Information for ceremony participants

Newly awarded Doctors

Those who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis and had their doctoral degree formally awarded (i.e. the degree has been registered in Ladok) between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026 will, in accordance with academic tradition, be invited to the doctoral conferment ceremony.

Invitations will be sent by email in September by the academic ceremony Project Manager, using contact details obtained from Ladok.

If you have not received an invitation, please contact: akademiskhogtid@fhs.se

Ceremony and banquet

The ceremony and banquet dinner will be held at Stockholm City Hall. The ceremony will take place in the Blue Hall, followed by the banquet in the Golden Hall. Please note that the banquet is restricted to guests aged 18 and over.

Each newly awarded doctor may invite a total of three guests as follows:

• One guest to attend both the ceremony and the banquet
• Two guests to attend the ceremony only

In addition, each doctoral graduate may invite one supervisor. Supervisors will receive a separate invitation. It is not possible to replace the supervisor allocation with an additional guest.

Dress code

Banquet

The dress code for guests attending the banquet is white tie. This includes:

• Tailcoat with white waistcoat and white bow tie
• Full-length evening gown
• Military mess dress
• National dress

Ceremony Only

The dress code for guests attending only the ceremony is lounge suit (dark business suit) or equivalent formal attire, such as a dress, skirt, or other formal business wear of a comparable level.

Registration

Invitations will be sent to doctoral graduates whose degrees have been registered in Ladok during the specified period.

If you are unable to attend in the year you are invited, you may defer your participation. Please contact academicceremony@fhs.se with your request.

You may invite one supervisor to attend the ceremony and banquet. When responding to your invitation, you will be asked to provide the name and email address of your chosen supervisor, who will then receive a separate invitation. At the banquet, you will be seated together with your guest and attending supervisor.

Academic insignia - diploma, hat, ring and saber

Diploma

The diploma serves as the formal proof of the doctoral distinction and is presented to all doctoral graduates during the ceremony.

Doctoral hat

The doctoral hat symbolises academic freedom. The Swedish Defence University has hats available for loan.

If you wish to order your own doctoral hat, please allow sufficient time for delivery. Hats can be ordered through the University's supplier, Franzéns Hattmakeri. All doctoral hats are handmade using traditional craftsmanship.

If you bring your own doctoral hat, please bring it to the ceremony. The hat may only be worn after you have been formally conferred.

Orders can be placed through:
https://franzenshattmakeri.se/larosaten/forsvarshogskolan

Doctoral ring

The doctoral ring symbolises loyalty to scholarship and is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand.

The gold ring, bearing the Swedish Defence University coat of arms and oak leaves, is presented only to honorary doctors.

Those wishing to purchase their own doctoral ring may order one from Guldsmed Carlsson in Uppsala upon presentation of their degree certificate.

Orders can be placed via: guldsmed.stefan@me.com

Doctoral sword

The Swedish Defence University doctoral sword is an artillery sword, model m/1893 OF, with a nickel-plated scabbard and sword knot. It is the University's most ceremonial sword and traces its heritage to the artillery officer Carl von Cardell, founder of the Higher Artillery Institute at Marieberg in 1818.

The sword symbolises the University's distinctive military character and is available for loan during the ceremony. Those wishing to purchase their own doctoral sword may do so through Medaljmäster.

Orders can be placed via: info@medaljmaster.se

Information for supervisors

Newly awarded doctors may invite one supervisor. During registration, they will indicate whether they wish to invite a supervisor and, if so, provide the supervisor’s name and email address. An invitation will then be sent directly to the selected supervisor.

Supervisors who have supervised more than one doctoral graduate may receive multiple invitations. Only one response is required.

At the banquet, supervisors will be seated together with their doctoral graduates.

All internal guests are invited without an accompanying guest.

Rehearsal

At present, it is expected that participants will have the opportunity to attend a full rehearsal at Stockholm City Hall on the evening before the ceremony, with a preliminary start time of 5.00 p.m.

Further information and practical details will be distributed at a later date.

Newly appointed Professors

Professors appointed to their positions between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026 will be invited, together with one guest, to attend both the ceremony and the banquet.

Professors may also invite additional guests to attend the ceremony only. Only professors who have been appointed or promoted during the qualifying period will take part in the formal installation on stage.

Visiting and adjunct professors will likewise be invited together with one guest. They will be acknowledged in the printed programme and by the Vice-Chancellor during the ceremony, accompanied by a photograph displayed on screen.

Invitations will be issued in August/September 2026.

Ceremony and banquet

The Academic Ceremony will take place in the Blue Hall at Stockholm City Hall and will be followed by a banquet dinner in the Golden Hall. Please note that the banquet is restricted to guests aged 18 and over.

Each newly appointed professor may invite up to four guests as follows:

• One guest to attend both the ceremony and the banquet
• Three guests to attend the ceremony only

Dress code

The dress code for the banquet is white tie. This includes:

• Tailcoat with white waistcoat and white bow tie
• White-tie shirt
• Full-length evening gown in any colour
• Military mess dress
• National dress

For guests attending only the ceremony, the dress code is lounge suit (dark suit), or equivalent attire such as a dress or skirt.

Registration

Invitations will be sent in August/September 2026 to professors who were appointed within the specified period.

At the banquet, professors will be seated together with their guest.

Professorial insignia

During the ceremony, newly appointed professors are formally welcomed to the University and installed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish Defence University.

As symbols of their installation, two insignia are presented:

Diploma

The diploma serves as the written proof of the professorial distinction.

Stole

The stole is a handcrafted wool garment. Its presentation symbolises the professor’s entry into the role as a leading representative of their academic discipline. Stoles are available for loan from the University.

Rehearsal

At present, it is expected that participants will have the opportunity to attend a full rehearsal at Stockholm City Hall on the evening before the ceremony, with a preliminary start time of 5.00 p.m.

Further information and practical details will be distributed at a later date.