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General syllabus - Public Health Sciences

  • Reg.no: 2024/0073
  • Decision maker: The Faculty Board (until 2025-12-31) thereafter The Dean of faculty
  • Date of descision: 2024-02-13
  • Date of entry into force: 2024-03-01
  • Responsible for review and revision: Head of Department, Department of Health Sciences, Innovation and Design

This is a translation of the Swedish version. In the event of discrepancies, the Swedish version will take precedence.

The third-cycle subject - Public Health Sciences

The third-cycle subject area of Public Health Sciences focuses on the importance of lifestyle habits as well as the impact of environmental and societal factors, working life, and the health and welfare system, on the health of the population. The subject area has a particular focus on sustainable lifestyle and health, as grounded in the global sustainable development goals (2030 Agenda). The subject also includes studies of health determinants
and health equity in the population with the purpose of preventing poor health and promoting equal health development.

The subject of Public Health Sciences is, by nature, interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary. In particular, the usage of concepts, methods, and theories from epidemiology as well as from social and behavioural science is common. In the research, both quantitative and qualitative methods are used, as well as a combination of both.

Purpose and objective of the third-cycle studies

The purpose of the third-cycle studies is that the doctoral student will develop knowledge, generic skills and an approach that is needed in order to plan, implement and report scholarly studies in the third-cycle subject area of Public Health Science, both orally and in writing.

Third-cycle courses and study programmes can lead to two different qualifications, Degree of Doctor (240 credits equivalent to full-time study of four years) and Degree of Licentiate (120 credits equivalent to full-time study of two years).

Through active participation in courses and work with the thesis, as well as active participation in seminar activities conducted in each third-cycle subject, the following qualitative targets are supported at third-cycle studies level in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Appendix 2 (SFS 1993:100):

Degree of Licenatiate

Goals – knowledge and understanding

For the Degree of Licentiate the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of research including current specialist knowledge in a limited area of this field as well as specialised knowledge of research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Goals – competence and skills

For the Degree of Licentiate the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously and creatively, and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake a limited piece of research and other qualified tasks within predetermined time frames in order to contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as to evaluate this work.
  • demonstrate the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general, and
  • demonstrate the skills required to participate autonomously in research and development work and to work autonomously in some other qualified capacity.

Goals – Judgement and approach

For the Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the ability to make assessments of ethical aspects of his or her own research.
  • demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
  • demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Degree of Doctor

Goals – Knowledge and understanding

For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research field as well as advanced and up-to-date specialised knowledge in a limited area of this field, and
  • demonstrate familiarity with research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Goals – Competence and skills

For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the capacity for scholarly analysis and synthesis as well as to review and assess new and complex phenomena, issues and situations autonomously and critically
  • demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously and creatively, and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake research and other qualified tasks within predetermined time frames and to review and evaluate such work
  • demonstrate through a dissertation the ability to make a significant contribution to the formation of knowledge through his or her own research
  • demonstrate the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings authoritatively in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general
  • demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and
  • demonstrate the capacity to contribute to social development and support the learning of others both through research and education and in some other qualified professional capacity.

Goals – Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Doctor the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate intellectual autonomy and disciplinary rectitude as well as the ability to make assessments of research ethics, and
  • demonstrate specialised insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Structure of third-cycle studies

Individual study plan

For each doctoral student, an individual study plan must be drawn up in accordance with Chapter 6, Section 29 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

The individual study plan must clarify the commitments of each party (the University and doctoral student) and the timetable for the education, as well as specific goals for the doctoral student. The individual study plan must define activities that provide prerequisites to reach the national as well as subject-specific qualitative targets.

The individual study plan shall be reviewed regularly and after consultation with the doctoral student and their supervisor may be changed by the University to the required extent

Courses

An important aspect of third-cycle studies in Public Health Science is the requirement to take courses. Courses are selected in consultation with the principal supervisor and are documented in the individual study plan and can be taken at the University or at another higher education institution.

