Eligibility and rules
To be eligible for doctoral studies, you have to meet the general entry requirements. There may also be specific entry requirements for specific research subjects. There are a number of rules, laws, and regulations that regulate doctoral education.
General entry requirements
A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral (third-cycle) courses and programmes if they:
- have been awarded a second-cycle qualification,
- have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
- have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
You must also be considered to have such abilities otherwise needed to benefit from the doctoral studies.
Specific entry requirements
Beyond the general entry requirements, the research subject may also have specific entry requirements. The specific entry requirements are listed in the general syllabus for each subject.
Specific entry requirements may compromise
- knowledge from one or more higher education courses and study programmes or corresponding courses and study programmes,
- specific professional or vocational experience, and
- requisite language skills or other conditions that are required for the course or study programme.
Laws, ordinances and rules
There are important rules and regulations governing doctoral education on the national level.Read more at the Swedish Council of Higher Education.
Rules and Regulations for Third-cycle Studies at the University of Gothenburg
Rules and Regulations for Third-cycle Studies at the University of Gothenburg applies to all doctoral programmes at the University of Gothenburg and is intended to promote the doctoral education’s quality, to protect the rights of doctoral students, and to contribute to a good student welfare.
Rules and regulations for third-cycle studies on the page Styrdokument (only in Swedish)
General study plans
Beyond the Rules and Regulations for Third-cycle Studies, there can also be faculty-specific and subject-specific rules. The general syllabus for a specific subject defines any specific entrance requirements, the structure and content of the programme, and the extent of required and elective courses. The general syllabus are available on each faculty’s website.