Approved 2012-02-28 Dnr FAK 2011/555
Humanities and Social Sciences Third-cycle (postgraduate research) training programmes are regulated in the Higher
Education Act: the Higher Education Ordinance and local regulations for third cycle research training programmes, approved by the University faculties. Responsibility and decision-making powers are regulated in the University’s rules of procedure, decision-decision-making procedures and delegation of authority.
General syllabus for third-cycle studies in English Education
The subject is part of the research environment Language and Literature. The general syllabus for third-cycle studies in English Education has been proposed by the School of Language and Literature through decision February 15, 2012, and by the board for third-cycle studies within the faculty board for Humanities and Social Sciences (NF FHS) February 28, 2012. The general syllabus has been approved by the faculty board for Educational Sciences (NUV) April 11, 2012, and is valid from April 11, 2012.
Scope of the programme
PhD degree
The PhD degree normally requires four years’ full-time studies following the successful completion of 240 credits comprising course work of 60 credits and an approved scholarly thesis (PhD thesis) comprising 180 credits.
Degree of Licentiate
The licentiate degree normally requires two years’ full-time studies following successful completion of at least 120 credits consisting of course work of 37.5 credits and an approved scholarly thesis/paper comprising at least 82.5 credits.
Objectives of programme
PhD degree
For the PhD degree, the following goals/objectives should be fulfilled:
Higher Education Ordinance, annex 2
Knowledge and understanding
For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy the doctoral student should
• 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.
Skills and abilities
For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy the doctoral student should
• 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 thesis 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.
Judgement and approach
For the 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.
Licentiate degree
For the licentiate degree, the following goals/objectives should be fulfilled:
Higher Education Ordinance, annex 2
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Licentiate the research student should
• 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.
Skills and abilities
For a Degree of Licentiate the research student should:
• 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 orally 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.
Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Licentiate the research student should
• 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 on-going learning.
Admission
Higher Education Ordinance 7 chap. 35 §
The requirements for admission to third-cycle courses and study programmes are that the applicant:
1. meets the general and specific entry requirements that the higher education institution may have laid down, and
2. is considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the course or study programme.
General entry requirements
Higher Education Ordinance 7 chap. 39 §
A person meets the general entry requirements for research courses and study programmes if he or she:
1. has been awarded a second-cycle qualification
2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded at second-cycle level, or
3. has acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. The higher education institution may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds.
General interim regulations (regulations 2006:1053)
Students who meet the general entry requirements for admission to third-cycle studies prior to 1 July 2007 should subsequently be considered eligible for admission to third-cycle studies, but only until the end of June 2015.
Specific entry requirements
Higher Education Ordinance 7 chap. 40 §
The specific entry requirements laid down are essential for students to be able to benefit from the course or study programme.
1. knowledge from one or more higher education courses and study programmes or corresponding courses and study programmes
2. specific professional or vocational experience, and
3. exquisite language skills or other conditions determined by the course or study programme.
Specific entry requirements for the subject English Education
Specific entry requirements for admission to third cycle research training programmes in English Education are as follows:
• at least 120 credits in the subject English, of which at least 30 credits were awarded at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. • two essays in the subject English comprising 15 credits each or one essay comprising 30 credits, of which at least one essay comprising 15 credits was awarded at second-cycle level, or equivalent assignments carried out in some other way in Sweden or abroad,
• successfully completed teacher education for teaching English in primary school, secondary school or adult education, or equivalent knowledge obtained in some other order, within or outside of Sweden,
• proficiency in Swedish (desirable but not compulsory).
Application
Application for admission to third cycle (research training) programmes is regulated in Linnaeus University’s local admission procedures.
Criteria for assessment and selection
Higher Education Ordinance 7 chap. 41 §
The university decides which bases for assessment should be applied during assessment of ability to benefit from the education.
In selecting between applicants who meet the requirements laid down in Sections 35 & 36 §§, their ability to benefit from the course of study programmes should be taken into account.
However, the fact that an applicant is considered able to transfer credits from prior courses and study programmes or for professional or vocational experience may not alone give the applicant priority over other applicants.
