300 doctoral students in over 30 subjects

These courses are relevant for and open for doctoral students at all faculties at Linnaeus University. They follow the criteria decided by the vice-chancellor for university general courses within third-cycle studies.

PhD courses within the collaboration Universities in South Sweden (Lärosäten syd):

• Blekinge Institute of Technology
• Halmstad University
• Kristianstad University (in Swedish)
• Malmö University
• Lund University (Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

PhD courses at other higher education institutions:

• Chalmers
• Dalarna University
• Jönköping University
• Karlstad University
• Karolinska Institutet
• KTH
• Linköping University
• Luleå University of Technology
• Mid Sweden University (Swedish page)
• Mälardalen University
• Stockholm University (Faculty of Social Sciences; Swedish page)
• University of Borås
• University of Gothenburg
• University West
• Örebro University

Basic entry requirements

Students at third-cycle level must have completed first and second-cycle degrees, either in Sweden or abroad, or have equivalent qualifications. To meet the basic entry requirements for PhD programmes, applicants must have a second-cycle degree or have completed studies comprising at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded at second-cycle level, or have completed a corresponding programme in another country or have equivalent qualifications.

Specific entry requirements

Specific entry requirements vary from subject to subject. These requirements must be considered essential for a student to be able to complete the programme. Often these requirements stipulate knowledge acquired in higher education but specific vocational experience may also be required. The specific entry requirements are listed in the general syllabus of the subject area.

Apart from fulfilling the general and specific entry requirements for admission to PhD programmes, the applicant is required to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme. This includes an evaluation of the applicant's ability to finish the programme within four years of full-time studies (or equivalent if the studies are not performed full-time) for a doctoral degree, or two years for a licentiate degree.

The ability is usually evaluated based on the essays/theses from first- and second-cycle studies, the proposed research plan, scientific publications, and the results of interviews. The combination of subjects taken during first- and second-cycle studies may be important and is sometimes taken into account. Assessment and selection criteria are stated in the general syllabus of the subject. Any additional requirements will be listed in the job advertisement.

Funding doctoral education

Third-cycle studies at Linnaeus University shall be funded primarily through doctoral studentships. Students with any other forms of funding may be admitted to third-cycle studies if the responsible body deems the financial means to be in place for the applicant. Such forms of funding include: funding from an employer other than Linnaeus University; research scholarships; funds especially allocated for lecturers; and self-funding.

If an applicant wishes to be admitted with another form of funding than an internally funded doctoral studentship, the feasibility of the funding plan must be assessed.

Below you will find more information about the process of applying for doctoral student positions or enquire about other forms of funding. 

In order to admit a doctoral student, the faculty must provide the necessary resources. The faculty needs to provide supervisors, examiner, work space for the doctoral student, as well as other necessary resources. If these are not available, admission is not possible. 

If you are interested in PhD studies at Linnaeus University you should check out the vacant job listings. Available doctoral studentships (employment as a doctoral student) are posted at Work at the university.
Check for vacant jobs at the university

These studentships will finance your studies for an equivalent of four years full-time studies for a doctoral degree or two years full-time studies for a licentiate degree, and during this time you will be employed by the university. You are not allowed to be employed on a studentship for less than 50% of full-time studies.

When you apply for a doctoral studentship, you are also applying for admittance to PhD studies in a third-cycle subject area. There will be two decisions made in this process: one concerning admittance (which will take place first) and one concerning employment/doctoral studentship. In the job advertisement you will find information on what to include in your application, the application deadline, and whom to contact if you have questions. The applicants' eligibility and ability are assessed, and if there are more applicants than available positions, they will be placed in order of preference, according to an assessment of the applicants' qualifications and abilities. The decision making process follows the rules and regulations of the third-cycle education. After the decision on admission has been made, the decision-making process of the doctoral studentship is immediately initiated. All the applicants will receive information about the decisions as soon as the decision on the doctoral studentship has been taken.

If you have another form of funding for your PhD studies (for example scholarship, external funding from an institute that finances research and PhD studies, or another kind of funding) you should contact the faculty which is responsible for the subject area in which you are interested. They can give you an idea of whether your financial plan is acceptable or not. They can also inform you if they have other resources available that are fundamental for admission, and give you details about the admission process. Ask for the research officer of the faculty in charge.

The faculty in which the doctoral student is placed is responsible for providing the programme described in the general syllabus of the subject area and in the student's individual study plan. The doctoral student is obliged to follow the programme as described in the general syllabus and in the individual study plan. You can read more about rights and obligations in Linnaeus University's Local regulations for third-cycle courses and study programmes.

As a doctoral student, you have plenty of opportunities to get international experience. You can, for instance, take courses, participate at conferences, gather data for your studies or be part of a research group abroad. International experiences contribute to increased competitiveness on the global market and can open new doors and present you with new research opportunities.

Read more about international opportunities for doctoral students.