General syllabus for doctoral studies

This is a translation of Allmän studieplan för utbildning på forskarnivå i Human Geography. If there are discrepancies between the English and Swedish versions, the latter takes precedence and is the legally binding document.

1. Programme goals

1.1 Doctoral degree

• To be awarded a doctoral degree, the System of Qualifications stipulates that the doctoral student must
• demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of human geography and advanced and up-to-date specialised knowledge in a more narrowly defined area of human geography, and demonstrate thorough familiarity with scientific methodology in general and with specific human geography methods in particular;
• demonstrate an ability for scientific analysis and synthesis, independent critical analysis and assessment of new and complex phenomena, questions and situations;
• demonstrate the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively identify and formulate questions with scholarly precision and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake research and other qualified tasks within predetermined timeframes and to review and evaluate such work;
• demonstrate the ability, with a thesis and through their own research, to substantially contribute to the development of knowledge;
• demonstrate the ability, in both national and international contexts, to authoritatively present and discuss, orally and in writing, research and research findings in dialog with the scientific community and society at general;
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge;
• demonstrate the potential to contribute to society’s development and support the learning of others within research and education and in other qualified professional contexts;
• demonstrate intellectual independence and scientific integrity as well as the ability to assess research ethics;
• demonstrate in-depth insight about the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and the responsibility of individuals for how it is used

1.2 Licentiate degree

To be awarded a licentiate degree, the System of Qualifications stipulates that the doctoral student must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in human geography including relevant specialist knowledge in a part of the subject and in-depth knowledge of scientific methodology in general and specific human geography methods in particular;
• demonstrate the ability to critically, autonomously and creatively identify and formulate questions with scholarly precision and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake a limited piece of research and other qualified tasks within predetermined timeframes in order to contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as to evaluate this work;
• demonstrate the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general;
• demonstrate the skills required to participate autonomously in research and development work and to work autonomously in other qualified activities;
• demonstrate the ability to make assessments of ethical aspects of their own research;
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of individuals for how it is used;
• demonstrate the ability to identify their need for further knowledge and to take responsibility for acquiring additional knowledge. 

2. Entry requirements and prerequisite qualifications

For admission to postgraduate studies, the applicant is to meet both the general entry requirements and the programme-specific entry requirements defined by the faculty board and be considered in other respects to have the ability required to assimilate and benefit from the programme. (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 Section 35).

2.1. General entry requirements 
To meet the general entry requirements, applicants must have a master’s degree, have completed studies for at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded at the master’s level, or have completed a corresponding programme in Sweden or in some other country or have equivalent qualifications. The Faculty Board may, for an individual applicant, grant exceptions to the general entry requirements if there are special grounds for doing so. (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 Section 39)

2.2. Specific entry requirements
To fulfil the specific eligibility requirements for admission to doctoral education in Human Geography, the applicant must have a bachelor’s education in Human Geography totalling at least 90 credits or other education of a corresponding scope and depth. The specific entry requirements are considered met by individuals who have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. This requires the department to conduct a specific assessment of eligibility.

3. Selection

A selection is made among qualified applicants on the basis of their ability to assimilate and benefit from the PhD programme and is based on the following assessment criteria:

• previous grades awarded,
• the quality of the submitted thesis plan/outline, and, if relevant, how it relates to the department’s research profiles,
• written and oral communication skills,
• autonomy,
• critical thinking skills, and
• ability to perform within specified timeframes.

The fact alone that an applicant is considered able to transfer credits from prior courses and programmes or for professional or vocational experience does not give the applicant priority over other applicants. (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 41) Licentiate studies are mainly aimed at professionals wanting to develop their skills with a doctoral education. The Dean determines admission to doctoral studies with a licentiate degree as the ultimate goal and may only be taken when the applicant has requested this in writing. Based on a proposal by the department’s preparatory and planning body, the head of department decides admission to doctoral studies with a doctoral degree as the ultimate goal.

4. Programme structure and content

4.1. The PhD programme in Human Geography concludes with a licentiate or doctoral degree.

The programme is to include 120 credits for the licentiate and 240 credits for the doctorate. A doctoral student admitted to the programme leading to a doctorate may, if the student wishes, complete a licentiate as a step towards a doctorate. The PhD programme in Human Geography leading to a doctorate comprises four years of net study time and consists of coursework comprising 75 credits and a doctoral dissertation comprising 165 credits. The PhD Programme in Human Geography leading to a licentiate comprises two years of net study time and consists of coursework comprising 37.5 credits and a licentiate thesis comprising 82.5 credits. An individual study plan is drawn up for each doctoral student. The plan specifies funding, supervision, courses, dissertation work and other information.

