Sub Auspiciis Doctorate

The Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis Rei Publicae (Latin for Doctorate under the Auspices of the Federal President), commonly referred to as a Sub Auspiciis Doctorate, is the highest academic distinction in Austria. It is awarded to doctoral candidates who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement throughout their entire secondary education and university studies.

Award Ceremony

At the University of Salzburg, Sub Auspiciis doctorates have been documented since 1968. Traditionally, the conferral ceremony was held in the presence of the Federal President of Austria or an official representative.

Since 2024, a joint annual ceremony for all Sub Auspiciis graduates has been held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. During this ceremonial event, the Federal President formally presents the graduates with the traditional Ring of Honour in the Privy Council Chamber (Geheime Ratsstube).

  • Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Dr.in Ingrid Vukusic and Dr.in Elisabeth Eder
    Photo (left to right).: Federal President Van der Bellen, Dr.in Ingrid Vukusic and Dr.in Elisabeth Eder | © Christian Schneider

    Sub Auspiciis Doctorate

    7 November 2023

    Ingrid Vukusic and Elisabeth Eder graduated sub auspiciis Praesidentis Rei Publicae on 7 November 2023 under the auspices of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The ceremony was held as a joint academic celebration of the University of Salzburg and the Mozarteum University Salzburg.

  • Sub-Auspiciis-Promotion | Elisabeth Höftberger
    Photo (left to right): Dr.in Elisabeth Höftberger with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen | © Kay Müller

    Sub Auspiciis Doctorate

    23 March 2023

    On 23 March 2023, a Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis Rei Publicae was held at the Great Hall of the University Library (Bibliotheksaula) of the University of Salzburg for Elisabeth Höftberger. During the ceremony, she was awarded the traditional Ring of Honour in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements throughout her school and university education.

  • Sub-Auspiciis-Promotion | Federal President Van der Bellen
    Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen | Photo: © Kay Müller

    Sub Auspiciis Doctorate

    23 March 2023

    Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Great Hall of the University Library (Bibliotheksaula) at the University of Salzburg.

  • Sub auspiciis 2021
    Photo (left to right): em. Rector Hendrik Lehnert, Dr. Georg Zimmermann, Dr. Harald Gschwandtner, Governor Wilfried Haslauer | © Scheinast

    Sub Auspiciis Doctorate

    16 June 2021

    On 16 June 2021, Governor Wilfried Haslauer presented the Rings of Honour to the two Sub Auspiciis graduates, Georg Zimmermann and Harald Gschwandtner, on behalf of the Federal President of Austria.

Register of Sub Auspiciis Doctorates at the University of Salzburg

Below you will find an overview of the Sub Auspiciis Doctorates conferred at the University of Salzburg. The register documents recipients of Austria’s highest academic distinction and highlights outstanding academic achievements across generations of graduates.

  • A-F

    • Arrer, Kurt | Dr.phil. | 23.06.1976
    • Berger, Wilhelm | Dr.phil. | 16.12.1992
    • Bleiziffer, Peter | Dr.iur. | 24.10.1980
    • Bors, Alexander | Dr.rer.nat. | 31.05.2017
    • Burgstaller-Getzinger, Christine | Dr.phil. | 24.11.1980
    • Danner, Peter | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1988
    • Derler, Patricia | Dr.phil. | 17.11.2011
    • Di Stolfo, Paolo | Dr.rer.nat. | 07.04.2022
    • Dürnberger, Heidelinde | Dr.phil. | 16.06.1977
    • Edlmair, Barbara | Dr.phil. | 24.02.1999
    • Foißner, Ilse Maria | Dr.phil. | 14.11.1979
    • Frasl, Ingrid Erika Evelyne | Dr.iur. | 27.06.1984
    • Freinschlag, Andreas | Dr.phil. | 09.01.2008
    • Fuchs, Albert | Dr.phil. | 13.12.1968

  • G-H

    • Gaisbauer, Ulrike | Dr.phil. | 09.04.1986
    • Glaser-Wöhrer, Evelyne | Dr.phil. | 20.11.1978
    • Gottwald, Herwig | Dr.phil. | 27.06.1984
    • Gruber, Josef | Dr.phil. | 24.01.1972
    • Gruber, Michael | Dr.iur. | 05.04.1990
    • Gschwandtner, Harald | Dr.phil. | 16.06.2021
    • Hasiweder, Wolfgang | Dr.phil. | 16.12.1992
    • Hausner, Renate | Dr.phil. | 28.03.1973
    • Heinisch, Michaela | Dr.phil. | 18.03.1991
    • Held, Martin | Dr.rer.nat. | 18.03.1991
    • Hentschläger, Helga M. | Dr.phil. | 07.06.1982
    • Hiebl, Karl Robert | Dr.phil. | 19.01.1983
    • Hittmeir, Markus | Dr.rer.nat. | 29.01.2019
    • Hochradner, Thomas | Dr.phil. | 16.12.1992
    • Höftberger, Elisabeth | Dr.theol. | 23.03.2023
    • Holzer, Irene | Dr.phil. | 07.12.2010

