2025 PhD GRADUATION CEREMONY
Welcome to the 2025 PhD Graduation Ceremony page, which will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 3 p.m. at our Pierre and Marie Curie campus!
For 20 years now, the Sorbonne University Alliance has organized this exceptional and prestigious event
every year. This event celebrates the completion of the PhD program, academic research,
and the exceptional work of the graduates.
Each graduating class is named after an outstanding personality recognized for their work, commitment, and achievements. This year, the class will be named after Marina Lévy.
For any questions: [email protected]
2025 CLASS PATRON
Marina Lévy
For over fifteen years, Marina Lévy has been a Research Director at the CNRS, within the Oceanography and Climate Laboratory: Experimentations and Numerical Approaches (LOCEAN), affiliated with Sorbonne University.
A specialist in the interactions between the ocean, climate, and biodiversity, she devotes all her research work to unraveling the mysteries of this ecosystem, fundamental to the balance of our planet.
A graduate of École Polytechnique, Marina Lévy began a PhD in marine biogeochemistry at Sorbonne University, which later led her to Columbia University in the United States for a postdoctoral fellowship at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory research institute between 1997 and 1998.
As head of the TOSCA committee, dedicated to space oceanography, Marina Lévy has played a key role in developing the use of satellites to decipher large-scale ocean dynamics.
Her international outlook has given her access to cutting-edge tools, including the Earth Simulator supercomputer in Japan, and earned her the CNRS bronze medal.
Today, Marina Lévy is one of the leading voices in ocean science worldwide.
From 2016 to 2024, she served as Deputy Director of the Ocean, Climate, and Biodiversity Department at IRD.
Since 2024, she has been Ocean Advisor to the IRD President, a strategic role that involves representing the institute at major international events.
The graduation ceremony will start on Saturday, June 14, at 3 p.m
Day(s)
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Hour(s)
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Minute(s)
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Second(s)
PROGRAM
From 3:00 p.m
WELCOME OF PhD GRADUATES AND FAMILIES
In front of the auditorium
4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
SPEECH
- Speech by Nathalie Drach-Temam, President of Sorbonne University
- Speech by Marina Lévy, 2025 Class Patron
- Presentation of the PhD Alumni Club
4:30 p.m
PROCESSION OF GRADUATES
Procession of PhD graduates called by the doctoral school directors
From 7:00 p.m
COCKTAIL
On the forecourt in front of the auditorium
Previous Edition
How to attend the ceremony
In order to attend the PhD graduation ceremony, you must:
Have defended your thesis between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025,
Have submitted all the defense thesis documents to the DIADM (including the defense thesis report) or to the registration office from UTC, MNHN and INSEAD.
Registration is mandatory.
An electronic invitation will be sent to you. Your guests (two maximum) will also receive one.
Without these invitations, it will be impossible to attend the ceremony.
Access to the graduation ceremony will only be granted to those who have registered.
THE LIVE!
The live stream will be available on the day of the ceremony.
ACCESS TO THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
By public transportation (to minimize the event’s carbon footprint)
By metro
Line 7: Stop at Jussieu station. Take the main exit; the campus is located right in front.
Line 10: Also stop at Jussieu station; the campus is just a few steps away.
By bus
Lines 24, 63, 67, 86, 87: Get off at Jussieu or Institut du Monde Arabe.
From there, the campus is accessible within a few minutes on foot.
FAQ
What time should I arrive?
You can arrive from 3:00 p.m.
In what order will we be called during the graduation ceremony?
PhD graduates will be called in alphabetical order within their doctoral school. The running order by doctoral school will be determined after registration closes.
Besides the invitation, are any other documents required to attend the ceremony?
To attend the ceremony, you must also bring proof of identity (ID card, passport, etc.).
I cannot travel. Can I attend the graduation ceremony remotely?
Yes, you can attend the graduation ceremony remotely.
What is the maximum number of guests per PhD graduate?
Each PhD graduate is entitled to invite a maximum of two guests of their choice.
Do guests also need to show proof of identity to attend the graduation ceremony?
No, guests accompanying PhD graduates do not need to show proof of identity. The graduate’s invitation mentioning their first and last names will serve as proof.
At what time can my guests arrive?
PhD graduates’ guests will be welcomed in the designated halls from 3:00 p.m. onward.
Will our guests be seated with us in the auditorium during the graduation ceremony?
No, PhD graduates will be in the auditorium, and their guests will be in adjacent halls.
Can I attend the graduation ceremony with young children?
It is not recommended to bring young children. The ceremony takes place in a solemn and formal setting and lasts for a relatively long time. This type of event may not be suitable for young children, who may find it difficult to stay attentive or calm throughout.
Do I need to provide my invitation and proof of identity to connect to the ceremony remotely ?
No, you will be provided with an ID number that will serve as proof.
I am a foreign PhD graduate and I need a visa. What should I do?
Please send an email requesting a letter of invitation to [email protected]
Will I receive my diploma at the end of the graduation ceremony?
No, diplomas must be collected from the DIADM (Registration and Diploma Department) by appointment and upon presentation of proof of identity. If you belong to one of the Alliance institutions, please contact your registration office.
How should I dress for this event?
The graduation ceremony is a solemn and prestigious event. A decent and clean outfit is required.
I am a person with reduced mobility. Is the auditorium accessible?
Yes, the auditorium is accessible for people with reduced mobility. A member of the reception team will guide you.
One of my guests has reduced mobility. Are the adjacent halls accessible for people with reduced mobility?
Each hall has 6 spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility.
Will the ceremony be accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people?
There are no special facilities for deaf or hard-of-hearing people.
Is there going to be a live broadcast of the graduation ceremony?
Yes, a live broadcast is planned. The link will be available soon.
I have lost my ID card. What other documents are accepted to access the event?
If you have lost your ID card, any other document proving your identity will be accepted (ID loss declaration, passport, driving license, health insurance card).
SUSTAINABLE CEREMONY
Resource Consumption Control
Fully aligned with Sorbonne University’s sustainable development policy, this ceremony minimizes paper consumption by promoting the use of digital tools. Participants can access an online guide with all the key informations about the event. This approach also helps to reduce waste, as printed programs often end up being discarded, while providing increased accessibility for attendees.
We have also chosen to manufacture the gowns and scarves in Europe, in order to limit the environmental impact associated with transportation from Asia. Furthermore, participants who do not wish to keep their gown are invited to return it at the end of the ceremony so that it can be cleaned and reused.
Invitation to use public transportation
We encourage participants to use public transportation to attend the graduation ceremony. The Pierre and Marie Curie campus is accessible via Metro lines 7 and 10, as well as Bus lines 67 and 89 on the Jussieu side, and Bus lines 86, 63, and 24 on the Seine side.
Stage elements are reused every year
In order to reduce waste, we reuse our stage elements every year: banners, plants, signs, etc. We have avoided mentioning the year of the edition on these items to allow for their reuse year after year.