Doctroral education

Doctoral education
Here we have collected the most essential information regarding doctoral studies at Karolinska Institutet, along with some important hints. You can also find a lot of information at the KI website under the section for doctoral education. We recommend all foreign students to also visit the International Desk or download the folder "Useful facts for visiting academics".

Getting started
The general eligibility for graduate studies at KI is 240 credits points or four years of undergraduate studies at a Swedish or foreign university. Very few positions for PhD studies are announced, instead you need to contact a department and a research group conduction research in a field you are interested in. Thereafter you design a project and prepare an individual study plan together with your future supervisor. Bear in mind that this study plan should span over a period of four (4) years full-time doctoral education.

Here are links to all departments, centers and networks, that might help you to find the right people. One way to find the right research group and get some experience might be to attend on of the research preparatory courses or Stockholm Research School in Molecular Life Sciences. This is however not a prerequisite for doctoral studies at KI.

Admission
Since March 1, 2006, there is one single study subject for doctoral studies at KI, called Medical Science. Here you can find the general study plan, and regulations for doctoral studies at KI. The individual study plan should be a living document and not something collecting dust in your drawers. When updating it, once a year, you will think about what you have done up till then and also in what way has your project evolved. It is also by regularly updating your study plan that you can show what you have been working with so far in your doctoral studies and this can be to your own benefit, in case you would experience problems with your project or your supervisor.

Half time control
Doctoral students are required to attend a half time control two years after registration. The half time control consists of a seminar and a follow up meeting. At the seminar, you are required to give a summary of your work and an outline for the remainder of your doctoral education. The seminar is evaluated by an examination board comprising three impartial PhD researchers.

After the seminar there is a meeting where you, your supervisor, the examination board and, if possible, the external mentor discuss how the education is to proceed. The discussion is summarized in a report, with focus on the degree of study activity, quality and progress of the project, development of independence, as well as the extent and structure of supervision. Read more here or in the regulations document.

Thesis
Check the KI website for information about the thesis and public defense.

Post doc and future

For information about post doc and your future career, see our carreer section.

Social security and salary
For information about social security and salaries for PhD students, see our Economy section or the KI intranet, Staff section. Only accessible from the KI network or via the proxy server.