Third-cycle courses

The third-cycle/doctoral programme includes a course component with the aim to, among other things, give a general introduction to research and science, in-depth knowledge of the subject, method knowledge and skills which are beneficial to the thesis work or serve as a preparation for the continued research career.

The course component differs between the various general syllabuses associated to each discipline. The general syllabus clearly states which courses constitute compulsory parts of the doctoral degree.  

Many compulsory courses are arranged by the different research disciplines at the university. A few compulsory courses of common interest are arranged by the Committee for Research Education (DUT). 

The planning of the courses should be mutually decided by the student and the supervisor, and temporal planning should be recorded in the individual study plan for the coming year. 

Programme components that carry credits

Programme components that carry credits are activities (other than regular courses) that generate credits within the third-cycle programme's course component. These components are normally stated in the general syllabus for each research discipline.

These programme components should be carried out after admission and have to be included in the individual syllabus in order to be counted as part of the student's third-cycle programme. An examiner associated to the doctoral student's programme must approve the credits if they are not regulated in the general syllabus.
All programme components must be approved by the Director of Studies of the responsible for the specific programmel. He or she also is responsible for registering the component in Ladok according to the prevailing rules.

Credit transfer

Courses from another university, from previous education or from an education provider outside the university may be subject to credit transfer. According to the Higher Education Ordinance, credit transfer may be possible 

”if the knowledge and skills that the student claims to have are of such kind and scope that they mainly correspond to the education for which they are meant to be creditable. A student may also be credited with the corresponding knowledge and skills that have been acquired in professional activity.” (HF 6 kap, 7 §).

Criteria for courses that can be subject to credit transfer

1. The content of the course should be relevant for the student's education at third-cycle level. It should improve the conditions for carrying out the project component by providing increased knowledge within the subject for the thesis or by serving as preparation within the research profession. The course content that is creditable (1 to 7.5 credits) shall not have existed in any other course which has been part of or has been credited to the student's education at third-cycle level.
2. The course shall be at third-cycle level or at a level that is higher than the doctoral student's qualification-conferring education within the subject area.
3. The course shall be at least of higher education level if its content lies outside the subject area of the student's previous university education.
4. The course shall be documented thoroughly enough for it to be possible to carry out an assessment of content, scope and learning objectives.
5. The course shall be included in the individual syllabus (the latest revision).

Examples of courses that are creditable

1. Relevant third-cycle courses at other Swedish universities.
2. Relevant courses at higher education level in general or specific research methodology over and above the content of the introductory course.
3. Courses at higher education level in project management and academic writing.
4. Courses at research level in the third-cycle subject area.
5. Management courses and teaching-and-learning courses at higher education level.

Examples of courses that are not creditable

1. Courses that are included in the qualification for admission to third-cycle programmes.
2. Courses that have the same content as courses that have already been factored into third-cycle programmes.
3. Courses whose content, scope and expected learning outcomes are not documented.
4. Courses where participation/approval is not documented.
5. Courses that are not included in the individual syllabus.

Form for Credit transfer (for a course or other credit-bearing component as per the general study plan).