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Let’s celebrate the European Doctoral Day on 13 May!

29 April 2026

The 13 May will be the first European Doctoral Day, a pan-European celebration of doctoral education and the impact of doctoral graduates. The initiative aims to inspire future researchers, raise awareness among employers, and showcase the diverse and vital contributions doctoral graduates make to society.

All around Europe, more than 170 events will take place, including photography contests, workshops, roundtable discussions, seminars, podcasts and much more. The events are open to professionals, doctoral graduates, doctoral researchers, students, university staff and the wider public. Nine Coimbra Group universities and the Arqus Alliance, to which several CG members take part, are organising events on site, online and hybrid. Here the list of their events:

  • Research Careers Campus, University of Graz: “How to start failing upwards: Practical advice for doctoral researchers to overcome setbacks” (held in person, more info here)
  • University of Coimbra: “European Doctoral Day 2026 at University of Coimbra – Being a PhD Student at UC: Support, Pathways and Impact” (hybrid, more info here), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra: “PhD in Pharmacology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra: Career Paths and Impact | European Doctoral Day 2026” (held in person, more info here), Institute for Legal Research, University of Coimbra: “European Doctoral Day 2026 at University of Coimbra Institute for Legal Research” (held in person, more info here)
  • University of Würzburg: “European Doctoral Day, University of Würzburg” (hybrid, more info here)
  • University of Turku “European Doctoral Day 2026 at the University of Turku” (held in person, more info here)
  • Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi: “Sharing the PhD table – Life lessons storytelling” (hybrid, more info here), “PhD skills puzzle” (online, more info here)
  • PhD Students Association, Jagiellonian University: “European Doctoral Day 2026 at Jagiellonian University” (hybrid, more info here)
  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena: “Start your research career at Friedrich Schiller University Jena” (online, more info here), “Women in academia – Evening discussion” (held in person, more info here)
  • Trinity College Dublin Students Union: “European Doctoral Day Panel at Trinity College Dublin” (hybrid, more info here), Trinity College Dublin: “Better together: Amplifying doctoral research and innovation through collaboration” (held in person, more info here)
  • University of Cologne: “European Doctoral Day 2026 – A talk on the ways you can realize a research stay abroad” (online, more info here)
  • Arqus European University Alliance: “Shaping tomorrow’s talent: How European excellence programmes and European Universities Alliances can transform doctoral selection and HR policy – The example of the ArchiFun project” (hybrid, more info here), “The challenge of mobility in the development of doctoral journeys” (online, more info here)

You can find further info and an overview of all events in Europe on the dedicated website European Doctoral Day.