Assessment of the applicant’s ability to benefit from third-cycle education considers scholarly abilities documented in the form of academic work, particularly with regards to the quality of independent project work / papers at first and second cycle level and other scholarly work. The assessment will in addition take into consideration the breadth and composition of bachelor’s degrees and the impression given by applicants to subject specialist faculty members with regards to their study prerequisites. Assessment is based, thereafter, on the thesis’s relevance, originality and feasibility within the stated time frame, that is, the equivalent of four years’ full-time study for PhD degree and two years’ full-time study for Licentiate degree.
Admission
Admission is regulated in Linnaeus University’s local admission procedures.
Higher Education Ordinance 7 chap. 36 §
A higher education institution may only admit applicants to third-cycle (doctoral research) courses and study programmes who have been appointed to doctoral studentships or awarded doctoral grants. The higher education institution may, however, admit applicants who have some other form of funding for their studies if it considers that the funding can be guaranteed during the entire period of study and that the applicants can devote enough time to their studies to enable completion within four years in the case of a licentiate degree or a licentiate degree in the fine, applied and performing arts or eight years in the case of a PhD or a
doctorate in the fine, applied and performing arts.
Organisation of third-cycle studies
Organisation of third-cycle studies is regulated in the local regulations for third cycle education programmes, approved by the University faculties.
Structure and content of the education
Individual study plan
Higher Education Ordinance 6 chap. 29 §
An individual study plan should be drawn up for each doctoral student. This plan should contain the undertakings made by the doctoral student and the higher education institution and a timetable for the doctoral student’s study programme. The plan should be adopted after consultation with the doctoral student and his or her supervisors.
The individual study plan should be reviewed regularly and amended by the higher education institution to the extent required after consultation with the doctoral student and his or her supervisors. The period of study may only be extended if there are special grounds for doing so. Such grounds may comprise leave of absence because of illness, leave of absence for service in the defence forces or an elected position in a trade union or student organisation, or parental leave.
The individual study plan is a plan for proposed course work, work with the thesis and supervision up until the completion of the degree. The plan is worked out by the principal supervisor and research student in consultation with the examiner and will be reviewed at least once every year. The results of the review should clearly state progress made in the programme.
The principal supervisor is responsible for ensuring that syllabi are followed up and progress reviews carried out.
Courses
Teaching will be provided in the form of individual supervision, courses and seminars.
Students are obligated to participate actively in research seminars within the subject / research environment /unit during the course of the research training programme. During full-time studies, the doctoral student should partake in at least half of the research seminars and act as
opponent at least one time per academic year. Seminar participation should be documented and followed up in the individual study plan.
The course consists of obligatory and elective courses. The aim of the courses is to support the thesis work through theoretical and methodological foundations, partly to supply an all-round education within research field.
The course runs parallel to the thesis work. Students are recommended to initially undergo the obligatory courses in order to advance their knowledge and orient themselves in the existing theory.
Scheduled teaching in the form of courses is provided in accordance with a predetermined plan, designed after needs and resources. Doctoral students are expected to study at leas one course at a foreign seat of learning.
The choice of elective courses to be included in the degree will be approved by the examiner in consultation with the research student and the principal supervisor. External courses provided by other departments or universities / higher education institutes can also be included.
PhD degree
Compulsory courses
Theory of science 7.5 credits
Interpretation theory 7.5 credits Research methodology 7.5 credits
Didactic theory 7.5 credits
Literature didactics or
language acquisition theory 7.5 credits
Elective courses 22.5 credits
Licentiate degree
Compulsory courses
Theory of science 7.5 credits
Interpretation theory 7.5 credits Research methodology 7.5 credits
Didactic theory 7.5 credits
Literature didactics or
language acquisition theory 7.5 credits
Syllabi
The administration of syllabi for research training programmes is stated in the local regulations for third cycle programmes.
PhD thesis
The thesis component comprises 180 credits.