For the Degree of Doctor in Public Health Science, a course component of at least 50 higher education credits is included from which the below listed courses of 35 credits are compulsory.

Compulsory courses, 35 higher education credits

  • Health and Welfare, 5 higher education credits
  • Subject in-depth course, 10 higher education credits
  • Research methodology, 20 higher education credits

For the Degree of Licentiate in Public Health Science, a course component of at least 25 higher education credits is included from which the below listed courses of 17.5 credits are compulsory

Compulsory courses, 17.5 higher education credits

  • Subject in-depth course, 5 higher education credits
  • Scientific methods, 10 higher education credits
  • Health and Welfare, 2.5 higher education credits

Other credit-bearing components

The doctoral student also has the opportunity within the scope of third-cycle studies at MDU to include other credit-bearing components. In Public Health Science the following components can be included which may provide credits

  • For referee-reviewed poster and oral presentations at national or international conferences, the doctoral student can obtain 1.5 credits for each presentation occasion. The total number of credits awarded for presentations at conferences is a maximum of 3 credits for a doctoral degree and a maximum of 1.5 credits for a licentiate degree.

Review of ongoing studies

Within the framework of third-cycle studies at MDU, a doctoral student shall present the ongoing studies internally but also at public seminars/reviews to provide the research community and the public insight into the research being conducted at the University. The purpose of the review is to allow the doctoral student to discuss the ongoing work and have it reviewed by internal and external senior researchers. At MDU there are two compulsory review sessions where the doctoral student shall present their results at a:

  • Mid-way review/seminar, does not apply to doctoral students who will complete a Degree of Licentiate
  • Final review/preview

Doctoral thesis

A doctoral thesis in Public Health Science will be designed as a compilation thesis or a monograph and can be written in Swedish or English.

A compilation thesis consists of papers and a compilation part (introductory chapter of a compilation thesis - known as a kappa in Swedish). The papers will meet the quality requirements for publication in international peer reviewed journals. When the thesis is submitted for public defence in Public Health Science, it must consist of three to four papers. A minimum of two papers must be published or accepted. The third paper must be a submitted manuscript. The fourth paper must be a manuscript.

The compilation part will highlight the different papers, how they are interrelated and what information they generate together. The thesis, regardless of whether it is written in Swedish or English, must include summaries in both Swedish and English.

Licentiate thesis

A licentiate thesis in Public Health Science will be designed as a compilation thesis or a monograph and can be written in Swedish or English.

A licentiate thesis written as a compilation thesis consists of papers and a compilation part. The papers must meet the quality requirements for publication in international peer reviewed journals. When the licentiate thesis is submitted for public defence in Public Health Science, at least one of the papers must be published or accepted. The remaining papers must be at least in the form of manuscripts.

The compilation part will highlight the different papers, how they are interrelated and what information they generate together. The licentiate thesis, regardless of whether it is written in Swedish or English, must include summaries in both Swedish and English.

Examination

Third-cycle courses and study programmes are concluded with a doctoral degree or a licentiate degree. The doctoral student who has a doctoral degree as their goal has the right, but no obligation, to graduate with a licentiate degree as a stage in the doctoral studies education.

Degree of Doctor

For a Degree of Doctor, a total of 240 completed higher education credits are required, consisting of:

  • approved courses and other credit-bearing components of 50 credits
  • an approved doctoral thesis whose scope corresponds to studies of 190 credits

Public defence

The doctoral student must independently defend their doctoral thesis orally at a public defence.

The thesis is examined by an examining committee, who will decide a grade of Pass or Fail.

Degree of Licentiate

For a Degree of Licentiate, a total of 120 completed higher education credits are required, consisting of:

  • approved courses and other credit-bearing components of 25 credits
  • an approved licentiate thesis whose scope corresponds to studies of 95 credits

Licentiate seminar

The doctoral student must independently defend their licentiate thesis at a seminar where the public can attend.

