony begins with the academic procession where the participants, accompanied by music, solemnly walk in formation through the auditorium to the stage. The order of the procession is: chief marshal, massed standards, faculties, guests of honour, deputy vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellor, vice-chancellor. Within each faculty, the order is: promovendi, guests, supervisors, student union chairs, jubilee doctors, conferrer, deputy deans and dean. The mandatory rehearsal offers promovendi an opportunity to practice.

Can my guest, who has defended their thesis, join the academic procession?

If your guest has defended their thesis, they can choose to participate in the academic procession together with the faculty they belong to. The order of the faculty procession is: promovendi, guests, supervisors, student union chairs, jubilee doctors, conferrer, deputy deans and dean. Guests participating in the procession sit in designated seats in the auditorium, i.e. not together with your other guests who can choose where to sit.

A friend of mine who uses a wheelchair would like to attend the ceremony. Can a special place be arranged?

Yes. Contact promotion@liu.se.

Are there dedicated parking spaces at Louis De Geer Konsert & Kongress?

No, you will have to use the public parking spaces in the area.

Will return bus transport be arranged between Norrköping and Linköping?

No.

Peter Holgersson AB

The Banquet

At the banquet, what will the seating arrangements be?

You will be seated together with your accompanying guests. If you have any special wishes you can specify these upon registration.

Can I bring my children to the banquet?

Yes. But small children will not get much out of the banquet. No special arrangements are made for children: they get the same food and have the same table setting as adults.

Can I bring a child in a pram?

We recommend that you get a babysitter. If this is not possible, please specify upon registration that you need to be seated where you can have the pram nearby. If you do not specify this upon registration, we will not be able to arrange special seating.

Do my dinner guests have to wear formal dress?

Yes. Children and adolescents can wear a white shirt with a tie, dark trousers or a dress of any length.

Can I bring more guests to the banquet than are on the invitation, if I pay for them?

No, unfortunately not. You can, however, invite people to come and watch the ceremony.

As a new doctor I may invite three guests. Do I pay for any of them and how do I make the payment?

One of your guests is paid for by the university and you pay for the other two. Please note that your supervisor will receive their own invitation if you so wish and mention this upon registration. More information on how to pay can be found upon registration.

Does my husband/wife/significant other count as one of the three guests I may invite?

Yes.

I have friends who are to be promoted at the same ceremony. Can we be seated close to each other at the banquet?

When you register you can specify who you want to be seated close to at banquet. We try to accommodate your wishes as best we can.

Can I order a vegetarian meal?

When you register you can specify any allergies or special food requirements. We cannot provide special meals for children.

Will there be alcohol-free drinks?

Alcohol-free wine or mineral water is always served to those who want it. Table water is available for everyone.

I have more than one supervisor that I want to invite to the ceremony. How do I do this?

LiU invites one supervisor (the one you specify upon registration). If you wish to invite other supervisors, you can invite them as your (maximum) three guests.

If my principal supervisor is not able to attend, can I specify my secondary supervisor upon registration instead?