phd degree in sweden

Lund University

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Doctoral studies

Start your academic career with us and make a difference

World-class research, outstanding research staff and specialised research environments at Lund University create excellent conditions for doctoral students.

As a doctoral student at Lund University, you will not only be well prepared for a successful career as an independent researcher, but you will also have the possibility to publish your work independently during your studies and to gain significant teaching experience.

• Lund University offers doctoral education in all nine faculties
• There are no tuition fees for doctoral education at Lund University
• You apply directly to the relevant faculty/department when they advertise a doctoral position
• Self-funded doctoral students should contact the department of their research interest directly.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to a doctoral programme, you need to have completed courses of at least 240 credits (of which at least 60 credits must be for Master’s level studies) or acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way.

In most cases, students will hold a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree, with a major in the same subject as the intended postgraduate study. The major must include a degree thesis presenting the results of independent research.

The quality of your thesis/theses is of particular importance and it is important that you demonstrate a capacity for independent thinking in this piece of work.

Students must have a very good command of English and you may be asked to include proof of proficiency in the form of a TOEFL or IELTS test, if requested by the individual department.

Admission rules for doctoral education at Lund University | 2022 (PDF 249 kB, new tab)

Applying for a doctoral (PhD) position

Doctoral education is organised at the faculty or department level. Application procedures and periods differ between faculties and departments. While some of them advertise their doctoral positions around the same time every year, mostly in spring, others advertise their positions on an ongoing basis.

You apply for a doctoral education position within a certain subject area. Admission to a doctoral education position is restricted and competition for advertised positions is usually tough.

Finding a suitable position

Any funded doctoral positions at Lund University are advertised on our vacancies page on this website (see link below). Select the category 'Doctoral students'.

Once you have found a position you are interested in, carefully read through the vacancy announcement to find out whether you meet the requirements.

Before you apply, we recommend that you also check the relevant faculty's or department's website for any additional information about the application process.

Should you have any questions about a specific position, please contact the contact person(s) listed in the vacancy announcement.

Find PhD vacancies

How to apply

To apply for a doctoral position, you must create an account in the recruitment system Varbi.

Follow the instructions regarding application documents and procedure in the vacancy announcement.

The application documents that you submit through Varbi, including any supporting documents, are sent directly to the faculty or department that advertised the position. 

If you are self-funded through external scholarships or funding, you do not need to create an account in Varbi. You should instead make direct contact with the relevant faculty or department. 

Applying for a position

Employment as a doctoral student

As a general rule, a person admitted to doctoral studies at Lund University is employed through a doctoral studentship.

If you have a doctoral studentship, you are considered to be both a student and an employee with a salary during your doctoral studies. As an employed doctoral student, you are covered by local and central agreements concerning your terms of employment.

In parallel to the doctoral education programme, as a doctoral student you may work with administrative and teaching duties (no more than 20% of a full-time position).

Lund University is responsible for education-related matters and the study environment regardless of how you finance your doctoral studies. All doctoral students also have access to the University’s Occupational Health Service.

Other forms of financing

It is possible to undertake your studies using another form of financing, such as an external scholarship or an agreement between Lund University and an external employer.

Financed by external employer

If you are admitted to doctoral studies and have a position with an employer other than Lund University, you are solely a student, and it is the employer who is responsible for employer-related matters.

External scholarships

As a doctoral student with a scholarship, you are solely a student. You are therefore not entitled to contractual employment benefits at Lund University.

In some cases, a doctoral student with a scholarship is entitled to apply for a doctoral studentship when three years remain of the third-cycle studies.

Doctoral studies – faculty information

On the faculties' webpages for prospective doctoral students you can get specific and detailed information application procedures, admission requirements for various subjects, study plans and more.

• Faculty of Engineering (LTH)
• Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts
• Faculties of Humanities and Theology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• School of Economics and Management (LUSEM)

Residence permits (if applicable)

If you require a residence permit, you can only complete your permit application after you receive a letter of acceptance from Lund University. Residence permit applications are dealt with by the Swedish Migration Agency.

