You are about to start your doctoral studies, and they will be different to any other courses and programmes you have previously studied. Doctoral studies last for several years and include courses, supervision and training as well as spending time on research projects. Sometimes you will teach students at Bachelor’s or Master’s level, or have other duties at your department. Doctoral studies in Sweden last 4 years (for the Degree of Doctor) or 2 years (for the Degree of Licentiate). However, your period of study will be extended if, for example, you teach or take parental leave.

Doctoral studies at SLU teach students scientific approaches and subject knowledge. They also provide training in teaching and education and leadership. Whilst you will participate in courses and other study components, your doctoral studies will mainly comprise a thesis project and most of your time will be spent conducting research. A doctoral student pursues a project – their thesis – with help from two or more supervisors. In the beginning, doctoral students are dependent on their supervisors. Then as their projects progress, the doctoral student becomes the driving force behind the work and their supervisors take on an advisory role.

There are around 550 active doctoral students at SLU – and now you are one of them. SLU has four faculties and several departments. All doctoral students belong to a department, even those who are not employed by SLU. The head of department is responsible for all courses and programmes given to the department’s doctoral students. The head of department is also responsible for the work environment for the doctoral student, unless the student is employed by another employer than SLU.

At SLU, the vice-chancellor has overall responsibility for doctoral studies. However in practice, the faculties have been assigned responsibility via a delegation of authority. Decisions such as admission of a new doctoral student, change of supervisor, and defence of doctoral thesis are made at departmental level.

Most doctoral students are employed by SLU, however some doctoral students that are employed externally, for example by a company. There are also doctoral students who are funded by scholarships. Regardless of employment type, all doctoral students at SLU have been admitted to doctoral studies at the university. Still, it is important to note that some conditions may vary depending on the doctoral student’s funding type.

Links:

Doctoral education at SLU

Doctoral education at SLU - governance and responsibilities