Knowledge and understanding

For the Degree of Doctor the third-cycle student must

• demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research field as well as advanced and up-to-date specialised knowledge in a limited area of this field, and
• demonstrate familiarity with research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Competence and skills

For the Degree of Doctor the third-cycle student must

• demonstrate the capacity for scholarly analysis and synthesis, as well for reviewing and assessing new and complex phenomena, issues and situations autonomously and critically,
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously, and creatively, 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 through a documented research project the ability to make a significant contribution to the development of knowledge through their own research,
• demonstrate the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings authoritatively in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general,
• demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge, and
• demonstrate the capacity to contribute to social development and support the learning of others both through research and education and through other qualified professional capacities.

Judgement and approach

For the Degree of Doctor the third-cycle student must

• demonstrate intellectual autonomy, integrity and disciplinary rectitude as well as the ability to make assessments of research ethics, and
• demonstrate deep insight into the possibilities and limitations of knowledge, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Research thesis (doctoral thesis)

For the Degree of Doctor, the third-cycle student must have been awarded a pass grade for a documented research project (doctoral thesis) of at least 120 credits.

Subject-specific outcomes in the general syllabus

If there are subject-specific outcomes, they are described in the general syllabus (ASP) for your third-cycle subject area. The ASP also states the scope of your thesis in credits and how many course credits you must take. Links to all the ASPs at the university can be found below the heading General syllabuses further down this page.

Your individual study plan must describe how you fulfilled the outcomes stated in the general syllabus. Read more about this under the heading Individual study plan further down the page.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Licentiate the third-cycle student must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of research including current specialist knowledge in a limited area of this field as well as specialised knowledge of research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Licentiate the third-cycle student must

• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously and creatively, and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake a limited research project and other qualified tasks within predetermined time frames 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, and
• demonstrate the skills required to participate autonomously in research and development work and to work autonomously in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Licentiate the third-cycle student must

• 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 the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for their ongoing learning.

Thesis

For a Degree of Licentiate the third-cycle student shall have been awarded a pass grade for a research thesis of at least 60 credits.

Subject-specific outcomes in the general syllabus

If there are subject-specific outcomes, they are described in the general syllabus (ASP) for your third-cycle subject area. The ASP also states the scope of your thesis in credits and how many course credits you must take. Links to all the ASPs at the university can be found below the heading General syllabuses further down this page.

Your individual study plan must describe how you fulfilled the outcomes stated in the general syllabus. Read more about this under the heading Individual study plan further down the page.

1. Create an SH-Account

You need to create a student SH-Account (unless you already have one). You can create a student SH-Account as soon as you are admitted in Ladok. As a doctoral student, you will have two usernames, one as a student and one as an employee.

It is important to use a private email address when you create your student account, because your SH email address will be linked to your employment. Instructions about creating a student account are found here External link, opens in new window..

2. Create a “new version”

To start writing your individual study plan, you need to create a “new version” in Ladok. “New version” means that your ISP has been started. This step is done by your doctoral administrator at the academic school. The administrator is also responsible for linking you and your principal supervisor (and any other supervisors) to the same ISP.

3. Now you can start writing your ISP

You can now log into Ladok for students External link. and start writing your ISP. The ISP form provides help texts when you click on “instructions” to the right of the heading. There is a manual for doctoral students further down the page that describes how to log in and navigate in Ladok.

Need support?

If you encounter problems when working on your individual study plan, you can get help and guidance. Start by contacting your doctoral administrator at the academic school. If you need additional guidance you can book a meeting with the university’s Ladok manager, where we go through the Ladok’s functionality.

You can book an individual meeting or one that includes your supervisor. When booking a meeting for technical support, please state:

• You name (and that of your supervisor, if also attending the meeting)
• Your academic school
• Suggestions for 2-3 meeting times (60 minutes)

Email the above to: ladokadmin@sh.se

Why is the subject’s general syllabus so important?

The general syllabus is important because it describes the entire format of your studies. It includes the courses you must study to get your degree, the degree outcomes that are listed in the Higher Education Ordinance and any other outcomes specific to your subject.

Why is an individual study plan important?

See the above heading Individual study plan (ISP) ovan. In addition to the information above, it is good to know that the Higher Education Ordinance and any additional subject-specific outcomes included in your subject’s general syllabus are broken down and concretised in your individual study plan. Discussing how these outcomes should be achieved with your principal supervisor, and any reasons why they have not been, may provide a clearer image of what is expected of you as a doctoral student. The study plan is extremely important for optimal planning of your studies, so that you can complete them within the employment period of four years (full-time) for a doctorate or two years for a licentiate. It is also a basis for planning how to use the expenses that are necessary for you to be able to write your thesis.

What does an individual study plan include?

An individual study plan (ISP) contains your personal study format, e.g. supervision, a short project description, time plan for the content of your studies, completed courses and outcomes. Any departmental duties are also noted here.

It consists of outline planning and the documentation of the research process and study modules. When used well, it provides an overview of what should be done and when it should be done during your period of study. Your individual study plan must describe how you fulfilled the outcomes stated in the general syllabus. This is to be written by the principal supervisor. They must all be fulfilled before you can be awarded your degree.

Who validates the individual study plan?

The university is responsible for validating individual study plans; the steering committee for your research area for doctoral studies decides whether your proposal can be approved.

You and your principal supervisor agree on who fills in which field, but it is important that you both plan and consult each other about the content, before submitting your joint proposal to the director of studies and the steering committee for the research area for further processing. The principal supervisor is responsible for the description of the supervision section and how targets are fulfilled.

How often should the individual study plan be updated?

An ISP must be updated annually. This is usually done during September-November if your employment started on 1 September in the year you were admitted. If you started in any other month, your ISP can either be revised that month for the following year, or your write your first ISP for a shorter period that runs until 31 August. This means you will be in phase with the other doctoral students’ revisions in your area. The area’s steering committee and director of studies decide on routines. It is a good idea to update your ISP with your results throughout the year, as this makes the formal annual updates easier.

The ISP must also be updated if you are granted leave or part-time work. If you are are on sick leave or parental leave at the time of the annual update, the ISP is done retroactively when you are back at work.

For example, if employment starts on 1 September 2025:
ISP version 1 applies 1 September 2025 – 31 August 2026
ISP version 2 applies 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2027, etc.

Please check with your director of studies about whether your research area for doctoral studies has specific routines for revising ISPs.