Resi­dence permit for doctoral studies – migrationsverket.se

About doctoral studies

A doctoral programme consists of 240 ECTS credits and normally requires four years of full-time study. The programme concludes with a doctoral thesis of at least 120 credits.

A 'licentiate' degree is equivalent to half the coursework required for a full doctoral programme and a licentiate thesis of at least 60 credits. It is equivalent to the MPhil of the British education system.

The following links are to the Swedish Council for Higher Education website:

• Degree of Doctor
• Degree of Doctor in the fine, applied and performing arts 
• Degree of Licentiate 
• Degree of Licentiate in the fine, applied and performing arts

Related links

• Institutes and research centres
• Research excellence areas
• Find research at Lund University
• Services for LU researchers

Doctoral student vacancies

Check out our vacancies page regularly to find open doctoral positions.

Doctoral conferment ceremony

The ceremonial highlight of the academic year.

Postgraduate research schools

Additional development opportunities for doctoral students and postdocs.

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Doctoral education at Karolinska Institutet

Welcome to a University with focus on doctoral education! World-class research and specialised research environments create a breeding ground for doctoral (PhD) studies at Karolinska Institutet (KI).

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Available positions for doctoral education

Doctoral education positions at Karolinska Institutet are advertised continuoulsy and we welcome your application.

For current doctoral students at KI

Doctoral students and employees at Karolinska Institutet can find more information about the doctoral education and the resources needed in the every day working life within the university at the Staff portal.

Course catalogue and course vacancies

Karolinska Institutet offers a large number of doctoral courses for our current doctoral students every semester, look for the one that fits you and find vacancies in the course catalogue.

Blogging about research and career

Interested in life as a researcher? Follow doctoral students, postdocs, researchers and alumni blogging for KI Career Service on the Researcher blogs.

Study in Stockholm

The official guide on what Stockholm has to offer international students.

International staff

KI offers support service for international doctoral students. Here you can find all kinds of necessary information for your stay in Sweden and KI.

Doctoral education - available positions

• School of Health and Welfare
• School of Education and Communication
• School of Engineering
• Jönköping International Business School
• Jönköping University Enterprise
• University Library
• Current student

Doctoral Programmes

Jönköping University offers Doctoral Programmes in English, available for international students with the required qualifications. Doctoral education is conducted at all four schools and the university has about 203 doctoral students.

Jönköping International Business School offers Doctoral Programmes entirely conducted in English. At the School of Education and Communication, the School of Engineering and the School of Health and Welfare Doctoral programmes are conducted in English when required.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Jönköping University is entitled to award Licentiate and Doctoral degrees within the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Subjects for research studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Business Administration, Disability Research, Education with Specialisation in Didactics, Economics, Education, Health and Care Sciences, Media and Communication Studies, Education with Specialisation in Special Education, Statistics, and Welfare and Social Sciences.

Engineering

The University is also entitled to award Licentiate and Doctoral Degrees in Engineering, research area: Industrial Product Realisation.

Content updated 2022-07-05

Contact page responsible.

Doctoral studies at Linköping University

Interested in doctoral studies.

If you want to gain a profound understanding of a particular field, doctoral studies at Linköping University could be for you. You learn scientific methodology, sound research ethics and how to work independently and systematically.

A truly interesting subject, lots of freedom, loads of time and the chance to get down to the nitty-gritty in an academic field. These are some of the reasons that Isabelle Bengtsson started doing a PhD. “I can’t think of a better job”, she says.

LiU offers doctoral studies in three scientific fields: medicine, humanities/social sciences and engineering/natural sciences. Each faculty provides information on doctoral studies within its field.

Meet some of our doctoral students

PhD student to study cancer in New York

Jonas Burman is a doctoral student at Linköping University and has been given the opportunity to go on an international exchange to New York. There he will work at a prestigious laboratory and follow in the footsteps of his supervisor, Linda Bojmar.

Young LiU PhD students in noble company

At the end of June, more than 600 young researchers and 40 Nobel laureates from around the world were invited to the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Present in Germany were two LiU PhD students who had the experience of their lives.