  • K-L

    • Kainhofer, Judith Maria | Dr.phil. | 07.02.2009
    • Kauba, Christof | Dr.techn. | 29.01.2019
    • Klicpera, Christian | Dr.phil. | 16.06.1977
    • Kreinecker, Christine | Dr.theol. | 09.01.2008
    • Krisch, Thomas | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1985
    • Kritzer, Peter Albin | Dr.rer.nat. | 08.06.2005
    • Kumer, Anton | Dr.phil. | 24.02.1999
    • Kurz, Marion | Dr.rer.nat. | 16.11.1994
    • Lackenbauer, Karl | Dr.phil. | 18.01.1974
    • Lametschwandter, Alois | Dr.phil. | 16.06.1977
    • Larcher, Gerhard | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1985
    • Lebernegg, Stefan | Dr.rer.nat. | 17.11.2011
    • Lindner, Thomas | Dr.phil. | 08.03.2001

  • M-O

    • Margreiter, Ingrid Johanna | Dr.phil. | 07.06.1982
    • Marinello, Daniela | Dr.phil. | 15.10.2007
    • Massl, Wolfgang | Dr.phil. | 14.11.1979
    • Mayer, Walter | Dr.phil. | 07.06.1982
    • Metzger, Heribert | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1985
    • Mittermayer, Manfred | Dr.phil. | 10.04.1987
    • Mühlbacher-Parzer, Alfred | Dr.phil. | 06.04.1989
    • Müller, Karl | Dr.phil. | 16.06.1977
    • Neumayer, Johanna | Dr.rer.nat. | 16.11.1994
    • Neutatz, Dieter | Dr.phil. | 18.03.1991
    • Ott, Walter | Dr.phil. | 16.12.1992

  • P-R

    • Peckl-Schmid, Doris | Dr.rer.nat. | 07.12.2010
    • Philipp, Martin | Dr.rer.nat. | 16.11.1994
    • Pöll, Bernhard | Dr.phil. | 24.04.1997
    • Prexl, Anja | Dr.phil. | 07.02.2009
    • Proksch, Reinhard Johann | Dr.phil. | 10.04.1987
    • Prüger, Heidelinde | Dr.phil. | 08.03.2001
    • Reisinger, Ferdinand | Dr.phil. | 23.06.1976
    • Reiter, Alfons | Dr.phil. | 18.01.1974
    • Rob-Santer, Carmen | Dr.phil. | 08.06.2005
    • Rührnößl, Franz | Dr.phil. | 05.04.1990

  • S

    • Sallaberger, Johann | Dr.phil. | 28.03.1973
    • Sänger, Alexandra Maria | Dr.phil. | 07.06.1982
    • Scheutz, Johann | Dr.phil. | 19.01.1983
    • Schmid, Sigrid Maria | Dr.phil. | 18.01.1974
    • Schmoller, Kurt Heinrich | Dr.iur. | 07.06.1982
    • Schneider, Erika | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1985
    • Schönauer, Esther | Dr.rer.nat. | 22.11.2013
    • Skala, Wolfgang | Dr.rer.nat. | 03.12.2015
    • Stegbuchner, Johann | Dr.phil. | 05.06.1975
    • Steinhäusler, Werner Rudolf | Dr.iur. | 19.01.1983
    • Strasser, Michaela | Dr.phil. | 18.01.1974
    • Strobl, Wolfgang | Dr.phil. | 08.03.2001
    • Stutz, Ernst-Hanno | Dr.rer.nat. | 24.02.1999

  • T-Z

    • Tull, Stephan | Dr.phil. | 18.04.1988
    • Uhl, Andreas | Dr.rer.nat. | 24.04.1997
    • Vogl, Peter Michael Franz | Dr.phil. | 03.12.2015
    • Vukusic, Ingrid | Dr.rer.nat. | 07.11.2023
    • Wagner, Reinhard | Dr.techn. | 31.05.2017
    • Weinhäupl, Karl | Dr.iur. | 24.04.1997
    • Wernitzig, Hannelore | Dr.phil. | 07.06.1982
    • Wesp, Gerhard | Dr.rer.nat. | 08.03.2001
    • Wieden, Wilfried | Dr.phil. | 05.06.1975
    • Wild, Peter | Dr.techn. | 22.11.2013
    • Wildbichler, Sebastian | Dr.phil. | 16.06.1977
    • Wimmer, Franz Martin | Dr.phil. | 05.06.1975
    • Wolf, Reinhard | Dr.rer.nat. | 18.03.1991
    • Wuksan, Anneliese | Dr.phil. | 18.01.1974
    • Zimmermann, Georg | Dr.rer.nat. | 16.06.2021
    • Zischg, Robert | Dr.phil. | 05.04.1990
    • Zwitter-Tehovnik, Dana | Dr.phil. | 23.06.1976

Press Releases and Photos

Below you will find press releases as well as links to our Flickr photo albums, providing further information and photographic impressions of the respective events.