The licentiate thesis is examined by an examining committee, who will award a grade of Pass or Fail.

Title of degree

For a doctoral degree:
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

For a licentiate degree:
Degree of Licentiate

Additional information

Further information can be found in Mälardalen University's Guidelines for Third-Cycle Studies. Information is also available on the University's website.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

A person meets the general entry requirements to third-cycle studies, according to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 39, if they:

  1. have been awarded a qualification at second cycle,
  2. have fulfilled course requirements comprising at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 were awarded in the second cycle, or
  3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in or outside Sweden.

The University may grant an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant if there are particular grounds, according to Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Specific entry requirements

Specific entry requirements to be admitted to Public Health Science are met if you have:

  1. the necessary knowledge from higher education or equivalent education and/or professional experience which is assessed based on the relevance to the research project,
  2. the necessary proficiency in the English language, both oral and written,
  3. an assessed ability to work independently and an ability to formulate and address scientific problems.

Selection

Selection among applicants who fulfil the entry requirements is made by an assessment of the applicant’s ability to be able to benefit from the education.

The selection is carried out by those responsible for the admissions process and an appointed recruitment group. The selection, and any ranking of the applicants who are judged to be eligible, shall be documented. Only doctoral students who can be offered supervision and otherwise acceptable conditions for study may be admitted. It is the responsibility of the Dean of School to ensure that a funding plan corresponding to the entire period of study is guaranteed at the time of admission.

In the selection process, equal rights and opportunities for applicants, regardless of sex, gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age, shall be promoted in accordance with Mälardalen University’s Equal Treatment Plan. When choosing between two equal applicants of different sex, the underrepresented sex shall generally be chosen.

Entry into force and interim regulations

The existing syllabus will come into effect on 1 March 2024.

Doctoral students admitted before this date have the right to follow the syllabus and examination requirements which were valid when the doctoral student was admitted. If the doctoral student requests it and it is appropriatethe doctoral student may be allowed, in the individual study syllabus, to transfer to the courses and programmes in accordance with the new syllabus.

General Syllabus for Public Health Sciences at Mälardalen University

  • Reg.no: 2020/2634
  • Decision maker: The Faculty Board

Applies to all doctoral students admitted to the third-cycle subject area in Public Health Sciences from 15 January 2021 onwards.

This document is a policy document for the third-cycle subject area and must be revised/reviewed no later than four years after the latest ratification. The School of Health, Care and Social Welfare is responsible for the revision.

This is a translation of the Swedish version. In the event of discrepancies, the Swedish version will take precedence.

Introduction

Pursuant to Chapter 6, Section 25 of the Higher Education Ordinance, HF, (1993:100), the Faculty Board at Mälardalen University has established subjects which shall be arranged within third-cycle (doctoral) study programmes. Each third-cycle subject area shall have a ratified general syllabus in which the main contents of the study programme, specific entry requirements and other necessary regulations shall be stated in accordance with Chapter 6, Sections 26 and 27 of the HF.

The School of Health, Care and Social Welfare is responsible for establishing and revising the general syllabuses valid for the third-cycle subject areas for which the School serves as host School. The Faculty Board ratifies the established or revised general syllabuses for the subjects in which third-cycle (doctoral) studies are arranged at MDH.

In addition, the local policy document Rules and Regulations for Third-Cycle (Doctoral) Studies at Mälardalen University stipulates that the criteria for general entry requirements, description of selection criteria, description of compulsory modules, and requirements for thesis work and course demands shall also be stated in the general syllabus for the subject. Recommendations for prior knowledge which do not constitute formal entry requirements, as well as other relevant information, may also be given.

Subject description

Research domain

The Health and Welfare domain is built on the knowledge where health and welfare research convene. Research based on the School of Health, Care and Social Welfare’s third-cycle subjects has, for example, focus on sustainability perspectives on societal development, lifestyle and health. Health and welfare are studied at the individual and group levels, as well as at the organisational and societal levels. Based on the various subjects, emphasis could be placed on either welfare or health, while both health and welfare aspects within the individual subject are highlighted.