Personal development comes with the job

“It’s fun and challenging to be a doctorate student. I enjoy doing research, and now I know it’s something I want to keep doing,” says Lisa Lundin. Her time at LiU has included research into digital customer journeys.

The LiU doctoral student behind a hit game

LiU doctoral student Fredrik Präntare is the architect of the company Pugstorm, which is achieving global success with the game Core Keeper. "Even back when I was studying for my Master of Science degree, I spent every free hour on my own projects,".

PhD-student: "There’s no better job"

A interesting subject, lots of freedom, loads of time and the chance to get down to the nitty-gritty in an academic field. These are some of the reasons that Isabelle Bengtsson started doing a PhD. “I can’t think of a better job”, she says.

Do you want to be a doctoral student at LiU?

I’d recommend anyone looking for stimulating work to apply for a doctoral student position at LiU. Your work here can change society, and also who you are as a person.

Doctoral studies at our faculties

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences offers a wide variety of doctoral studies, both in single disciplines and in interdisciplinary programmes.

Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences educates researchers across the entire medical field, ranging from basic experimental research to patient-oriented research, health sciences and public health.

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science and Engineering aims to develop your ability to independently use scientific methodology and conduct research within the academy or the industry.

Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Educational Sciences

Around 80 researchers and doctoral students are currently active within the Faculty of Educational Sciences. During the last few years, research has been greatly consolidated in this area.

More information

Work at LiU

We have the power of over 4 000 co-workers who contribute with actions, large and small, to LiU meeting the challenges of the day. Welcome to apply for att job at Linköping University.

Forskarstudieinfo

Linköping University's course descriptions for third-cycle courses.

PhD student development programme

Our aim is to reinforce and support PhD students to lead themselves and manage performance demands. Also to provide the opportunity to make contacts and exchange experiences with other PhD students.

Curious about doctoral studies?

At studera.nu you’ll find general information on what doctoral studies are all about. This includes everything from admissions and entry requirements to supervision and defending your thesis.

Contact LiU

Contact Linköping University, LiU, and obtain the information you need.

Department of Education

Phd programme in education.

Are you inquisitive and interested in deepening your knowledge in a specific field? Are you passionate about a specific research question? Would you like to make a contribution to increasing knowledge concerning learning, education and development? Do you enjoy writing academic papers in English? Are you able to independently structure your tasks and your time and can meet deadlines? Then applying for a PhD position could be of interest to you.

Courses at the PhD-Level

Mandatory and optional courses in Education:

Courses at the PhD-Level   

Your application in four steps

Step 1: review our research groups to determine if our research interests match yours, research groups at the department of education.

• Adult Learning
• Career Development and Guidance
• Didactics as Communication
• Educational Research in Citizenship Competences (ERiCC)
• Higher Education Learning Practices
• History of Education and Sociology of Education
• International and Comparative Education Research - ICER
• Leadership, Improvement and Organization of Schools (SOUL)
• Organization pedagogics
• Pedagogy and Health
• Philosophical and Critical Studies in Education
• Vocational and Educational Training

Please note: contacting professors or associate professors before being admitted into the programme precludes them from evaluating your application.

Step 2: Carefully read through the admissions criteria and process for the PhD programme

General admissions criteria.

In order to meet the general admissions criteria, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree/Master’s degree and completed courses equivalent to at least 240 Swedish higher education credits (hp/ECTS), of which at least 60 ECTS must be in the second cycle or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere. 

The General Admissions Criteria must be fulfilled by the closing date of the admissions round.

Special Admissions Criteria

In order to meet the Special Admissions Criteria, the applicant must have completed courses equivalent to at least 90 hp/ECTS and a thesis of at least 15 hp/ECTS in one of the following subject areas: education, international and comparative education, didactics, subject-specific didactics, child and youth studies, special education, pedagogical work,

or a teaching degree equivalent to at least 180 hp/ECTS, including a thesis of at least 15 hp/ECTS, 

or a Bachelor of Arts in Study and Career Guidance, including a thesis of at least 15 hp/ECTS,

or completed courses equivalent to at least 90 hp/ECTS within another Social Science (including medical education) or Humanities subject area, including a thesis of at least 15 hp/ECTS. 

