Doctorate Day 2026
On 22 May 2026, the University of Zaragoza held the 10th Solemn Investiture Ceremony for new Doctoral Graduates and a ceremony to honour those awarded the special doctoral prizes, a ceremony at which graduates of the University’s Doctoral School were recognised as holders of the highest academic degree awarded by the institution: that of Doctor.
The ceremony was attended by 87 of the 252 doctoral candidates who defended their doctoral theses during the 2024–25 academic year, including 20 of those honoured with the Extraordinary Doctoral Award; these figures are in line with attendance rates in recent years.
Just before the ceremony began, the Vice-Chancellor and the acting management team of the University of Zaragoza’s Doctoral School posed with the new PhD graduates for the traditional group photo on the external steps of the Paraninfo, which this year was also attended by the Regional Minister for Education, Science and Universities of the Government of Aragon, Carmen M.ª Susín Gabarre:
10th Solemn Investiture Ceremony for new Doctors of the University of Zaragoza
Source: University of Zaragoza
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Next, in the foyer of the Paraninfo, the academic procession and dignitaries assembled; led by the ushers, they made their way to the Paraninfo Hall whilst the Engineers’ Choir performed pieces from their repertoire until the members of the procession had taken their seats. The academics made their way wearing their academic caps, whilst the new doctors carried theirs in their right hands, as they had not yet been conferred their degrees by the Vice-Chancellor. The academic cap symbolises the helmet of Minerva, goddess of wisdom, and its placement on the head signifies recognition of the doctors’ wisdom.
The ceremony was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zaragoza, Rosa Bolea Bailo, accompanied at the presiding table by the Director of the University of Zaragoza’s Doctoral School, Eva Cerezo Bagdasari, the Deputy Director for Quality at the Doctoral School, Luis Casaló Ariño, the School’s Academic Secretary, Cristina Sánchez Gimeno, as well as the Secretary-General, Javier López Sánchez.
The ceremony began with a speech by the Director of the School. This was followed by a speech by a representative of the new PhD graduates, with Ms Mar Hernández Secorún taking the floor on this occasion to speak on behalf of those taking part in the graduation ceremony. The Secretary-General then read out the oath for the new doctoral graduates and proceeded to call them forward for the capping ceremony by the Vice-Chancellor, followed by the presentation of their diplomas by the Dean or Director of the centre corresponding to their field of study or doctoral programme. He then called to the stage those who had been awarded the special doctoral prize to collect their diploma and the insignia of the University of Zaragoza. Finally, the Vice-Chancellor delivered her speech and brought the ceremony to a close, which concluded with the singing of Gaudeamus Igitur, the university anthem.
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Testimonials from participating PhD graduates
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51 PhD programmes
The University of Zaragoza offers 51 doctoral programmes. In the 2024–25 academic year, a total of 252 theses were defended: 27 in Arts and Humanities, 43 in Sciences, 53 in Health Sciences, 51 in Social and Legal Sciences, and 78 in Engineering and Architecture. Of these, 25 received the Extraordinary Doctoral Award, broken down by field of study as follows: 3, 5, 5, 5 and 7, respectively.
General description of the Doctorate Day