Academic traditions

Doctoral degree conferment ceremony

The doctoral conferment ceremony is the major academic event of the year at Lund University. Ceremonies have been held since the late 1600s, with the ceremony taking place at the end of May/early June. Traditionally, the University's nine faculties together organise the doctoral degree ceremony. At the ceremony, the University bestows its highest honour on those who have completed a doctoral degree and defended their thesis.

• More about the traditional doctoral degree conferment ceremony
• Participating in an upcoming ceremony? Learn about the practical details

Inauguration of new professors

In Lund, the inauguration of new professors is a public ceremony presided by the vice-chancellor. At least one such ceremony is held each semester, in which the new professors who wish to take part are solemnly inaugurated into their new posts. The Swedish term for the ceremony, 'installation', comes from the ritual of introducing a newly appointed canon (cathedral clergyman) to his place in the choir (stallum, in Latin). Similarly, the University’s vice-chancellor has symbolically inaugurated new professors by solemnly leading them in procession to the podium in the University auditorium.

One of the new professors holds a brief popular science lecture on the occasion of the inauguration. The chair of Lund University Students’ Unions makes a speech to the newly inaugurated professors, to which one among them responds.

Inauguration of new vice-chancellor

The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Swedish Government for a maximum of six years, following a recommendation by the University Board. Every sixth year the new vice-chancellor is inaugurated on St Charles’ day, 28 January.