In all cases, the thesis must address research questions relevant to educational issues, theories, and methods. 

In addition, the applicant must have excellent spoken and written English language skills, which will be tested during the admissions round. 

The General and Special Admissions Criteria must be fulfilled by the application closing date.

English language proficiency

The PhD programme requires excellent spoken and written English language skills since, for example, required courses are given in English.

English language proficiency is assessed during the application process: a degree project/thesis written in Swedish must include a summary in English of a maximum of 1 page using font size 12.

Applicants who are selected during the second assessment by the faculty experts are invited in for interviews and a language test . Spoken academic English proficiency is tested as part of the interview by the applicants answering some questions in English. The applicants' written academic English skills are tested by writing an abstract based on a peer-reviewed article. This test takes place after the interviews when the applicants will be handed an article for which to write the abstract within a given time limit.

Admissions Process

Those applications which fulfil the General and Special Admissions Criteria will be assessed based on the submitted research plan. Faculty members conduct this assessment.

A professor or associate professor who has a known bias towards an applicant (for example, are related to or have another personal relationship with or was a former supervisor) will not assess that application. In order to avoid bias, the applicant is expected to independently write their application without consultation from a departmental contact.

The research plans are made anonymous and then sent on to the supervisor group, a group of professors and associate professors at the department, who individually assign (without consultation) point values to each research plan, according to the following criteria:

• Stringency of the research question and analysis of earlier work and of the research plan.
• Familiarity with the research area of the intended research plan.
• Methodological and theoretical understanding and the degree to which reflexivity is reached in the texts.
• The qualities of planned research in relation to what it contributes to the discipline.
• The intended study’s prospective ethical implications and possibility of an ethical review.
• Ability to express themselves both written and verbally in an academic setting.
• The planned study’s feasibility within the allotted time.

The point values are added together and the applications with the highest total values are sent on to the final assessment round where their entire application, including degree projects/theses, are assessed by a group of faculty experts, made up of a group of professors, who assess the applications according the criteria listed above.

The highest ranked applicants are then invited in for interviews and a test of their written and spoken English.

The final admissions decision is made by the departmental board, based upon the total point value assigned by the faculty experts.

The applicants are informed as soon as a decision has been made, during the first half of June.

Please note that if you are planning to conduct data collection abroad, you must locate external financing to cover your travel costs. The department is not able to cover these costs. It can also be difficult to combine lengthy data collection projects with required course work so be sure to consider if your research plan will be possible to complete within the time allowed.

We do not accept PhD applicants who plan to visit/collect data in countries or regions included on the Swedish Foreign Ministry travel warning list:

http://www.regeringen.se/uds-reseinformation/ud-avrader/

In addition, we do not accept PhD-projects which require interpreter services.

Step 3: Look over the PhD Programme Overview and Terms of Employment

PhD Programme Overview

PhD Courses

Terms of Employment for PhD Students

Step 4: Begin your application

Application Requirements

Research Plan Requirements

Breakdown of how your research plan will be assessed

Senior lecturer/director of studies for the doctoral program

See profile page for Åsa Broberg

• Visiting address
• Frescativägen 54

Education Administrator

See profile page for Erika Södersten

Education Administrator for the PhD-program at the Department of Education and environmental representative

Last updated: September 18, 2023

Source: Department of Education

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Last updated: March 18, 2024

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Entry requirements for doctoral studies

In order to be accepted for doctoral (PhD) studies, the applicant is required to meet the general entry requirements and any special requirements outlined in the position announcement. The applicant must also possess any other abilities required in order to benefit from the education.

General entry requirements

The general entry requirements are met by those who

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle or
• otherwise acquired largely equivalent knowledge.

KTH may exempt an individual applicant from the general entry requirements if there is an extraordinary reason to do so.

