Centre for Academic Development

Supervising PhD students (Forskarhandledarutbildning)

Two women in black clothes and black doctor's hats are holding hands. They look at each other.

The university offers the course Supervising PhD students (Forskarhandledarutbildningen) in both Swedish and English. The English course runs in spring semesters. The course is aimed at employees at the university and Region Örebro County but we also welcome external applicants.

The course Supervising PhD students is not included in the 10 weeks of university teaching courses required for employment as lecturer or above at Örebro University.

The purpose of the course is collegial development of knowledge about research supervision and to contribute to the development of a good supervisory and postgraduate culture at the university.

The course consists of two strands. The first focuses on public service obligations; that is, the responsibilities placed on those involved in PhD education by society, as outlined in national and local regulations. The second explores the pedagogical role, addressing the opportunities, challenges and issues that PhD supervisors may encounter in various supervisory situations.

Credits and attendance

The course is planned to cover 120 hours of work includes six full-day teaching sessions and another nine days of independent work on the course tasks.

NB! The course is offered in English during spring semesters and Swedish in autumn semesters.

Course dates spring semester 2026

Course day 1: Thursday 5 March, 10.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 2: Friday 6 March, 09.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 3: Thursday 16 April, 10.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 4: Friday 17 April, 09.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 5: Thursday 21 May, 09.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 6: Friday 22 May, 10.15-16.00, on campus.

Eligibility and selection

Eligible applicants must hold a valid doctoral degree.

Applicants are offered a place on the course on a first-come, first-served basis provided a complete application has been submitted which the applicant’s head or director has approved. Note that the application may close before the deadline if the course fills up. In case of too few applicants the course may be cancelled.

Please note that you must be able to attend the first two days of the course in full in order to be accepted onto the course. The remaining four sessions may be made up for at another time within two years from the starting semester.

Course fee

Employees at Örebro University:
The course fee is SEK 1,500/week, including VAT (total fee SEK 4,500, including VAT).

External applicants:
The course fee is SEK 4,500/week, excluding VAT (total fee SEK 13,500, excluding VAT).

The full course fee will be invoiced from April 23, 2026.

In the event of dropout or of cancellation between December 16, 2025 and April 22, 2026 an administrative fee of SEK 500 will be invoiced.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, feel free to contact us at hogskolepedagogisktcentrum@oru.se.

Application

Registration for the spring semester 2026 opens on 15 October 2025.

Please note! We do not accept registrations after the start of the course.

Supervising PhD students

Qualifying course for PhD supervisors, 3 weeks (120 hours)
(Forskarhandledarutbildning)

1 GENERAL INFORMATION

The course is aimed at PhD supervisors and prospective PhD supervisors.

2 ABOUT THE COURSE

Supervising PhD Students corresponds to 120 working hours, or three weeks of full-time study. The course syllabus was approved by the Director of the Centre for Academic Development on 1 April 2025.

2.1 Course objectives

After completing the course, participants should be able to

reflect on their role as PhD supervisor in relation to regulations, frameworks, conditions and routines,
discuss different aspects of the relationships between the main supervisor, co-supervisor and doctoral student,
analyse situations that occur in PhD supervision and identify and evaluate possible courses of action.

2.2 Course content

2.3 Teaching modes

The course uses presentations, seminars, workshops and individual reflection assignments. Learning activities are conducted individually, in full-group sessions and in smaller discussion or working groups. Course materials and information are published on Örebro University’s learning platform.

2.4 Attendance requirements

As the collegial exchange of experiences and knowledge is an important element of the course, a high level of attendance is required. In the case of absence, participants are asked to contact the course coordinator in advance for a discussion about how the learning activity can be carried out or the course content obtained in another way. However, attendance during the first two days of the course is a condition for taking the course that semester. If the attendance rate is lower than 80%, the participant must retake the course. If a participant has not completed the course within two years of the start of the course, they must retake the course.

2.5 Assessment

The course includes three compulsory assignments: a literature reflection, an observation or interview with a corresponding reflection, and a course report. The first two assignments will be discussed in a seminar setting, while the third is submitted to the course coordinator.

2.6 Reading list

A reading list will be provided at the start of the course.

2.7 Course certificate

A course certificate will be issued on satisfactory completion of the course.

3 PRIOR ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for this course, participants need to have a PhD.

Read the whole course plan in pdf.

For questions regarding the course content please contact Kristin Ewins at kristin.ewins@oru.se or telephone 019-30 38 73.

For questions about practical issues such as the application, location, invoicing, please contact us at hogskolepedagogisktcentrum@oru.se .