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Supervision for doctoral students

A doctoral student must have at least two supervisors, and one of them must be the principal supervisor. Other supervisors are referred to as second supervisors.

The supervisors main task is to support the doctoral student in developing into an independent researcher with a scientific approach. The supervisors plan the doctoral education alongside the doctoral student. The plans are to be documented in the individual study plan (ISP) which must be updated at least once a year. Alongside the doctoral student, the supervisors are responsible for regularly discussing and following-up how the doctoral student's studies is developing, and adjusting the plans accordingly. Throughout the planning, the supervisors shall ensure that the doctoral education corresponds to the qualitative targets so that these are reached by the end of the doctoral education.

Requirements for doctoral level supervisors

Anyone who is employed at Halmstad University as a Docent (Associate Professor) or a Professor, and who conducts research as a part of their employment, is eligible to be a principal supervisor. In certain cases it is enough that the principal supervisor has significant and documented ties to Halmstad University. Eligible to be a second supervisor are thoose that are employed by the University and have a PhD. Even persons who do not have their principal place of employment at Halmstad University are eligible to be a second supervisor if they have a PhD.

More information regarding the requirements that have to be reached in order to become a principal or assistant supervisor of doctoral education at the University is presented in the guidelines.

The principal supervisor's responsibilities

In accordance with the University's guidelines regarding doctoral education, the principal supervisor is responsible for:

  • establishing an individual study plan no later than three months after the doctoral student has been admitted,
  • making decisions regarding a course's credit value and transferring credits.
  • making sure that the Committee for Doctoral Education receives a complete application regarding the public defence of doctoral thesis/licentiate seminar. This includes documentation presented by the principal supervisor, such as a justification of the choice of the examination board or the examiner and opponent, and a supervisor declaration (regarding defence of a doctoral thesis).

Change of supervisor

A doctoral student who requests it, has the right to change supervisor according to the Higher Education Ordinance.

The doctoral student directs the request to change supervisor to the relevant director of studies. The concerned School will then prepare a proposal for a new supervisor.

Follow-up of supervision

Follow-up of the supervision in the doctoral student's education takes place in conjunction with the update of the individual study plan (ISP). If shortcomings in the supervision is raised by the doctoral student this will be addressed primarily in the regular follow-up procedures. If this is not possible, a more detailed individual study is to be developed by decision of the Committee for Doctoral Education.

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