As a requirement for the PhD degree, students will write an academic thesis (PhD thesis). The thesis should be based on independent research work and be of importance for research within
the chosen subject area. The requirements of independence do not exclude the possibility of being part of a larger research project.
The thesis can either be presented as a single, cohesive scholarly work, a monograph or as a compilation thesis.
A compilation thesis should normally comprise four articles as well as a summarising chapter. At least three of the articles should be of sufficiently high quality for publication in a refereed journal or an anthology of high quality articles. The summary chapter should in addition include a discussion of the work’s theoretical basis and relevance to previous research. The connection between the articles should also be discussed in the summarising chapter. In cases where articles have been co-authored with other individuals, the input of the thesis author should be stated in the foreword.
A thesis that has been co-written by two or more individuals can be approved as a doctoral thesis provided that the authors’ individual inputs can be distinguished.
The thesis should be written in English and contain a summary written in Swedish.
Quality assurance procedures for thesis work
Preliminary subject for the thesis should be chosen in consultation with the supervisor as early as acceptance to the third-cycle programme. The subject should then be defined and
delineated as early as possible during third-cycle studies.
The plan for the thesis, with detailed information about the thesis subject and aim, as well as preliminary information about the theory, method, secondary literature and disposition, should be presented at a seminar. During the second semester, a chapter with advanced discussion of theory and method, as well as a detailed thesis disposition, should be presented at a seminar.
The thesis is followed up during the education, and the drafts are discussed on a regular basis. When the thesis is deemed almost ready, a final seminar is held with a discussant, who may be external. The final seminar should be followed up for assessment of the quality of the thesis manuscript.
Licentiate thesis
The requirements for the licentiate degree are that the student should write a scholarly paper comprising 82.5 credits. The paper should be based on independent research of good
academic quality.
The thesis should be written in English and contain a summary written in Swedish.
Quality assurance of licentiate thesis
Preliminary subject for the licentiate thesis should be chosen in consultation with the supervisor as early as acceptance to the third-cycle programme. The subject should then be defined and delineated as early as possible during third-cycle studies.
The plan for the licentiate thesis, with detailed information about the thesis subject and aim, as well as preliminary information about the theory, method, secondary literature and
The presented plan should be followed up. During the second semester, a chapter with advanced discussion of theory and method, as well as a detailed thesis disposition, should be presented at a seminar.
The thesis is followed up during the education, and the drafts are discussed on a regular basis. When the thesis is deemed almost ready, a final seminar is held with a discussant, who may be external. The final seminar should be followed up for assessment of the quality of the thesis manuscript.
Examination of the PhD thesis
The PhD thesis will be examined at a public defence.
The thesis should be submitted to the decision-making body two months prior to the public defence at the latest.
Registration for the public defence should be made using the Registration for public defence form.
Approval of the PhD thesis will be made by the examining committee. The examining committee should consist of three delegates, of which at least one should be appointed from another university / institute of higher education. A maximum of one of three delegates should come from the same research environment/subject as the respondent.
The PhD thesis will be assessed using the grades of fail or pass. The grading will take into consideration the content and defence of the thesis.
Examination of the licentiate essay
The licentiate essay will be defended in English at a public seminar.
The application should be submitted to the decision-making body two months prior to the licentiate seminar at the latest.
Registration should be made using the Registration for licentiate seminar form.
Approval of the licentiate thesis will be made by the examining committee. The examining committee should consist of three delegates, of which at least one should be appointed from another university / institute of higher education. A maximum of one of three delegates should come from the same research environment/subject as the respondent.
The licentiate thesis will be assessed using the grades of fail or pass. The grading will take into consideration the content and defence of the thesis.
Prefixes to degree titles
For research degrees within the subject of English, the prefix philosophy will be used.
Interim rules in relation to students admitted on the basis of previous general syllabi
PhD students admitted on the basis of previous general syllabi can still take their degrees in accordance with these documents provided that the current version of the Higher Education Ordinance is followed. PhD students admitted on the basis of older versions of syllabi in doctoral research training programme subject English Education, directive number 158/2008-641 can change to the general syllabus currently in force.
