Doctoral Studies

Our doctoral programme has an individual approach, meaning that each doctoral student, together with their supervisor, chooses which courses to include in the study plan and organises the thesis work. The doctoral programme comprises a total of 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time studies. It is divided into a course component of 60 credits and a thesis component of 180 credits. The Licentiate programme comprises two years of full-time study, consisting of a thesis component of 75 credits and a course component of 45 credits. The programme belongs to the subject of Media and Communication Science.

The department supports the doctoral students through supervision – the orientation of studies and thesis work and continuous assistance during the work on the thesis.

Entry requirements for research studies

• A completed second cycle (Master’s) degree.
• Completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits in the second cycle.
• Equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
• The specific entry requirements for admission to third-cycle studies in Strategic Communication are completed course requirements of at least 30 credits in the subject of Strategic Communication, of which at least 15 credits from a Master’s degree project, or equivalent knowledge acquired within or outside the country.

What does a doctoral programme entail?

For a doctoral degree, the student must write a scientific thesis (doctoral thesis), which must be based on independent research work and be of good scientific standard. The thesis is defended at a public defence in the order prescribed in the Higher Education Ordinance and local regulations for the Faculty of Social Sciences in Lund.