What are doctoral programmes?

Page reviewed:  01/04/2025

Doctoral programmes at SLU provide training in scientific methodology, subject-specific knowledge and practising general skills such as written and oral communication as well as analytical ability.

What do doctoral programmes involve?

Doctoral programmes last several years, and as part of your studies, you will take

courses and receive supervision. At the same time, you will pursue a research project and maybe even teach Bachelor’s and Master’s students, or perform other duties at your department.

Doctoral programmes are both independent and flexible, and you have a significant personal responsibility. The programme includes courses and various educational components, but it closely resembles professional work, and most of your time will be dedicated to research. At the start of the programme, your supervisors will help you create an individual study plan, outlining your programme. It also includes a schedule and a funding plan.

Each doctoral student must have both a general and an individual study plan. The individual study plan is reviewed and followed up annually throughout the programme.

You can be admitted with the aim of earning either a Degree of Doctor (which is the most common and corresponds to 240 credits) or a Degree of Licentiate (half the actual period of study, corresponding to 120 credits).

What is being a doctoral student like?

Doctoral programmes are individual and provide a unique experience that varies depending on your field of study, the collaboration between you and your supervisor, and the work environment at your department. Many doctoral students mention there being advantages such as:

the opportunity to immerse yourself in a subject you are passionate about;
becoming an expert in your field and learning advanced research methods;
becoming part of the academic community and building networks with like-minded peers.
Many doctoral students face challenges such as the uncertainty that accompanies research projects – things rarely go exactly as planned from the start – periods of high workload, and performance anxiety.

Thesis and public defence

The research you conduct during your doctoral studies is published in various formats and compiled into a doctoral thesis. The thesis forms the written examination that demonstrates your ability to present your work scientifically and shows that you have achieved your learning objectives.

The thesis is presented and defended orally at a public defence, or a licentiate seminar for the degree of licentiate. Your faculty will appoint an external reviewer who will discuss and question the content of your thesis. The purpose is for the author of the thesis – the soon-to-be doctor – to draw on their scientific knowledge and skills and discuss and address the questions. An examining committee will observe and participate in the discussion. The committee will then decide whether the thesis and oral defence meet the objectives of the programme.

Qualification

Once you have passed all courses and your thesis and defence have been approved, SLU will award either a Degree of Doctor or a Degree of Licentiate in the subject area you were admitted to.

Each subject area is governed by a general syllabus. SLU has four faculties, each with its own set of subject areas. Details of all these subjects are available on the staff web, under ‘Doctoral education subjects and general syllabuses’.

Doctoral education in Sweden involves a net study period of four years for the Degree of Doctor, and two years for a Degree of Licentiate. However, this period may be extended if, for example, you teach or take parental leave.

As a doctoral student, you are typically employed by the university and receive a fixed monthly salary. Other forms of employment are also possible. For instance, it is sometimes possible to combine your studies with another position, either at the university or elsewhere.

In rare cases, doctoral studies may be funded through a personal scholarship.

Doctoral courses are a way for you to deepen your subject knowledge alongside your thesis work.

SLU’s specialist graduate schools run many courses and academic activities.

During your doctoral studies, you will also need to develop and strengthen your general academic skills and knowledge in areas such as ethics, philosophy of science, pedagogy and academic writing.

To develop these skills, many choose to take SLU’s general courses, which are offered annually to all doctoral students.

All of SLU’s doctoral courses are listed in a searchable online database. 

There are many career paths available once you have completed your doctoral or licentiate degree. 

You could stay in academia, perhaps through a postdoctoral position at a university abroad.
Other opportunities include researcher positions at research institutes or working as an analyst or consultant for government agencies or in the private sector.

Doctoral studies go beyond simply becoming an expert in a particular subject, they are also about developing broad skills such as analytical thinking, project management and communication.

SLU has four doctoral councils, run by the student unions. Each council is affiliated with a specific faculty, where current doctoral students monitor the quality of doctoral education and advocate for doctoral student interests.

In addition, there is the Sluss PhD Council, a coordinating body that handles doctoral education issues across student unions, Sluss (the university-wide student union collaboration), and the doctoral student ombudsman.

Contact

  • Directors of study at faculty level

    LTV Faculty directors for doctoral studies
    Helene Larsson Jönsson, Alnarp. Phone: +4640415370.  Responsible for doctoral education subjects in Natural Science and Technology. 

    Hanna Fors, Alnarp. Phone: +4640415165. Responsible for doctoral education subjects in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

    NJ Faculty directors for doctoral studies
    Elisabet Lewan, Uppsala, Phone: +4618672629
    Robert Glinwood, Uppsala, Phone: +4618672342

    S Faculty Vice Dean for doctoral studies
    Maja Sundqvist, Umeå. Phone. +46907868273, +46761365079

    VH Faculty directors for doctoral studies
    Carl-Gustaf Thulin, Uppsala. Phone: +46705645358

     

    General questions about doctoral studies at SLU:
    Lotta Jäderlund or Eva Stening