The ceremony of the Opening of the Academic Year was held on 1 October 2010. The event was preceded by a Mass in St Anne's Church. At 10 a.m. a traditional procession of the university government and professors in black gowns  proceeded from Collegium Maius to Auditorium Maximum. During the procession the representatives of student government laid wreath under the Liberty Oak.  

The ceremony proper started at 11 p.m. Apart from professors, students, university government and employees, the event was attended by eminent guests – Polish government representatives, local authority representatives, politicians, senators, Members of the European Parliament, military representatives, police, fire brigade, rectors of local universities, and civil service officers. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of overseas guests and consuls.

Matriculation was the most important part of the ceremony. The representatives of the 15 faculties of study and interfaculty studies received their record books from the JU Rector, Prof. Karol Musioł, and the JU Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs, Prof. Andrzej Mania. According to the university tradition, matriculated students put on university caps.

The opening lecture entitled The source of the synchrotron radiation was delivered by Professor Królas. The lecturer mentioned Poland's first synchrotron which is going to be built at the Jagiellonian University.

The ceremony was concluded with a presentation of a cheerful LipDub clip, which conjured up the atmosphere of youthful energy and joy.