Some 2,000 students will graduate from Queen’s University, Belfast, in five ceremonies this week.

Dame Carole Jordan and Frank Graham will both receive Doctorates of Science in the first of the ceremonies which takes place tonight in The Sir William Whitla Hall.

Professor Jordan, the first female president of the Royal Astronomical Society, will receive her award for distinction as a solar physicist and for services to astronomy tomorrow afternoon, while Frank Graham, the founder of Kainos, will be honoured for his services to business and commerce on Friday afternoon.

By the time graduation ends on Friday afternoon, 6,000 students will have graduated in the university's Centenary year, compared with just 400 in 1908. This brings the total number of students who have graduated from Queen's in the last century to almost 300,000.

Lynn Corken, manager of Queen’s Welcome Centre, will graduate tonight with a Diploma in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations. Lynn will also receive the award for the top diploma student.

She said: “Having completed a Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Management at Queen’s in 2007 I decided to continue my studies with the Diploma in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations.

“This is a part-time course, and while it was extremely hard work, it allowed me to balance my studies with my home life and busy job as manager of Queen’s Welcome Centre.

“The knowledge and skills developed during my studies have proved extremely useful in my day-to-day work. The course has also helped me contribute to the growth of the Welcome Centre as a customer-focused welcome point for the many visitors who come to Queen’s each week.

“I am delighted to receive this award and I would like to thank my tutors, Frank McKee and Gerry Power, the Staff Training and Development Unit in Queen’s, and my colleagues in Eventus for their support.”

Queen's president and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson, said: “During 2008, Queen's celebrated its Centenary.

“Now, as we look to the future, I congratulate our latest graduates. The exploitation of the knowledge they have acquired during their studies, coupled with their skills and imagination will ensure that Queen's University Belfast will continue to make a unique contribution to society in Northern Ireland and around the world.”

Ciarnan Helferty, president of the Students' Union, said: “It is an honour for our students to graduate from a university with such a rich past and a bright future. The Queen's experience provides not only a gold standard education but excellent cultural, social and sporting opportunities.”

This week's graduation ceremonies will be streamed live online via www.qub.ac.uk