Doctoral Education at Halmstad University
The University has the right to award doctoral degrees in three different areas: Information Technology, Innovation Sciences, Health and Lifestyle.
Doctoral education in the areas are provided in different subjects. Halmstad University is currently carrying out doctoral education in the following subjects:
- Computer Science and Engineering (area Information Technology)
- Health and Lifestyle
- Informatics (area Information Technology)
- Innovation and entreprenurship (area Innovation Sciences)
- Signals and Systems Engineering (area Information Technology)
General study syllabus
Each respective subject has a general study syllabus. The general study syllabus provides information regarding the main content of the education, entry requirements, and other important information regarding the doctoral education. The Research and Education Board is responsible for approving the general study syllabus.
The content and scope of the doctoral education
The doctoral education consists of taking courses, educational components, doing research and writing a thesis. Doctoral education culminates in a licentiate degree and/or in a PhD. The licentiate degree is comprised of 120 credits (two years full-time study). A PhD is awarded after the doctoral student has taken 240 credits (four years full-time study). What percentage of the education is achieved by taking courses and what percentage is achieved by writing a thesis varies from subject to subject. This information can be found in the general syllabus. The doctoral education can include compulsory courses. The course, Introductory Course for PhD Students 7.5 credits is a compulsory course at Halmstad University, regardless of subject.
Doctoral education is individual, meaning that the contents of the doctoral education are different for all doctoral students, even for those that are studying the same subject. An individual study plan must be established for each doctoral student. The study plan is to be jointly prepared by the doctoral student, their supervisor and the director of studies. The individual study plan must contain the University's and the doctoral student's commitments as well as a time plan for the student's doctoral education. Each individual study plan has to be approved by Halmstad University's Committee for Doctoral Education. The individual study plan must be followed up each year.
In order for a doctoral student to obtain a licentiate degree or PhD, he/she must have passed all courses that form part of the education under the general syllabus, as well as have finished their licentiate thesis, or doctoral thesis, which must have been orally defended and approved during a licentiate seminar or during a public defence of the doctoral thesis. If there are additional degree requirements for a specific subject, these are presented in the general syllabus. Once the doctoral student has completed the studies and wish to get a degree, he/she must apply for a degree certificate himself/herself.
Degree outcomes and guidance for achieving the outcomes
Doctoral education aims to ensure that doctoral students achieve the degree outcomes. The national degree outcomes are stated in the Higher Education Ordinance, Annex 2 Qualifications Ordinance. In addition, there may be supplementary outcomes within each doctoral subject, which are specified in the general syllabus. The degree outcomes describe the knowledge and skills that the doctoral student must have achieved upon completion of the degree. Together with the supervisor, the doctoral student should develop a shared understanding of what the degree outcomes mean in relation to their own education. The individual study plan must therefore specify the activities and components that contribute to achieving the outcomes.