Specific entry requirements

 The specific requirements may relate to:

• knowledge from higher education or equivalent studies
• special professional or vocational experience
• necessary language skills or other conditions determined by the programme, subject or project

Language requirements

English language proficiency equivalent to (the Swedish upper secondary school) English course B/6 is required. The requirement can be satisfied through a result equal to, or higher than, those stated in the following internationally recognised English tests:

• TOEFL Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test, total score of 575. TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, total score of 90
• IELTS Academic/IELTS UKVI: A minimum overall mark of 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5
• Cambridge ESOL: Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) Certificate in Advanced English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB): Minimum score of 90
• University of Michigan, ECPE (Examination for the certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Pearson PTE Academic: Score of 62 (writing 61)

The language requirement can also be fulfilled through previous university and upper secondary school studies. More information on recognised English tests, previous studies, and required documents is provided by University Admissions in Sweden  under information for Master's level.

 Requirements regarding skills in the Swedish language may also be imposed.

Assessment of entry requirements

Entry requirements and prospective students' suitability are assessed at each school by the school's director of third-cycle education.

Foreign Higher Education studies

In most cases, studies that meet the general entry requirements for doctoral (PhD/third-cycle) education in the country where the degree is issued will also meet the general entry requirements for doctoral studies at KTH. If you are unsure about the status of your education, you may contact the Swedish Council for Higher Education  for an evaluation.

Assessment of equivalence

The assessment of equivalence determines whether an applicant's knowledge – acquired in another system – is equivalent to the higher education studies that are normally required for the doctoral subject in question.

Exemption from the general entry requirements

An exemption from the general entry requirements may be granted to an applicant who has not completed courses corresponding to 240 credits but who has already completed advanced (master's/second-cycle) courses corresponding to a minimum of 60 credits, as well as an independent degree project linked to the intended subject of study.

Assessment of suitability

Applicants are judged suitable for doctoral education if they possess the necessary maturity, judgement and capacity for independent critical analysis.

Candidate(s) will be selected from among the applicants who fulfil the requirements for doctoral education. The results of studies at an advanced (master's) level or in the form of independent work are of particular interest in this context, as is the candidate's ability to benefit from the studies (suitability).

The selection process is handled by each school and the final decision is made by the head of school, in consultation with the intended supervisor(s).

The admission process is conducted at the school-level.

Doctoral studies may lead to two qualifications, a licentiate and/or a doctoral degree. Those accepted to studies leading to a doctoral degree may take a licentiate degree as an intermediate stage in their studies. Students accepted to studies leading to a licentiate degree who subsequently wish to pursue studies leading to a doctoral degree must submit a new application and are not guaranteed admission.

Doctoral studies at KTH

• Being a doctoral student
• Doctoral programmes and subjects
• Employment at KTH
• How to apply
• Entry requirements
• Joint programmes and scholarships

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PhD in Sweden: ...

PhD in Sweden: A Complete Guide to Study PhD in Sweden for International Students

A PhD in Sweden is the highest level of educational qualification in Sweden. A PhD degree can be completed in 4 years of full-time study whereas you will graduate with a licentiate degree after 2 years of full-time study which is equivalent to MPhil of the British education system. Around 70% of the research in Sweden is privately financed and the remaining 30% is public funded. Research programs in Sweden are quite competitive and to be admitted as doctoral students you must fulfill the entry requirements, have good English language proficiency and also demonstrate strong interest and ability to cope with the program.

Sweden provides a specialized environment for doctoral education. One of the main highlights of a PhD in Sweden is that it is free of cost for all students including non-EU/ EEA students. Along with the doctoral program, you will work as administrative or teaching staff at the university which is equivalent to not more than 20% of the full-time position. If you are planning to study PhD in Sweden, read this guide to get information regarding top universities, PhD programs in Sweden, PhD requirements in Sweden, top universities, cost of studying, funding opportunities and more.

Why Study PhD in Sweden?

