Doctoral student

Rules and regulations for doctoral studies

The regulations handbook for doctoral education and study programmes at Örebro University summarises all national and local laws and guidelines. It applies throughout the whole study period, from admission to receiving the degree certificate. Each student and supervisor are recommended to take part of the handbook.

Regulations handbook

Individual study plan

An individual study plan (ISP) shall be drawn up for each doctoral student.

The plan shall include:
- the obligations of the higher education institution and the research student
- a time plan for the doctoral student's studies

According to local regulations, the ISP shall also include:
- information about how the doctoral student's supervision is organised and
- what is otherwise necessary for studies to be conducted as efficiently as possible.

The plan shall be adopted after consultation between the doctoral student and his/her supervisors.
The ISP shall be regularly followed up – at least once each year – and amended by the university as required, after consultation with the doctoral student and his/her supervisor. The follow-up must be done so that the doctoral student and the principal supervisor inform the university of how studies are progressing. Each doctoral student shall have a valid ISP at every time point.

About the ISP form
From June 2016 there is a new ISP form to be used by all doctoral students. The form can be used on both PC and Mac computers, but only if the latest version of Word has been installed. As a doctoral student or employee you can download Microsoft Office for free and get access to the correct version of Word. The basic version of the form does not require the latest version of Word, but it lacks features and functions such as scroll lists, screen tips and links. For questions about the form, please contact the Office for Academic Policy,

Download the ISP form here.
Download the ISP, basic version, here.

Download example ISP, Year 0, here.
Download example ISP, Year 3, here.

See the regulations handbook for more information on ISP. Contact the doctoral education administrator at your school fore more information on the ISP process.

Period of study

The period of study for doctoral studies leading to a doctorate is equivalent to 48 months of full-time study. For a licentiate degree the period of study is 24 months of full time study. The study period can be extended in special circumstances specified in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, for example, parental leave or sick leave. See also Örebro University's local regulations handbook.

Other useful information

The Doctoral Student section at Örebro Student Union monitors doctoral students' rights, ensures that doctoral students are represented in the university's various decision-making bodies, and supports doctoral students throughout the university.

A doctoral student is a student at Örebro University and has access to the support functions at the university's student department, such as Funka (study with disabilities).