4.2. Contents

4.2.1 Courses

Doctoral degree

The PhD Programme in Human Geography consists of course work totalling 75 credits (52.5 credits from compulsory courses and 22.5 credits from electives). The elective courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor.

Compulsory courses for a doctoral degree:

• Quantitative methods, 7.5 credits
• Qualitative methods, 7.5 credits
• Advanced methods course (student can choose to focus on qualitative, quantitative or geographic information systems), 7.5 credits
• Human Geography literature I, 7.5 credits
• Human Geography literature II, 7.5 credits
• Spatial theory, 7.5 credits
• International conference, 7.5 credits

Elective courses for a doctoral degree:

• Individually selected theory and method courses, 22.5 credits
  At least 15 credits must be completed within the framework of English-language courses.

Licentiate degree

The PhD programme in Human Geography with a licentiate degree as the partial goal or ultimate goal consists of course work totalling 37.5 credits (30 credits for compulsory courses and 7.5 credits for electives). The elective courses are selected in consultation with the supervisor. 
Compulsory courses for the licentiate degree:

• Quantitative methods, 7.5 credits
• Qualitative methods, 7.5 credits
• Human Geography literature I, 7.5 credits
• Spatial theory, 7.5 credits

Elective courses for a licentiate degree:

• Individually selected theory and method courses, 7.5 credits
  At least 7.5 credits must be completed within the framework of English-language courses.

Examinations: For doctoral courses, the following examinations apply: Oral or written examination (specified in the syllabuses). The examinations are assessed using the grades of Pass or Fail. The grade is determined by a specifically appointed teacher (examiner).

4.2.2 Licentiate thesis/doctoral thesis

The licentiate thesis/doctoral thesis may either be a uniform, cohesive scholarly work (monograph dissertation) or be made up of academic articles with an introduction (kappa) and a summary of these articles (compilation thesis).

A compilation thesis for the doctoral degree must consist of at least three articles/book chapters and an introductory chapter. At least one article/book chapter must be accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals/anthologies and the others reviewed and internally or externally assessed in scientific seminars. A summary of a possible licentiate thesis does not count as a peer-reviewed article or book chapter.

A compilation thesis for the licentiate degree consists of at least two articles/book chapters and an introductory chapter written solely by the author. At least one article/book chapter must be accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and the others reviewed and internally or externally assessed in scientific seminars.

While co-authorship is permitted, the introductory chapter is to be written solely by the author. A public oral defence of the doctoral dissertation is to be held. This defence is assessed using the grades of Pass or Fail. In assigning a grade, consideration is to be given to the content of the dissertation and to its defence.

The licentiate thesis is orally defended at a public seminar. This defence is assessed using the grades of Pass or Fail. In assigning a grade, consideration is given to the content of the thesis and to its defence.

Both for licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations, courses must be completed no later than 8 weeks before the defence date.

5. Degree

A licentiate degree in human geography is awarded once the doctoral candidate has completed a doctoral education of 120 credits within human geography and thereby achieved a passing grade on the examinations included in the programme, as well as having written and defended a licentiate thesis that was approved by the examining committee.

The doctoral degree in human geography is awarded once the doctoral student has completed their doctoral studies comprising 240 credits as per this syllabus and thereby achieved a passing grade on the assessments included in the education and the doctoral student has written and publicly defended a doctoral dissertation approved by the examining committee. The degree certificate is issued upon application to the Student Centre/Degree Evaluation Office.

6. Other instructions

Current regulations regarding doctoral studies are specified in:

The Higher Education Ordinance (HEO): Chapter 5 Employment of doctoral students, Chapter 6 Courses and study programmes and Chapter 7

Admission to courses and study programmes, Annex 2 System of Qualifications Admission regulations for doctoral education at Umeå University (reg. no. 520‐3000‐06)

Local system of qualifications at Umeå University (reg. no. 540‐3839‐06) Guidelines for doctoral studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences (reg. no. 502‐2414‐06)

7. Interim regulations

Regulations and guidelines in accordance with this syllabus apply to those admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Human Geography as of 1 July 2013.