Before diving deep into the details of PhD in Sweden for Indian students, let us take a look at reasons why studying PhD in Sweden is preferable:

• Home to reputed institutions: Sweden is home to some historical institutions that enjoy world-class reputation as leaders of research especially in the field of Medicine, Health, Life Sciences among others.
• No tuition fees: Yes, you read it right. Sweden does not charge any tuition fee for PhD from students of any nationality. It is one of the top reasons why international students prefer studying PhD in Sweden.
• Progressive country: Sweden is quite a progressive country with high tech research facilities, promotes growth mindset and provides a very supportive environment for creative thinkers.

Suggested: Get acquainted with the education system of Sweden!

Popular Specializations for PhD in Sweden

Sweden is known for its world class research and about 3% of the country’s GDP is dedicated to research and innovation. All the 17 public universities in Sweden and 14 private universities in Sweden contribute significantly to research. Almost 30% of the research is carried out at top universities in Sweden for PhD. Sweden is home to some top pharmaceutical giants Astrazeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Bayer and more. Some key areas of research in Sweden are:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable energy
• Environmental technology
• Life sciences

Top PhD Colleges and Universities in Sweden

Sweden is home to 8 universities that ranked in QS rankings 2022 which also has a very high research output. Though rankings of institutions are not relevant for research, it will definitely help you in understanding the area of specializations of the university. Take a look at the table below to learn about top universities in Sweden for PhD:

How to Apply for a PhD in Sweden?

The process to apply for PhD in Sweden is somewhat different than applying for bachelor’s or master’s in Sweden . Take a look at the steps in the application process to study PhD in Sweden:

• You will have to apply directly to the universities in Sweden for PhD as there is no centralized application portal for PhD admission in Sweden.
• Start by looking for projects advertised by top universities in Sweden for PhD if you are interested in STEM subjects or go ahead with your project ideas for PhD in Education in Sweden or research in the areas of Arts, Humanities and Social Science.
• Depending on your area of interest, check whether you fulfill the PhD requirements in Sweden.
• Universities in Sweden for PhD set their own entry requirements and also specify the procedure for applying.
• Complete your application for PhD admission in Sweden and prepare all supporting documents.
• Track the progress of your application and wait for the admission decision.
• You may be invited to an interview regarding your research proposal.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Sweden

The Sweden PhD requirements are set by individual universities. The general eligibility criteria to study PhD in Sweden are:

• Educational qualifications
• Proof of English language proficiency

Research experience

• Residence permit
• Health insurance

Let us discuss the eligibility criteria to be met for admission to PhD programs in Sweden:

Educational Qualifications

To apply for PhD in Sweden, you will need a second-cycle qualification i.e. a master’s degree in a related field is recommended especially if you wish to apply for funding. You must have completed courses of at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits must be for a master's degree.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Swedish universities offer PhD in English so if English is not your first language, you must submit IELTS or TOEFL scores as proof of language proficiency. There is no need to be proficient in Swedish language to study in Sweden. The minimum English language proficiency scores recommended for admission are:

• IELTS score: Overall 6.5, no band less than 5.5
• TOEFL-iBT: Overall 90, with minimum 20 in written test

Having some previous research or work experience in a field related to your research proposal can immensely help you in the application and selection process.

Residence Permit

International students need to apply for a residence permit to study in Sweden for programs longer than 90 days. To apply for residence permits, you will need to provide copies of your passports, proof of finances, educational qualifications, etc. You can apply for a residence permit after receiving a letter of acceptance from the university where you have been admitted.

Health Insurance

After coming to Sweden, all students will require health insurance. Your university may cover the health insurance as a part of funding for international students.

Suggested: Complete guide on student visa of Sweden!

Cost of Studying PhD in Sweden

Having learned about the Sweden PhD requirements, let us take a look at the cost of studying PhD in Sweden. The cost of studying for a PhD in Sweden includes tuition fees and cost of living.

• One major relief for students applying for PhD in Sweden is that there is absolutely no tuition fees for all students irrespective of their nationality.
• Universities in Sweden for PhD don’t even charge application fees.
• So clearly you are only left with the living expenses which is around 8,568 SEK per month on an average. This can differ depending on your preferences and location in Sweden.
• Usually, the rent of accommodation ranges between 2,500-6,500 SEK per month which is a major expense and you will find costlier accommodation in cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg compared to other places.