The third-cycle subject area Public Health Sciences

The third-cycle subject area Public Health Sciences focuses on the importance of lifestyle habits, environment and climate issues, societal structure, work life, and the health and welfare system for the health of the population. The subject area it is grounded in the global sustainable development goals (2030 Agenda), with a particular focus on a sustainable lifestyle and health.

The subject also includes studies of the determinants of health, health inequality and inequity in the population with the purpose of preventing poor health and promoting overall good health. Public Health Sciences are, by nature, interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary. In particular, the usage of concepts, methods and theories from epidemiology as well as from social and behavioural science is common. In the research, both quantitative and qualitative methods are used, as well as a combination of both.

Area- and subject-specific qualitative targets

The general objectives of third-cycle (doctoral) studies as regards knowledge and understanding, aptitudes and accomplishments, as well as the ability to evaluate and assess, are laid out in Appendix A and Appendix B, based on the Higher Education Ordinance.

To earn a doctoral degree in Public Health Sciences, the doctoral student shall demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research domain of Health and Welfare. Further, the doctoral student shall demonstrate in-depth and current knowledge within the subject of Public Health Sciences. The doctoral student shall also demonstrate familiarity with scientific methodology in general and scientific methods in Public Health Sciences in particular.

To earn a licentiate degree in Public Health Sciences, the doctoral student shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of health and welfare, including current knowledge within the subject of Public Health Sciences. Further, the doctoral student shall demonstrate in-depth knowledge of scientific methodology in general and scientific methods in Public Health Sciences in particular.

The doctoral student shall demonstrate the ability to independently and critically review and assess new and complex phenomena, and also to conduct research. The research findings shall also be presented by the doctoral student in national as well as international contexts in dialogue with the scientific community and with society in general.

With both a doctoral and a licentiate degree, the doctoral student acquires the ability to make research ethics assessments and demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of science.

One of the objectives of third-cycle (doctoral) studies at Mälardalen University is for the student to demonstrate the skills and ability for collaboration and co-production with the surrounding community. A degree at the third-cycle (doctoral) level therefore opens up opportunities for working with a number of advanced research-related work assignments within academia, the public sector, the civilian community or private enterprise, both nationally and internationally.

Programme structure

A doctoral degree is awarded after the doctoral student has completed a study programme of 240 higher education (HE) credits within the subject of Public Health Sciences for third-cycle (doctoral) studies.

A licentiate degree is awarded after the doctoral student has completed a study programme of 120 higher education (HE) credits within the subject of Public Health Sciences for third-cycle (doctoral) studies.

Individual study plan

For each doctoral student, an individual study plan shall be drawn up before admission. The individual study plan shall be ratified according to the rules determined by the Faculty Board. The individual study plan shall be followed up and revised annually. In addition to this, it shall be revised in connection with every major change in conditions for the studies. Every year, the doctoral student, principal supervisor and Dean of School shall certify by their signatures that they have reviewed and approved the plan.

Courses and other credit-bearing modules

Within the framework of the doctoral degree, 240 higher education credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time studies, studies equivalent to 60 higher education credits shall consist of courses and other credit-bearing modules, such as participation in seminars and conferences. For a licentiate degree, 120 higher education credits, studies equivalent to 30 higher education credits shall consist of courses and other credit-bearing modules.

For the course component of a doctoral degree, the following distribution applies:

  • 37.5 higher education credits are compulsory, broken down as 15 credits from courses in health and welfare, and 22.5 credits from courses in research methodology
  • 22.5 higher education credits are elective courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisors.

For the course component of a licentiate degree, the following distribution applies:

  • 22.5 higher education credits are compulsory, broken down as 7.5 credits from courses in health and welfare, and 15 credits from courses in research methodology
  • 7.5 higher education credits are elective courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisors.

