Postgraduate courses and dissertation

Thesis work

The thesis work comprises 180 credits and is the core of the programme. Three formal checkpoints help guide you through the different phases:

• Planning Seminar: Relatively early on, you present a plan for your dissertation project.
• Mid-Seminar: When about half the time has passed, a mid-seminar is held.
• Manuscript Conference: Towards the end, you discuss a relatively finished thesis manuscript with a small group of researchers.

The thesis can be either a monograph or a compilation thesis with different parts in the form of academic papers, preferably published.

Course component

The course component comprises a total of 60 credits:

• Method Courses: 30 credits
• Reading Courses and Special Courses: 30 credits

Courses are chosen with the thesis work in mind and can be joint courses or individual reading courses. You can also attend research courses outside your immediate environment, both abroad and at other Swedish universities. The department does not cover the costs for these stays, so you must apply for scholarships or similar.

Introduction and supervision

During the first term, each cohort of doctoral students receives support from an introduction team that holds regular meetings to:

• Facilitate social integration into the departmental environment
• Help establish contacts with senior researchers
• Provide advice on the initial doctoral education
• Offer a forum to discuss thesis topics

The main supervisor is then appointed by the head of department in consultation with the director of doctoral studies. Around a year later, the student will also get an assistant supervisor.. The supervisors have the task of helping the doctoral student move the work forward from the idea stage to the finalised manuscript.  Every doctoral student shall have an individual study plan to structure and organize the studies, whichshall be revised at least once a year. The study plan is drawn up by the supervisors and the doctoral student and is then signed by the head of department.

Seminars

The department’s researchers regularly gather to discuss and comment on each other’s work and listen to presentations by invited researchers. There are both general seminars and specialised seminars for researchers with the same focus. Attending seminars is mandatory for doctoral students.

Read more:

• Doctoral studies | SVETNET – Internal Department of Political Science (lu.se)
• The Department’s Higher Research Seminar Series | Department of Political Science
• The doctoral student as a teacher and administrator | Department of Political Science