Suggested: Estimated cost of living in Sweden for international students!  

Funding Opportunities for Studying PhD in Sweden

Funding options include applying for various scholarships and bursaries awarded by universities in Sweden for PhD. As a general practice, doctoral students in Sweden are regarded as employees at most universities. Here is how this works:

• You will be applying for doctoral positions available and universities offer them departmental administration service or teaching.
• With an employment contract, you will be entitled to a salary which is commonly known as a study grant.
• You can expect to get 1500 SEK as a study grant while studying PhD in Sweden for international students.
• The Swedish government funds third-cycle education programs through direct government funding, government agencies, research councils, public research foundations and municipalities.

PhD in Sweden for international students is a lucrative option. Sweden happens to be a research and development intensive country in the world and an ideal location for young and innovative minds. There are various areas of specializations for pursuing research in Sweden which ensures opportunities for all. Post completion of Phd, you can apply for work permit in Sweden ! 

Frequently Asked Questions about PhD in Sweden

Is PhD in Sweden free?

Yes, PhD in Sweden is free for all students irrespective of their nationality. You will not be charged any tuition or application fee for PhD. The only expense you will be paying is the cost of living.

Is it hard to get a PhD in Sweden for Indian students?

PhD in Sweden is recognized worldwide. Therefore, expect stiff competition when it comes to selection of candidates. The application process is quite simple and open to all candidates. Try to maintain a research-oriented background from the beginning that will help you in being a suitable match for the position, if you wish to pursue PhD in Sweden.

Is a PhD in Sweden a job for students?

Yes, it can be said that a PhD in Sweden is a job for students. You are applying for a doctoral position rather than just a doctoral program and some part of your program will include administrative or teaching work.

Are international students allowed to stay in Sweden after PhD?

Once you have a residence permit for doctoral studies for four out of the last seven years and are employed in Sweden, you can apply for a permanent residence permit to stay in Sweden after PhD.

What are the top areas of research in Sweden?

The top areas of research in Sweden include healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, sustainable energy, environmental technology, etc.

Sumeet Jain

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How to apply

Applying to study in sweden is pretty easy. find a programme. apply. then wait for the results. 🤞🏽 what’re you waiting for let’s get cracking., on your marks….

What you’ve got to do first is find a programme. Sounds simple, right? But with over 1,000 programmes at 39 universities to choose from? 😩 Easier said than done. But don’t worry, we’ve done a bit of the legwork for you. We’ve put together a list of all the bachelor’s and master’s programmes on offer . So all you need to do is figure out what you want. What your passion is. And then find a programme to match.

Got a question about a programme? Get in touch with the university directly.

Don’t be shy – they’re always happy to help .

Need help applying? You can always hire an educational consultant to guide you through the application process.

Applying to study abroad is a huge decision. And, well, the application process can be super stressful too. If you need some extra help along the way, you’re welcome to work with an educational consultant .

“I decided to study in Sweden because it is a country that stands for social inclusion and guarantees modern rights to all its people”

So you’ve found a programme. Or programmes. What’s next? Okay, you’re getting to the super important stuff like requirements, documents, and deadlines. And this might be the longest step of the process. Our advice? Start early. And take the time to get everything in order. You’ll thank us later.

+ - What entry requirements do I need to meet?

General entry requirements.

So these are things like having completed your high-school studies. Or having a bachelor’s degree. Also? Having a sufficient level of English. And you can find the general entry requirements for bachelor’s programmes ↗️ and master’s programmes ↗️ on Universityadmissions.se.

Programme-specific entry requirements

You may need to meet some specific entry reqruirements too. You’ll find them listed on the programme’s webpage. Navigate there through our programme database or from Universityadmissions.se . ↗️

+ - When can I apply? 📅

Pretty much all of our English-taught programmes start in the autumn semester. So, chances are you’ll apply by mid-January. ⏰ Only a few English-taught programmes start in the spring. And there’s a different deadline for these programmes – you’ll apply by mid-August instead. But head over to Universityadmissions.se ↗️ to find out more. There are a few other dates and deadlines you’ll need to keep in mind.

