Third-cycle (doctoral) programme in building technology
Curious to do research in the subject of building technology? We offer opportunities for research for both doctoral students and industrial doctoral students.
What is a third-cycle programme?
The word research usually means systematically studying something partially unknown, with accuracy and theoretical awareness. A third-cycle, or postgraduate, education programme aims at educating researchers, that is, it's mainly about learning methodology.
This is done by working in a research project with practical research and then writing a thesis on the project. The work is largely independent and you work at your own dissertation under the guidance of a supervisor. Part of the education period is devoted to courses, mostly within your own research domain but also general courses on research methodology and academic writing.
However, it is important to realize that being a scientist not only involves doing research in a particular domain. There are many other important skills as well, such as applying for research funding, project management and presentation techniques. A third-cycle programme in Sweden usually involves four years of full-time studies in order to obtain a doctoral degree, or two years of full-time studies to obtain a licentiate degree.
What are the prerequisites?
In order to become a doctoral student in the subject, you must have at least a Master Degree (a Swedish Magister Degree), i.e. four years of study (240 higher education credits) with at least one year (60 credits) at second-cycle, in a relevant domain.
A doctoral student is normally employed by the university in the form of a doctoral studentship. A doctoral studentship is an employment where 80–100 % of the working hours is devoted to own research studies. The remaining 0–20 per cent may be used for other assignments at the university, most often taking part in the first-cycle education.
There is also an opportunity to become a so-called industrial doctoral student. An industrial doctoral student is normally employed by a company that has decided to have a strong link to research and thus invests in educating an employee at the third-cycle level. The most common form of agreement for an industrial doctoral student implies that the student dedicates him- or herself to 80 % own research studies, usually at the university, while spending the remaining 20 per cent working at the company with some type of project.
What does the third-cycle subject area building technology comprise?
The research study subject building technology rests on both a social science and a mathematical and scientific basis, and the subject may include a wide range of applications. Studies and research in the subject are aimed towards problem solving skills and the knowledge and insights that will lead to improvements for people and the community, with respect to the environment and sustainable development, health, safety and the economy.
Issues regarding the function of buildings, design, construction, safety, performance, health and environmental impacts, finance, production, operation and maintenance, plus the supply of energy and materials to the building and the construction sector's innovation, all belong to the subject building technology. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges and facilities can also be considered to be included in the subject. It may also concern the development of methods for calculation, testing and analysis of materials, components and systems of various types. The demarcation between building technology and other subjects is not entirely distinct, but rather overlaps exist.
Doctoral students normally choose a specialisation for their studies in conjunction with the commencement of their graduate programme. In this way they can be naturally linked to any of the research groups that exist within the subject.
How do I become a doctoral student in building technology?
When the Department of Building Technology has the possibility to admit a doctoral student, the post is announced at the web and in papers. Normally there is a specific project that the prospective doctoral student will work with, as well as appointed supervisors.
Read more about the third-cycle courses at the Faculty of Technology.
More information
- Read more about entry requirements, content and objectives of the programme in the study plan below
- General information about third-cycle studies at Linnaeus University
- Read more about our research at the Wood Building Technology research group's web page
- Vacancies at Linnaeus University