PhD studies at the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

A broad research environment

Doctoral students are supervised by researchers from one of the department's four research groups. Many projects involve supervisors from several disciplines, often in collaboration with other departments at SLU, Swedish universities and research institutes in Sweden and abroad. Commonly, PhD projects have practical components done in collaboration with the wider forest sector in Sweden. Thus, our PhD education gives doctoral students access to a wide range of scientific and practical expertise throughout their scientific training.

Research at the department is built around doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, senior researchers and technical staff working together within specific research projects or scientific programs. Hence, as a PhD student, you are an active member of this research environment from the beginning of your studies.

Doctoral community

The department is home to around 30 doctoral students. This creates an international community where students from different backgrounds and research areas meet through seminars, courses and informal activities, but also lend a hand in fieldwork or in everyday challenges of PhD life. Doctoral students also organise their own social events and contribute to the department's seminar and science club programme. With many ongoing research projects and a long tradition of doctoral education, new students quickly become part of both the academic and social life of the department.

Courses

Doctoral education at SLU combines independent research with doctoral-level courses. Each student completes at least 30 credits of coursework, selected together with their supervisors. Courses may be offered by the department, elsewhere at SLU, by other Swedish universities or through international doctoral courses.