“Obviously, you don’t have to be a native English speaker. But in order to follow your classes, English language skills are important”

Phew, you’re almost there. Just one thing left. Actually submit your application. And here’s what you’ll do:

+ - Apply online – but don’t be late ⏰

So you’ll head on over to Universityadmissions.se ↗️ – Sweden’s central application portal. Applying for a master’s? You can apply for up to four programmes in the same application. And if you’re applying for a bachelor’s? You can apply for up to eight programmes.

Keep track of the deadline – don’t miss it!

When you apply will depend on when you’ll start studying. And since most English-taught programmes start in the autumn, you’ll probably apply by mid-January. But there are a few programmes that start in the spring. Applying for one of them? Well, then you’ll apply for mid-August instead.

+ - Send in your documents

What documents do i need to include.

• Documentation proving that you meet the general entry requirements for bachelor’s ↗️ or master’s ↗️ programmes
• Proof of English proficiency ↗️
• Documentation showing that you meet programme-specific entry requirements

And for full details about your supporting documents, head on over to Universityadmissions.se . ↗️

+ - Pay the application fee 💸

You’ll pay one application fee of SEK 900 to Universityadmissions.se . ↗️ Sure, it sounds like a lot. But it doesn’t matter how many programmes you apply for – you’ll pay SEK 900 even if you apply for one, four, or eight programmes.

+ - Find your scholarship

Looking for a scholarship? Then look no further. You’ll find a whole load of available scholarships  here. Some offered by our universities. Others are from private companies.

+ - Sit back, relax, and wait for the results 🤞🏽

You won’t hear your results for a while. But go on and celebrate that you’ve sent in your application. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Congratulations! 🥳 You’ve taken the time to invest in your dreams. And that’s worth celebrating.

But what’ll happen next with my application?

So the university you’ve applied to will have a look at your application. At your documents, grades, courses. And they’ll make a decision whether or not you’ll be admitted.

+ - Receive your admissions results

You might need to wait a while to get a decision. But when the time comes around, head back over to Universityadmissions.se ↗️ to see if you’re coming to study in Sweden! 🎊

• 5 common mistakes when applying to study in sweden ↗️

• ✍️ 📨 Want to write a perfect motivation letter? Here's how ↗️

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• Find courses
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• Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Doctoral Studies

Do you want to do research in biology or environmental sciences? Then you should read more below.

What is included in a doctoral education?

Doctoral, or PhD., studies comprise 240 higher education credits, that is 4 years of full time studies. It ends with a doctoral degree (Doctor of philosophy, PhD). The actual research constitute three years (180 hec) while one year in total includes curses and literature etc. At the department, most PhD-students are also involved in teaching, at up to 20% of full time, so in reality the PhD-period is five years.

Although doctoral studies should be seen as a form of education, the setup differs a lot from our other courses and programs.  You will spend most of the time with practical and theoretical studies in a well defined research area. It gives you an opportunity to deepen your knowledge in theta subject, but perhaps more importantly, give you the tools to independently research questions and to critically analyse and evaluate the results.

Most of our PhD-students are part of a research group, and cooperation with other scientists and a fundamental part of the education.

Eligibility for PhD-studies

To be accepted as a PhD-student you must first apply for a doctoral position. There is no set date for these applications, but positions may advertised at any time of the year so you need to keep your eyes open. You find ads under Vacancies .

To e accepted you also need specialization within a relevant subject, and that you have fulfilled  course requirements equal to at least 240 higher education credits. You should also have finished a degree project at advanced level. As a PhD-student at the department you are usually accepted within the main subject Natural science specialising in either biology or environmental sciences, or within Mathematics/Natural Sciences, specialising in Educational Sciences

You may read more about subjects and specialisations as well as rules and guidelines,  at the Faculty of science pages about doctoral studies.