Credit transfer is possible for all of the courses in accordance with Chapter 6, Section 6 of the HF.

The individual study plan shall specify, among other things, which courses are to be included in the study programme for the individual doctoral student, as well as how many credits each course corresponds to. Courses included in third-cycle (doctoral) studies, up to the doctoral and licentiate degrees respectively, shall have a ratified course syllabus stating the course’s objectives, course content and number of credits. The grades Pass or Fail shall be used. The courses shall be assessed by an appointed examiner.

For active participation in doctoral student seminars in health and welfare,the doctoral student can be awarded 0.1 higher education credits per seminar. The total number of credits for participation in seminars may amount to a maximum of 4 credits for a doctoral degree and a maximum of 2 credits for a licentiate degree.

For referee-reviewed poster and oral presentations at national or international conferences, the doctoral student can obtain 1.5 credits for each presentation occasion. The total number of credits awarded for presentations at conferences is a maximum of 4.5 credits for a doctoral degree and a maximum of 3 credits for a licentiate degree.

The doctoral students shall present their thesis work in English at:

  • the kick-off seminar
  • the mid-way review (does not apply to doctoral students with a licentiate degree as a goal)
  • the final seminar

Thesis

The thesis in Public Health Sciences shall correspond to at least 180 credits and may be designed as a compilation thesis.

An ethical review, when so required, shall have been completed before the collection of the empirical material has begun.

A compilation thesis consists of articles and a compilation component (kappa– introductory chapter). The articles shall meet the quality requirements for publication in international referee-reviewed journals. When the thesis is presented for public defence, at least half of the articles must have been published or accepted. Of the other articles, at least one shall have been submitted to a journal and one shall exist in the form of a complete article manuscript.

The compilation component shall illustrate the various sub-studies conducted, how they are connected, and what knowledge they have generated altogether. The compilation component, regardless of whether it is written in Swedish or English, must include summaries in both Swedish and English.

Licentiate thesis

The licentiate thesis in Public Health Sciences shall correspond to 90 credits and be designed as a compilation thesis. A compilation thesis shall consist of (at least) two articles and a compilation component (kappa). The articles shall meet the quality requirements for publication in international referee-reviewed journals. In order to conduct a licentiate seminar, one article (i.e. at least 50%) shall have been accepted for publishing and one shall exist in the form of a complete article manuscript.

The compilation component shall illustrate the various sub-studies conducted, how they are connected and what knowledge they have generated altogether. The compilation component, regardless of whether it is written in Swedish or English, must include summaries in both Swedish and English.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The general entry requirements for admission to third-cycle studies are regulated in Chapter 7 Section 39 of the HF:

  1. earned a degree at the second-cycle (Master’s) level,
  2. met course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at the second-cycle (Master’s level), or
  3. acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, either within or outside of the country.

The University may grant an individual applicant an exemption from the general entry requirements if special circumstances exists.

Specific entry requirements

In addition to meeting the general entry requirements, the applicant shall be deemed to have such capacity as is otherwise needed to benefit from the study programme.

  1. the necessary knowledge from higher education or equivalent education and/or professional experience which is assessed based on the relevance to the research project,
  2. necessary proficiency in the English language, both verbal and written,
  3. an assessed ability to work independently and an ability to formulate and address scientific problems.

Selection

Selection from among applicants who meet the entry requirements is done by assessing the applicant’s ability to benefit from the studies.

Selection is carried out by those responsible for the admissions process and an appointed recruitment group. Selection and any ranking of the applicants who are judged to be eligible shall be documented. Only doctoral students who can be offered supervision and otherwise acceptable conditions for study may be admitted. It is the responsibility of the Dean of School to ensure that a funding plan corresponding to the entire period of study is guaranteed at the time of admission.

In the selection process, equal rights and opportunities for applicants, regardless of sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnic origin, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age, shall be promoted in accordance with Mälardalen University’s Equal Treatment Plan. When choosing between two equal applicants of different sex, the underrepresented sex shall generally be chosen.

