7 minute read
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.
When successful candidates begin their studies, they are introduced to the department and the research groups relevant for their PhD studies. An important element of this introduction is to be assigned supervisors. Over the years, a practice of having at least two supervisors has emerged. There is a main supervisor and an assistant supervisor, and quite often the main supervisor is a senior scholar (professor) and the assistant supervisor a junior scholar (assistant or associate professor). The distribution of responsibilities between the supervisors differs, but generally this team of three members will collaborate closely during the process. The doctoral candidate also has a say in who is appointed as supervisor. The studies involve courses and dissertation work. Originally, the expectation was that two years would be spent on each of these activities, but in recent years more credit points tend to be given to the dissertation work. The first year of study is spent on courses and on developing the dissertation project. An initial version of the idea of the dissertation has to be included in the application, but the further specification of the research problems and the methods to use is an important element of the first year in the programme. The progress of the studies is monitored through a digitized Individual Study Plan (ISP) system. In most departments, the dissertation work is followed up at three points in time (with some local variations). At the end of the first year of study, or sometimes at the beginning of the second year, there will be what is often referred to as a 25% seminar. On this occasion, the PhD student, in the presence of colleagues, supervisors and researchers from the department, will present the general ideas and structure of the PhD work and receive feedback. After about two years of study, there is a “mid-seminar” that follows the same model.
When the dissertation work is about to be finalized, there is a critical step, which is referred to as a “90%” or “final” seminar. On this occasion, an external “discussant” from another university will be invited to scrutinize the manuscript and to provide advice on how to complete it. In most cases, there will be a report written on the basis of the discussion, and this document comments on the manuscript and gives an account of what has to be added in order to complete the manuscript. Dissertations can be of two kinds, either monographs or article based. In the latter case, an extensive abstract has to be provided to frame the research results and to give a broader conceptual and theoretical background than is possible to include in the separate articles. As the PhD work progresses, the salary of the doctoral candidate increases.
All dissertations have to be printed and given an ISBN number; thus, they have to be published in the legal sense of the term. When the dissertation has been printed, the candidate goes to the Dean of Faculty or the head of the department and gets his or her signature on one copy. The Dean or head often writes “Vidi” on the front page, and the origin of this tradition is said to be that the university guarantees that the text does not contain blasphemy, slander or anything else that might upset authorities. Three weeks before the viva, the student literally has to “nail” the dissertation on a wall or sometimes a
pole in the university/faculty building. The question, “When will you be nailing?” has a highly concrete meaning in the career of a PhD student, as the candidate has to drill a hole in the top left corner of the book, and nail it on to the wall/pole where all the other dissertations are on display. This counts as the sign that the text is public and can be read by all. Again, this tradition is very old and emerged when books were expensive and dissertations were not printed. Interested readers would have to stand in a queue and take turns to read the copy publicly displayed on the pole/wall. After the viva, this copy is taken down from the wall and sent to the candidate, who usually saves it for future nostalgic purposes. Nowadays, this elaborate procedure still exists, but the official publishing is through electronic archiving of the text.
Nailing on the wall
thesis
An ongoing viva
The viva, which has to be open to the public, is referred to as the “disputation.” On this occasion there will be three members of the examination committee, one (or sometimes two) “opponents” and an audience. Thus, in the Swedish system, the opponent is not a member of the committee. During the viva, the candidate responds to the questions raised by the opponent. After this, the members of the committee will raise questions, should they wish to. As a final element of the procedure, the floor is opened to the audience to comment or raise questions. Generally, a viva takes about two hours, but it can sometimes go on longer. The length is decided on by the opponent and the chair in situ. After the viva, the committee meets with the opponent and supervisor(s) present. Following this, the committee members return to meet the candidate, the family and the audience, and the verdict is given. The committee has to answer two questions: a) Is the quality of the dissertation in line with expectations? and b) Was the defense appropriate? The next step will be speeches and celebrations, which may very well go on until late; a truly memorable, inspiring, but also exhausting day in the life of a PhD.
The final element of this journey is the annual Promotion Ceremony, when all the new PhDs of the university are inducted into academia as Doctors of Philosophy. This memorable event starts in the early afternoon with an award ceremony open to the public. The ceremony is partially in Latin and includes parades with flags, banners and standards, and interludes with performances by musicians and singers. The symbols that represent the identity shift for the Promovendi are the hat (or the laurel crown, depending on faculty), the diploma and the ring, the latter symbolizing life-long fidelity to science and scholarship. After the conferment, the promotor takes the candidate by the hand and assists her or him across the Parnass, a symbolic elevation in the floor, and this is the final confirmation of the doctoral status of the candidate. The celebrations continue with a magnificent full-menu dinner and many carefully orchestrated and inspiring speeches and entertainment. Finally, dancing starts, usually quite late in the evening, in a large and decorated ballroom. The dress code throughout the day is strict. Ladies wear long dresses and men tails, but this is also an occasion to wear a folk costume for those who wish. The vicechancellor, deans and other members of the academic leadership wear gowns of different colours. This is another truly memorable, inspiring, but equally exhausting day in the life of a PhD.
Candidates being promoted by being given hats
Start of the inauguration ceremony
