Entry requirements and admission for informatics
In order to be admitted onto third-cycle study courses and programmes within informatics, you must (among other things) fulfil the entry requirements that apply to the subject, be employed by the University of Skövde or be funded by a salary from another employer, and be adjudged to be able to complete the studies. Admission to third-cycle study courses and programmes is regulated in the University’s admission regulations.
For the research subject of informatics, the following entry requirements apply:
General requirements
A completed degree at an advanced level, completed course requirements of at least 240 credits (of which at least 60 credits are at an advanced level), or otherwise acquired (either nationally or internationally) broadly equivalent knowledge.
Special requirements
Completed course requirements of at least 60 credits (including independent thesis project comprising at least 15 credits at an advanced level) within the subject field of informatics, closely related areas of application or other subject areas that are adjudged to be directly relevant to the thesis work.
Approved grades in gymnasium school-level English B/English 6, or equivalent. Applicants who do not have grades from a Swedish gymnasium school are required to submit confirmation of a competence equivalent to English 6 from an internationally approved language test (TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge ESOL) in accordance with the requirements of www.universityadmissions.se, where any exemptions to the requirements for grades are also regulated (search for ‘English test’).
Applications are to be made using form 5:1.
Forms of employment for doctoral students
To become a doctoral student, you must both be enrolled on the research study programme and have an employment that funds your studies. Employment and enrolment take place in parallel.
At the University of Skövde, this occurs in three models:
Employment and enrolment at the University of Skövde
- Employment as a doctoral student or lecturer
Employment at the University of Skövde, enrolment at another university
- Employment as a doctoral student or lecturer
Employment with another employer, enrolment at the University of Skövde
- E.g. externally employed doctoral student
Funding
Employment
Third-cycle study courses and programmes at the University of Skövde are, as a rule, funded via employment as a doctoral student. This is a fixed-term form of employment that applies until the doctoral degree has been completed, with a maximum employment period of 5 years. Studies can be conducted on a part-time basis (e.g. in parallel with another employed position) but they must be able to be completed within 8 years for a doctoral degree, or within 4 years for a licentiate degree. This means that a student will not be enrolled if their level of activity is below 50%. According to Sweden’s Higher Education Ordinance (Chap. 5, Section 7), the initial employment may be for a maximum of 1 year. The employment may subsequently renewed by no more than 2 years at a time.
Within the framework of the employed position, the doctoral student may participate in tuition and perform other work for the school for up to 20% of the role.
The study time may only be extended if there are special justifications for this – for example, as a result of leave due to illness or parental leave, the performance of military service, or the performance of positions of trust in trade union or student organisations.
To find out more about being employed as a doctoral student, please see the employment regulations at the University of Skövde and the general study plan for third-cycle study courses and programmes in informatics.
The salary for doctoral student employees follows a salary index, which means that it is not subject to any individual salary negotiations. For more information about the salary index for doctoral students, please see the Staff Portal.
Lecturers are also able to conduct their own research studies within the framework of their skills-development time.
At the University of Skövde, there are no stipends or study grants that can be applied for.
Externally employed doctoral students
Third-cycle students who are enrolled at the University and are employed within business or the public sector have their research studies financed by their employer. These are sometimes referred to as externally employed doctoral students.