Examination

Third-cycle (doctoral) studies are concluded with a doctoral degree or a licentiate degree. The doctoral student aspiring to a doctoral degree has the right, but not the obligation, to earn a licentiate degree as a stage of their third-cycle (doctoral) studies

Degree of Doctor

To earn a Degree of Doctor, a total of 240 completed credits are required, consisting of:

  • approved courses and other credit-bearing modules totalling 60 credits
  • an approved doctoral thesis, the scope of which corresponds to 180 credits worth of studies

Public defence

The doctoral student, the author of the thesis, shall defend alone his/her thesis at a public defence, at which the Chair, external opponent and examining committee as well as the interested general public are present.

The public defence process has the following main purposes:

  • to prepare a scientific first-class review of the thesis
  • to provide the doctoral student the opportunity to demonstrate his/her ability to discuss research in a popular way as well as at a high academic level
  • to give the general public insight into what way the doctoral student has contributed to the development of knowledge

The thesis is examined by an examining committee, awarding a grade of Pass or Fail.

Degree of Licentiate

To earn a Degree of Licentiate, a total of 120 completed credits are required, consisting
of:

  • approved courses and other credit-bearing modules totalling 30 credits
  • an approved licentiate thesis, the scope of which corresponds to 90 credits worth of studies

Licentiate seminar

The doctoral student, the author of the thesis, shall defend alone his/her thesis at a public licentiate seminar, at which the Chair, external opponent and examining committee as well as the interested general public participate.

The thesis is examined by an examining committee, awarding a grade Pass or Fail.

Title of degree

For a doctoral degree:
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

For a licentiate degree:
Degree of Licentiate

Internationalisation

Each doctoral student should participate in at least one international academic conference during her/his period of studies and present research findings either orally or with a poster presentation.

A stay abroad of one to six months during the doctoral student period is recommended. This period of stay should be planned in consultation with the principal supervisor and can be placed either at one of the higher education institutions (HEIs) with whom Mälardalen University has an agreement or at another HEI where research of relevance to the thesis project is conducted.

Supervision

Scope and limits of supervision

For each doctoral student, a group of supervisors shall be appointed upon the student’s admission, consisting of a principal supervisor and one or more assistant supervisors. One of the supervisors shall be active at the same School as the doctoral student, but the others can be active at some other institution or organisation with which the doctoral student’s School has research cooperation.

A full-time doctoral student has the right to supervision corresponding to at least 100 hours per year. No supervisor shall altogether be bound up to more supervision than is equivalent to seven full-time doctoral students.

Responsibility of principal and assistant supervisor

The principal supervisor has overall responsibility for the doctoral student’s education. Supervisors shall be available for the doctoral student for discussions about their studies. They shall listen to the doctoral student’s ideas, show possible paths, provide constructive criticism, give their opinions on the structure of the research work, and monitor to ensure that course studies and thesis work are progressing at a suitable pace. The supervisor’s role should initially have a guiding nature, but later move on to a supporting function since the educational objective is independent researchers.

It is the responsibility of the principal supervisor to check that all the courses and other credit-bearing modules have been completed before an application for public defence/licentiate seminar is submitted. The principal supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that the School’s commitments as laid out inthe individual study plan are fulfilled.

Required qualifications and continuing professional development for supervisors
At Mälardalen University the principal supervisor of the doctoral student shall be a teacher with associate professor qualifications or a professor at the University. The other supervisors must hold a PhD degree. The principal supervisor must have undergone training as a research supervisor. Other supervisors should have undergone training as a supervisor.

Change of supervisors and research project

In accordance with Chapter 6, Section 28 of the Higher Education Ordinance, a doctoral student who so wishes has the right to change or add/remove supervisors. Decisions to appoint a new supervisor are taken by the Faculty Board’s Committee. Should the need for a change of supervisors arise, the doctoral student shall submit a written request for such.

The Faculty Board advises against doctoral students changing projects later than 18 months after admission to the third-cycle (doctoral) studies.

