Dress code at the academic ceremonies

What do the dress codes mean?

Formal attire (white tie)

• A long dress or skirt with a top in any colour. The dress or skirt must be floor-length;
• Black tails with a white shirt, white bow tie and a white waistcoat;
• Academic gown; or
• Formal national costume or folk costume.

Semi-formal attire

• A dark suit (dark blue, black or dark grey) with a white shirt and a tie or a fly in any colour or pattern, but not black or white.
• A dress or skirt and a top, in any colour and pattern, of a finer fabric, for instance silk, velvet or crepe. The length of the dress or skirt should be below the knee, however, it should not be a long dress or skirt. It can be combined with a little jacket or a short cardigan.

Business informal attire

• Suit or a jacket with trousers (not jeans) with a white or discreetly-coloured shirt, a bow tie or a tie. The suit or jacket may be light or dark.
• Dress, skirt or trouser suit. The dress or skirt length is short, which means below the knee. A trouser suit should be more elegant that everyday wear. 

Headgear, doctoral hat and decorations

You who participate on stage at the ceremony should not wear any headgear matching your outfit during the procession or the ceremony.

Doctoral hats is worn only by the following persons of the Faculty of Medicine who participate in the ceremony:

• the conferrer
• honorary doctors at the Annual Celebration
• new doctors and jubilee doctors at the Spring Graduation.

If you have one or several decorations, you may wear them.

Dress codes for Spring Graduation in May

Jubilee doctors, new doctors and others taking part in the Spring Graduation Ceremony

Jubilee doctors, new doctors, the Vice-Chancellor, conferrers, marshals and others included in the procession and taking part in the Ceremony must wear formal attire (white tie). That entails:

• A long dress or skirt with a top in any colour. The dress or skirt must be floor-length;
• Black tails with a white shirt, white bow tie and a white waistcoat;
• Academic gown; or
• Formal national costume or folk costume.

Example of attire for those taking part in the Ceremony.

ImageMattias Pettersson

Guests attending the Spring Banquet

Guests attending as audience at the Ceremony and later attending the Spring Banquet must wear formal attire (white tie) or semi-formal attire. That entails: 

• Long, ankle-length or short (below the knee) dress or skirt more elegant than everyday wear;
• Black tails with a white shirt, white waistcoat and white bow tie;
• Dark blue, dark grey, dark green or dark brown suit with a white shirt and tie or bow tie;
• Folk or national costume; or
• Academic gown.

Please note that this is the dress code for the Spring Graduation Banquet in May. See the dress code below if you are attending the Annual Celebration Banquet in October.

Example of attire for guests attending the Spring Banquet.

ImageMattias Pettersson

Spectators only attending the Spring Graduation Ceremony

As a spectator at the Spring Graduation Ceremony (not attending the Spring Banquet) your attire is optional.

Invited guests to the Vice-Chancellor’s Reception

Jubilee doctors, new doctors and other invited guests attending the Vice-Chancellor’s Reception must wear:

• suit or a jacket with trousers (not jeans) with a white or discreetly-coloured shirt, a bow tie or a tie. The suit or jacket may be light or dark;
• dress, skirt or trouser suit. The dress or skirt length is short, which means below the knee; or a trouser suit more elegant than everyday wear. 

Dress codes for the Annual Celebration in October

Honorary doctors, new professors and others taking part in the Annual Celebration Ceremony

Honorary doctors, new professors, the Vice-Chancellor, conferrers, marshals and others included in the procession and taking part in the Ceremony must wear formal attire (white tie). That entails:

• A long dress or skirt with a top in any colour. The dress or skirt must be floor-length;
• Black tails with a white shirt, white bow tie and a white waistcoat;
• Academic gown; or
• Formal national costume or folk costume.

Since the banquet starts immediately after the ceremony, you can wear the same clothes at the banquet as well. Note that the dress code for the banquet also is formal attire (white tie).

See under the heading Headgear, doctoral hat and decorations above what applies to these.

Example of attire for those taking part in the Ceremony.

ImageMattias Pettersson

Spectators attending the Annual Celebration Ceremony

Spectator at the Annual Celebration Ceremony who will also attend the Banquet must wear formal attire (white tie). See under the heading Guests attending the Annual Celebration Banquet.

For spectator at the Annual Celebration Ceremony who will not attend the Banquet the attire is optional.

See under the heading Headgear, doctoral hat and decorations above what applies to doctoral hat and decorations.

Guests attending the Annual Celebration Banquet

Everyone attending the Annual Celebration Banquet must wear formal attire (white tie). That entails: 

• A long dress or skirt with a top in any colour. The dress or skirt must be floor-length;
• Black tails with a white shirt, white bow tie and a white waistcoat;
• Academic gown; or
• Formal national costume or folk costume.

If honorary doctors, new professors or award recipients bring people under the age of 18 to the banquet, those may dress less formally: a pretty dress or white shirt with dark pants and a tie or bow tie.

See under the heading Headgear, doctoral hat and decorations above what applies to doctoral hat and decorations.

Participants and spectators at the lectures

As a participants or spectators at the lectures your attire is optional.

Invited guests to the Vice-Chancellor's Reception

Honorary doctors, new professors, award recipients and other invited guests attending the Vice-Chancellor's Reception must wear semi-formal attire. That entails:

• A dark suit (dark blue, black or dark grey) with a white shirt and a tie or a fly in any colour or pattern, but not black or white.
• A dress or skirt and a top, in any colour and pattern, of a finer fabric, for instance silk, velvet or crepe. The length of the dress or skirt should be below the knee, however, it should not be a long dress or skirt. It can be combined with a little jacket or a short cardigan.