What Graduation Looks Like in Sweden

Different countries celebrate graduation day in very different ways. It’s usually filled with unique traditions and customs, and it marks the last big step in your university life. Graduation ceremonies also vary depending on which university you attend, even within the same country.

Earlier this December, my university, the University of Skövde, held its annual graduation ceremony for all bachelor’s and master’s students. Sweden, in general, tends to have a much more relaxed approach to university graduations compared to many other countries where these events are large, grand celebrations. That kind of big celebration is usually reserved for high school graduations instead.

First of all…. Why was I even there?

No, I wasn’t a graduating student. I had just finished my first year of studies and still had two more years to go. Instead, I found myself working as a student marshal at the ceremony.

What does that mean? Honestly, a very valid question, because I didn’t even know such a position existed before this. At our university, student marshals are student representatives who help with the planning, organization, and management of the graduation ceremony. We read out the names of graduating students as they receive their diplomas, help keep students organized and informed, and essentially help run the event.

There were eight student marshals in total this year, each of us taking on different roles that rotated throughout the ceremony to keep everything moving. It was also a paid position for the day, which is always a nice bonus as a university student.

This role placed me right in the middle of all the action. I was constantly juggling task lists, names, and seating orders, and I found myself taking a lot of initiative and responsibility. That’s something I’ve grown more comfortable with recently, especially through my involvement in the local student union. It was also another example of me saying yes to opportunities, a mindset I’ve been trying to embrace more since starting my student journey in Sweden.

So What’s it like?

The graduation ceremony itself was around 3 hours long.

The procession-in

The ceremony began with a formal procession-in, where all graduating students entered the room in their seating order and took their places. This was actually the first time the University of Skövde had done a procession like this for bachelor’s and master’s students.

Usually, this style, where students walk in two by two and splitting into seating columns, is reserved for PhD graduation ceremonies in Skövde. This year, however, the organizing committee made the bold decision to try it with the regular graduation ceremony as well. And when I say bold, I really mean it. Instead of 5–10 PhD students, we were dealing with close to 400 graduating students.

One of my main responsibilities during this part was to make sure all the students were lined up correctly in a separate room so that everything would flow smoothly. I won’t lie—coordinating around 400 students, many of whom weren’t even sure where they were supposed to stand, was incredibly stressful. But somehow, my partner marshal and I managed to pull it off. By the time the procession happened, it looked orderly, formal, and surprisingly flawless.

The diploma ceremony

After the procession came the main ceremony. Each school (or department, such as Information Technology, Biosciences, or Engineering) received their diplomas separately.

Between each department, there were musical breaks featuring a live vocalist accompanied by a band, and sometimes speeches from the heads of the different schools. These breaks made the ceremony feel lively and personal, rather than long and monotonous.

As student marshals, we were responsible for bringing students backstage at the right time, making sure they were in the correct order, and noting down any students who weren’t present. This behind-the-scenes coordination was crucial to keeping the ceremony running smoothly.

Each graduating student received a pink rose along with their diploma, which I thought was a really nice touch. They had a few seconds on stage to walk out, shake hands with their head of school, and pose briefly for a photo at the center of the stage. Some students even took the opportunity to show a bit of personality, doing small funny gestures or mini skits, which always earned them extra applause from the audience. At certain points, I was also handing out the roses and diplomas to the heads of the departments.

Speeches, awards, and appreciation

Once all diplomas had been handed out, there were speeches by graduating students. These were genuinely fun to listen to. Funny, nostalgic, and very relatable, and the audience clearly enjoyed them.

There were also special awards presented to teachers, known as the Golden Apple Awards. Each department selected a teacher, voted by the students, who had gone above and beyond during the year. A student from each department gave a short introductory speech before the teacher received a golden apple award along with a full bouquet of flowers. It was a really wholesome moment and a nice way to show appreciation for the teaching staff.

The after-ceremony vibes

After the formal ceremony ended, it was time for finger food, drinks, and casual conversations. The chairs were quickly moved and rearranged by us student marshals, clearing the floor so graduates could stay, chat with friends and family, and enjoy the evening.

The food was great, the drinks were refreshing, and yes, student marshals got to try them too, one of the many perks of the role. Many students also wanted private photos taken on the main stage, which quickly created a long queue. Luckily, we had planned ahead and set up a replica photo area with an identical backdrop. This helped reduce congestion and gave students more freedom to take photos at their own pace. Overall, the relaxed and flexible vibe of the post-ceremony hangout seemed to be a big hit.

As the evening went on, students slowly began to leave, and we marshals stayed behind to clean up and pack everything away, officially closing out the day.

What about the graduation ball?

There was also supposed to be a graduation ball organized by the Student Union of Skövde. It would have included a full dinner, a dance floor, and entertainment. A classic ball where graduates could continue celebrating late into the night.

Unfortunately, the ball was canceled this year, which meant neither the graduating students nor we student marshals got to experience it. Hopefully, in future years, and especially in my own graduation year, it will return, because it sounds like a really memorable and fitting send-off to university life. I believe that larger university tend to have a full ball like this, so maybe if you study at such a university, you might get to experience it.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, working behind the scenes at the graduation ceremony turned out to be a really interesting experience. Even though I wasn’t graduating myself, I got a much clearer picture of how these events are organized in Sweden and what waits for me at the end of my studies. Seeing the ceremony up close motivated me and reminded me that university life isn’t shaped only by classes and exams, but also by the experiences and responsibilities you choose to take on along the way.