Uppsala University turns 550 – be part of the celebrations

What kind of activity could count as an Anniversary activity? All kinds! The Anniversary will consist of everything between panel discussions and open lectures in popular science to concerts and exhibitions. The most important criteria for your activity to be approved as an official Anniversary activity that it is tied to the university and our concept for the celebrations, which center around the three keywords Past-Present-Future.

Before you register your activity, you should be as far along in the planning process as being able to fill out the questions in the registration form. In addition to contact information and other essential information, you should also have a notion of:

• What the activity consists of
• Date and time
• Venue
• Target audience
• Sum and purpose for potential economic funding

The Anniversary Office works as support when you plan your activity, and we are happy to help you in discussing dates, venues, formats, etc. You can contact us at 550@uu.se.

Register your activity

If you are curious about what activities already exist in the calendar, you can find the official Anniversary program here.

Register your activity by filling out the registration form

The anniversary office will notify which activities will receive funding no later than three weeks after the last application date. Note that it may be possible for your activity to be approved as an anniversary activity even if your application for financial funding is denied.

You can apply for a small grant of support for your activity. The application can be found in the registration form.

For activities taking place during the spring term of 2027, the deadline for applications is 13 November 2026, and for activities taking place during the autumn term of 2027, the deadline for applications is 19 March 2027. Notifications will be issued by email no later than three weeks after each deadline.

Examples of what activities that can be funded:

• printed materials
• technology and venue
• participants (for example an invited guest speaker)
• exhibition costs

Note that the list above is not complete but contains a few examples. Please contact the anniversary office for potential questions.

Register your activity and apply for financial support

All approved activities, with the general public as target audience, will be published in the official Anniversary programme and the Anniversary website at uu.se/en/550. The Anniversary programme is marketed through key channels according to the Anniversary’s joint marketing plan with targeted campaigns ahead of the opening in February, the summer, and October of 2027.

As an organizer, you will be responsible for providing marketing material in accordance with the official deadlines notified by the Anniversary Office.

If you have an activity that requires a nation card or other student memberships, we will not be able to add it to the Anniversary Calander. However, it is still possible to register and apply for financial funding for an activity regardless of its target audience.

Anniversary activities must in some way relate to one or more of the following perspectives:

The Past: What can we learn from history?

Focus: We aim to highlight the leading role that Uppsala University has played, and continues to play, in the creation and dissemination of knowledge, both nationally and internationally. We wish to demonstrate in various ways that the University is driven by passionate people who contribute to its development in different ways.

Examples of content: Retrospectives, groundbreaking discoveries, the history of ideas, and the University’s role over the years.

Objective: To strengthen the University’s identity and credibility by highlighting its history, heritage, and constant renewal.

The Present: The University’s relevance today

Focus: Highlight current research issues, global challenges, interdisciplinary work, and the university’s role in society today. Foster optimism for the future by highlighting research and education as society's most important tools for a sustainable world. Inspire politicians, the general public and young people to see research and education as the key to a sustainable future,

Objective: Demonstrate the University’s relevance and value here and now – in education, research and community engagement.

Future: The University Moving Forward

Focus: Vision and innovation. Forward-looking in science, education, etc. Highlight and illustrate the importance and opportunities of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. Highlight Uppsala University’s commitment to challenge-driven and cross-disciplinary research, as well as Uppsala University’s role as part of international networks when the challenges are global.

Objective: To foster optimism about the future and position the university as a driving force for tomorrow’s society. To shape public opinion and foster dialogue in order to establish research and education as the obvious path to a sustainable future.