The doctoral studies consist of a faculty-wide part and an individual part.
The common part consists of a doctoral education programme in medical science comprising 25 ECTS. For a doctoral degree, at least 30 ECTS of coursework are required.
Compulsory courses/modules
The faculty-wide doctoral education programme, 25 ECTS, applies to all doctoral students:
Presentation at a minimum of one national/international conference (1.5 ECTS), applies to all doctoral students.
Course in laboratory animal science, if research with laboratory animals is included in the dissertation project.
Course in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), if clinical human research is included in the dissertation project.
Course in statistics, if statistical analysis is included in the dissertation project.
Course in qualitative methods, if qualitative analysis is included in the dissertation project.
To achieve the individual learning objectives, additional subject-specific educational activities may be required, such as elective doctoral courses, active participation in the department’s seminars and journal clubs, further presentations at national/international conferences, research stays at other institutions, and participation in higher education pedagogical training. Decisions regarding subject-specific educational activities are made in consultation between the doctoral student, supervisor, and examiner and are documented in the individual study plan.
Elective credit-bearing activities may include:
Doctoral courses, both internal and external, provide the ECTS assigned to each respective course.
Active participation in departmental seminars and journal clubs, which can give a total of 3.5 ECTS.
Participation in national/international conferences with one’s own presentation gives 1.5 ECTS per conference, with a maximum of 6 ECTS in total.
Research stays with a research group at another university give 1.5 ECTS per week.
Participation in higher education pedagogical training (UPL courses or equivalent) gives 1.5 ECTS per week, with a maximum of 6 ECTS in total. However, teaching students as a doctoral student does not provide ECTS.Structure of the doctoral programme
The programme’s goals are to support individual progression towards the degree objectives, offer opportunities for exchange across subject and departmental boundaries, and provide doctoral education on equal terms. The programme is structured on three different levels: cohort, base group, and individual levels.
Activities at the cohort level primarily consist of mandatory courses according to the programme’s schedule. The purpose of the cohort level is to support individual progression by providing a knowledge base concerning generic knowledge and skills and common perspectives for all doctoral students.
The base group level consists of groups of approximately 8 students from the same cohort who progress together throughout the programme. The base group level provides a concrete platform for interdisciplinary exchange. The aim is to support individual progression through the application and deepening of knowledge and skills introduced in courses, and to facilitate dialogue around the doctoral students’ scientific outputs aa well as challenges in interaction with other doctoral students. The base groups meet outside of class time 1-4 times per term according to a flexible schedule. The base group meetings are conducted in seminar form with predetermined content, based on the scientific work produced by the doctoral students.
The individual level corresponds to each doctoral student’s individual doctoral studies, which preferably takes place at their respective department, with the aim of providing specialised subject and methodological knowledge within the research area. The programme includes only one credit-bearing component at the individual level in the form of a pre-doc exchange. However, the individual level is an important starting point for activities at the cohort and base group levels and is thus formative for the structure and content of the doctoral programme.
Overview of the programme content
The content of the doctoral programme is based on national and local learning objectives. The content can be broadly described through three intertwined pedagogical themes: sustainable development, interdisciplinary competence, and knowledge translation.
Stage I In the introductory course, doctoral students are introduced to the working methods of the programme and base group work, and to the content of philosophy of science, sustainable development, scientific methodology, and scientific communication. Subsequent base group meetings deepen these themes. Stage I also includes a course in research ethics. Base group meetings focus on the presentation and discussion of doctoral projects.
Stage II focuses on various forms of scientific communication and interaction, introduced through courses in academic writing and oral presentation techniques. These courses will also cover the skill of giving and receiving feedback. During base group meetings, doctoral students will present article manuscripts in their base groups for presentation and discussion. In preparation for the mid-seminar, base group activities will include practice presentations, where doctoral students will also act as reviewers of each other’s oral presentations and written summaries. The feedback can vary in focus, from addressing the specific scientific content of the texts to general comments on the academic writing and presentation.
Doctoral students also undertake a so-called pre-doc exchange in another different scientific environment from their home institution. This can be scheduled at any time during the programme, but a term free of courses during Stage II is provided to allow for this component. The pre-doc exchange can be carried out either through an individually arranged exchange at another institution within or outside Sweden, or an exchange with another base group member’s department, amounting to at least 1 week full-time. The pre-doc exchange at another institution provides an opportunity to support internationalisation.
Stage III focuses on activities relevant to the completion of the dissertation, the defence, and the period after the defence through courses in grant writing and knowledge translation. During base group work, ideas and early drafts for future applications will be presented and discussed, as well as preparations for the completion of the dissertation, with a focus on the structure and general content of the thesis summary.
