For Promovendi

A warm welcome to all new doctors!

Information about participation in the doctoral conferment ceremony

If you have defended your thesis before 12 April 2025, you are welcome to attend the doctoral conferment ceremony at Louis de Geer Konsert & Kongress in Norrköping on 24 May 2025. The invitation has been sent out, and the last day to reply was 18 March.

On Friday 23 May, the honorary doctors’ lectures will take place in the morning. In the evening, the Academic Gala Concert will be given in your honour. In the confirmation message following your registration there is a link to free tickets for this concert, but it is also open to the public to buy tickets for.

Important information about the doctoral degree conferment ceremony:
• The public defence must be completed no later than 11 April.
• Your doctoral degree must be obtained from Ladok no later than 19 May.
• If you are a Doctor of Technology, Medicine, Economics or Juris, you must make arrangements for a doctor's hat. Doctors of philosophy purchase a laurel wreath via registration. You may try hats and rings for size on 20 March between 3 pm and 5 pm in D Building, Campus Valla, entrance 41. Registration by invitation.
• On 7-8 May between 9:30 am and 2 pm, rented and borrowed hats are to be handed in to the Post and House Service in A Building, goods reception, Campus Valla.

More information in the FAQ below.

promotion@liu.se

Programme for promovendi

Saturday 24 May

Louis de Geer Konsert and Kongress

11:30 Meet up in the bistro at Louis De Geer for mandatory rehearsal. Master of Ceremonies Viveca Valgren and Chief Marshal Anna Asratian will meet you there.

11:35-13:00 Mandatory rehearsal in De Geerhallen. You do not need to wear white tie dress or a long dress on this occasion, but we advise you to wear the shoes you will wear for the ceremony. The rehearsal concludes with rehearsing the procession. Notify the Master of Ceremonies in case of late arrival, phone: 070-598 01 88.

13:00-13:30 Opportunity to try on wreaths and make minor adjustments to purchased hats. Those of you who wish to participate will stay in your seats on the stage after the rehearsal.

13:30-15:45 Free time. Take the opportunity to eat something. There are plenty of restaurants nearby. Unfortunately, there are no dedicated dressing rooms at Louis de Geer. When planning your hairstyles, keep in mind that you will have a hat or a laurel wreath placed on your head during the ceremony.

15:45 Formation in Trozelligalleriet for the procession, wearing white tie and long dress. Read more in the FAQ.

16:00 Procession ready to go.

16:15-18:00 Ceremony in De Geerhallen

18:00 Drinks and mingle in Trozelligalleriet.

Leave your hat in the hat closet in Trozelloungen. This is followed by a banquet for invited guests, and the evening ends with dancing to live music.
We look forward to seeing you!

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 11 April 2025, will be invited. In order to be conferred you must have applied for and obtained your doctoral degree before the 19 May. The invitation will be posted in early March, to the address registered 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’s 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 7 March. If you haven’t received it please contact liu@travelteam.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 isn’t 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 900 per guest
Laurel wreath: SEK 650 mandatory for Doctor of Philosophy
Doctoral hat: SEK 6,400. It is mandatory to wear a hat for Doctor of Technology, Medicine, Economics and Juris, but it is possible to try to borrow or rent a hat.
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 a confirmation to the email address you provided during registration. Check that all the details are correct. If you have not received a confirmation, check your spam filter. If you still have not received a confirmation, contact us on liu@travelteam.se. Your registration isn’t valid until you have received a 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 both 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 chosen colour. If you wear a dress with bare shoulders, 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

All guests wear white tie at 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 chosen 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 arrange 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. Anyone who does not participate in the ceremony will not receive a diploma. The degree certificate from Ladok is the formal document for 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.

What does a doctor's hat and wreath cost?

A doctor’s hat costs SEK 6400 and a wreath SEK 650. (2025)

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, and then the Master of Ceremonies will buy one. 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 at 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 20 March 3 pm - 5 pm to take measurements and orders (this is booked on the registration page). You can also contact Marie directly. Please observe that the last date for ordering a hat is 20 March. 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. A hat that is made by the hatter is delivered directly to the venue. If you rent or borrow a hat it must be delivered to Post and husservice at Campus Valla 7-8 May, between 9.30-2. Phone number hatter: 073-268 99 69.

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

It will be delivered to Post and transportservice at Campus Valla 7-8 May between 9.30-2. 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 Post and transportservice at Campus Valla 7-8 May between 9.30-2. 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 och 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 don't work for you, contact us and we will sort it out.

Do I only wear the doctor's hat 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 dinner; they are to be left at the staffed cloakroom.

At the ceremony, doctor's rings aren't 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 jeweler will be present at Campus Valla March 20, 3 pm - 5 pm to take measurements and orders (bookings on registration page) You put the ring on after the ceremony. Phone number jeweler: 072-311 03 65.

The Academic Cermony and rehearsal

Is it mandatory to attend the combined meeting and rehearsal that takes 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 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 chosen 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 a dress with bare shoulders, please remember to wear a shawl or mid-arm length gloves for the ceremony.

Accompanying guests wear formal attire at the banquet. Children and teenagers generally wear white shirts with a tie, dark trousers and dark shoes or a dress.

May children attend the ceremony?

On the whole, the ceremony is not an event for children. The ceremony is long, and it can be difficult 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 at 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.

May anyone attend the ceremony?

Yes, it is open for everyone and free of charge, no tickets needed. The audience may sit where they like apart from at reserved seats at the front. Places should be taken at 16.00.

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

Banquet - the Dinner

At the dinner, what will the seating arrangements be?

We will seat you together with your accompanying guests. If you have any special wishes you can specify them in your registration.

May I bring children to the dinner?

Yes. But small children will not get much out of the dinner. They take part on the same conditions as adults: they get the same food and have the same table setting as the adults.

May I bring a child in a pram?

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

Must my dinner guest wear formal dress?

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

May I bring more guests to the dinner than are on the invitation, if I pay for their meals?

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 dinner for the other two. Please note that your supervisor will receive their own invitation if you wish and write it in the registration. More information on how to pay can be found in the registration.

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

Yes.

I have friends who are promoted at the same ceremony. May we be placed close to each other at the dinner?

When you register you can specify who you want to be placed close to at dinner. We try to accommodate this as much as 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?

LiU invites one supervisor (the one you specify in your 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 in the registration instead