Doctoral studies

Linköping University has created a name for itself through its focus on interdisciplinary research and its pioneering work on achieving excellence in scientific training, by initiating Sweden’s first graduate schools.

Doctoral studies are offered in some 100 disciplinary areas in 14 departments and a number of interdisciplinary graduate schools which are run in co-operation between several departments or disciplinary areas.

At the doctoral level, the third level of studies, students are eligible for a licentiate degree after two years of research, and a doctorate after fours years of research:

• Degree of Licentiate. Requires at least 120 credits including a dissertation of at least 60 credits.
• Decree of Doctor. Requires 240 higher education credits including a dissertation of at least 120 credits. The dissertation has to be defended publicly.

General requirements to the third level are:

• a second level degree or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 credits of which 60 credits at the second level or
• equivalent level of knowledge acquired in Sweden or abroad

Students considering doctoral studies or research training must obtain specific information on application directly from the department with the research area they are interested in.

For information on disciplinary areas, departments and graduate schools offering doctoral studies, select one of the links on the right hand side.

Swedi­sh Council for Higher Edu­ca­tion

Handbook for doctoral students