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Supervising PhD students (Utbildning för doktorandhandledare)

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 2027

Course day 1: Thursday 4 March, 10.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 2: Friday 5 March, 09.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 3: Thursday 8 April, 10.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 4: Friday 9 April, 09.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 5: Thursday 27 May, 10.15-16.00, on campus.
Course day 6: Friday 28 May, 09.15-16.00, 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 February 25, 2027.

In the event of dropout or of cancellation between December 16, 2026 and February 24, 2027 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

Applications for the spring semester 2027 are accepted from 09:00 on 15 October until 16:30 on 15 December.

Link to the application form - Spring 2027

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)
(Utbildning för doktorandhandledare)

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 case of absence, participants must contact the course coordinator in advance to discuss when the learning activity can be made up. However, attendance during both of the first two course days is a prerequisite for taking the course in a given semester. If the course has not been completed within two years from the course start, the participant 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.