Graduating around the globe
ROGER SÄLJÖ & MONA LUNDIN
Sweden
The Swedish PhD training follows a model that was implemented during the last decades of the 20th century, but many features of the process and the ceremonial elements go back a long time in history. At the formal level, the reforms of the late 20th century implied introducing a structured four-year PhD programme with courses and dissertation work. Another important element of the reform work was that a funded position as doktorand or “research student” was created. This new PhD degree replaced the earlier doctoral degree, which was a more individualized
activity and which did not have a clear financial platform. The PhD career begins with applying for a PhD position, which is publicly advertised. The competition between candidates is generally very stiff, and the enrolment procedure involves several steps of evaluations and interviews. There is also another route into PhD training for “cooperation doctoral students,” funded by external bodies collaborating with the university. The formal requirements for enrolment are the same.
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