Preview

A preview before the public defence of the doctoral thesis is made in a final review, which takes place when the doctoral student has attained 80-90% of their study performance. This final review is held within 3–6 months before the planned public defence.

The principal supervisor is ultimately responsible for reviewing the complete thesis and determining whether an application for a public defence can be submitted to the Faculty Board’s Committee.

A preview ahead of a licentiate seminar takes place in the same way as for the public defence of a doctoral thesis.

Interim regulations

Doctoral students admitted before 15 January 2021 to previous general syllabuses in Public Health Sciences must complete their studies up to the public defence in accordance with the then current general syllabus. There are no requirements for transitioning to the new revised general syllabus in Public Health Sciences for these doctoral students. The doctoral student may also choose to follow the current syllabus.

Appendix A – Degree of Licentiate

Given below are the degree requirements of the system of qualifications as well as the outcome attainment requirements for being awarded a Degree of Licentiate, as specified in Appendix 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Scope

A Degree of Licentiate is awarded either after the doctoral student has completed a study programme of at least 120 credits in a subject in which third-cycle teaching is offered, or after the doctoral student has completed one part comprising at least 120 credits of a study programme intending to conclude with the award of a Degree of Doctor, if the University decides that such a Degree of Licentiate can be awarded at the University.

Outcomes

Goal - Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of research, including current specialist knowledge in a limited area of this field, as well as specialised knowledge of research methodology in general and the methods of the specific research domainin particular.

Goal - Competence and skills

For a Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously and creatively, and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake a limited research project and other qualified tasks within predetermined time frames in order to contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as to evaluate this work,
  • demonstrate the ability, in both national international contexts, to clearly present and discuss research and research findings in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general, and
  • demonstrate the skills required to participate autonomously in research and development work and to work autonomously in some other qualified capacity.

Goal - Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the ability to make assessments of ethical aspects of her/his own research,
  • demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
  • demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for her/his ongoing learning.

Academic paper

For a Degree of Licentiate, the doctoral student shall have been awarded a Pass grade for an academic paper of at least 60 credits.

Miscellaneous

Specific requirements determined by each higher education institution itself within the parameters of the requirements laid down in this qualification descriptor shall apply for a Degree of Licentiate with a defined specialisation.

Appendix B – Degree of Doctor

Given below are the degree requirements of the system of qualifications as well as the outcome attainment requirements for being awarded a Degree of Doctor, as specified in Appendix 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Scope

A Degree of Doctor is awarded after the doctoral student has completed a study programme of 240 credits in a subject in which third-cycle teaching is offered.

Outcomes

Goal - Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research field, as well as advanced and up-to-date specialist knowledge in a limited area of this field, and
  • demonstrate familiarity with research methodology in general and with the methods of the specific research domain in particular.

Goal - Competence and skills

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate the capacity for scholarly analysis and synthesis as well as to review and assess new and complex phenomena, issues and situations autonomously and critically,
  • demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues with scholarly precision critically, autonomously and creatively, and to plan and use appropriate methods to undertake research and other qualified tasks within predetermined time frames,
    and to review and evaluate such work,
  • demonstrate through a dissertation the ability to make a significant contribution to the formation of knowledge through her/his own research,
  • demonstrate the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings authoritatively in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general,
  • demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge, and
  • demonstrate the capacity to contribute to social development and to support the learning of others both through research and education and in some other qualified professional capacity.

Goal - Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall:

  • demonstrate intellectual autonomy and disciplinary rectitude as well as the ability to make assessments of research ethics, and
  • demonstrate specialised insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used.

Research thesis (doctoral thesis)

For a Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall have been awarded a Pass grade for a research thesis (doctoral thesis) of at least 120 credits.

Miscellaneous

Specific requirements determined by each higher education institution itself within the parameters of the requirements laid down in this qualification descriptor shall apply for a Degree of Doctor with a defined specialisatio